Writers are important but so are readers. Readers and writers need each other. Writers provide their audiences with news, valuable information as well as entertainment.
Just about my whole life, I have felt out of place. I have never liked parties or groups of people I don’t know well.
I think over the last twenty years I have been feeling that more. It probably has to do with my hearing disability which has gotten worse over the years. It’s hard to be in a noisy group when you can only hear parts of the conversation. At most gatherings I am the one standing or sitting alone. I don’t care much for idle conversation. Now if there’s card games or board games to entertain me that makes a difference. Otherwise, I am usually the first out the door heading home.
I usually feel out of place in groups of people who are dressed well. I really have no fashion sense. This is everywhere I go with others. Weddings, funerals, dinners, whatever, I always feel like I have the wrong clothes on. I compare myself to how others are dressed and I generally feel inadequate.
I feel that I am getting better at social situations. Or maybe I am just finding more excuses not to be involved in those situations where I feel so out of place.
How quickly our world has become accustomed to using computers in our daily lives. They have changed communication, shopping, reading, games and so much else since computers early days.
Without my computer, it would be much harder to get information. I am constantly telling people, “just let me look it up on the computer”. A computer has become what a set of encyclopedia used to be a generation or so ago. We can even use our voices to ask questions and get an answers.
Using the computer has changed my shopping habits. I do a lot of my shopping online now. Now most brick and mortar stores also have an online store. At the moment I am waiting for my latest order from Amazon. I also buy pet food online. It’s delivered right to my porch without me having to go to the store then drag it home. Without the use of a computer, I would be spending more time shopping. I don’t do all my shopping online. It’s hard to find clothes that fit without going into a store. Groceries can now be ordered online and delivered. I prefer doing my own grocery shopping and picking out what I want myself.
I would be using a typewriter or even a pencil and paper if I didn’t have a computer to do my writing. I would be spending a lot of time sitting in a library doing research. Letters and cards would still have to be handwritten and mailed through the unreliable post office. Now with a computer, I can send an email and get a reply within minutes.
Using my computer, I communicate with people all over the world. Social media helps to keep us in touch with near and faraway friends and family. I get a lot of news and information from those social media sites.
With the use of my computer games, music and movies all entertain me. Not that I do much of those but they are a nice diversion at times. Computers can do so many things in our lives today.
So what would my world look like without a computer? Honestly, my world would look a lot like the simple life I grew up with. Reading would require trips to the library. Writing would be done on typewriters. Information would come from books and other sources. Letters would be handwritten and sent through snail mail. I would be getting together with friends and family more often. I would be using a house type of telephone instead of a smart phone. And I would still be lugging home big bags of pet food and cat litter from the store.
All my life I have been coming up with new skills I would like to learn. It’s a long list because I never have enough time to pursue learning new skills.
Woman During The Depression Time Quilting Dorothea Lange
List of skills I am interested in learning:
Writing
Pottery
Candle Making
Soap Making
Weaving
Quilting
Learning new languages
Organization
I am not the most organized person although I try to be. So top of the list of skills I would like to learn is how to be more organized. That could give me more time for writing and learning some of those new skills. Learning to clean my house in an organized manner would help. It would give me more time for all those other hobbies I would enjoy learning.
First and most important, I should be paying a lot more attention to my relationship with God. I am working on that but it’s so hard. It would be easier if I had a good church I belonged to. I am not criticizing any church, but I am not comfortable in many new churches. I tried one with a friend but I didn’t find peace there. The music was like going to a concert. I prefer the old hymns, pianos and organ music. And many churches are going that way with the modern Christian music. I simply don’t find peace or Christ in that music. I am glad that so many are going to these newer churches but it’s not for me.
The second area I need to be paying more attention to is my health. This includes eating better and exercising more. I love sweets and don’t care much for vegetables. I do eat a healthy amount of fruit. Being a single person, it’s hard to cook proper meals for just one person. I should also be spending more time either going to the gym or walking. Alternatively, I could follow a good exercise program at home.
Another area that needs attention in my life would be my family and friends. Lately I seem to be spending the majority of my time sitting at my computer. But writing is also a part of my life. To become a decent writer requires writing every day. It takes dedication to research and work on my writing projects.
If only I were a more organized person. I would have the ability to manage to pay more attention to my faith, health and writing.
Daily writing prompt
What details of your life could you pay more attention to?
Tomorrow morning my first priority will be to get up and use the bathroom. Same priority as every other morning. Sarcasm! Really isn’t that everyone’s first priority every day?
I have no plans or priorities for the day. It will be another ordinary day. I can do whatever I want the rest of the day. I will let it up to God how the rest of my day goes.
I will probably do the usual boring things I usually do. Cleaning my house, reading, writing and researching for my next writing project. My life is boring but I am alive and enjoying the boredom. I don’t need or want drama or excitement in my life.
Hard work does not make me feel fulfilled. It makes me feel tired and grumpy. It makes me hurt and that doesn’t feel good at all.
But the rewards that come with working hard make me feel happy and satisfied. The last fifteen years I have spent working long hours, but not working real hard. I enjoy the house that I was able to buy. I enjoyed the vacations I was able to afford. I enjoyed the projects and improvements to my house that I had money for.
So I guess that hard work made me feel happy. Now I am ready to enjoy sleeping late and working on crafts and hobbies. I will continue to work hard at writing. Writing does make me feel fulfilled.
Daily writing prompt
In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?
Since I turned sixteen and got a drivers license, a car and a job, I have valued my independence. I started working as a waitress when I was sixteen while still in high school. I made a lot of new friends where I was working. We shared a lot of fun, even when we weren’t working. Great times.
A car very similar to my first car 1959 Ford Fairlane
At twenty I got married. Big, big mistake. I thought you got married, stayed at home and raised kids the same way my mother had done. I was so wrong. Times had changed and it took two incomes. So the stay at home mother wasn’t possible. Both my husband and I were miserable. He was a heavy drinker which caused a lot of problems. We both had gotten married for the wrong reasons. Eventually we went our separate ways.
Michael Dolan emilydickinson@gmail. A 1961 chevy Impala Like one I learned to drive
Now I learned what real independence was and how much I valued my independence. I was able to stand on my own two feet. I managed to go to work, find babysitters and rented an apartment on my own. It was tough but I proved to myself I was capable of doing it.
Since I moved on my own, I have raised the three children. Gone back to school and bought a house on my own. I now live almost alone. I try not to depend on other people anymore than I have to. But there’s occasionally times I have to depend on some one else to do repairs, moving or lifting.
Thus I think independence is the trait I value most about myself. I love being independent and worry about losing my independence. I know the time will come when I am older and will have to ask others for help. I am dreading the day when I can’t drive or take care of myself any longer.
I would continue doing what I do now even if money wasn’t a concern. I work as a private caregiver for the elderly. I love what I do. Most older people are so very grateful for whatever help they receive. They have some great stories to tell also. Times were different for them. Some of them lived through wars and the depression. One of my ladies would tell me stories about traveling on the railroad to go shopping or the movies. She also had some war time and love stories she shared with me. Care giving is more than a job. It’s a wonderful experience filled with joy and love.
My second choice would be to make a home for foster children. The stories you hear about foster children neglect and abuse are horrifying. We have all heard some of the terrible stories of children who were raised by bad and abusive foster parents. I have a friend and a sister-in-law who were foster children. Actually, both of them were better off in a foster home. A woman I know has been taking in foster children for years now. She has done such a marvelous job and made a difference in a lot of children’s lives. Some of her foster children are now grown up and in college. She and her husband adopted several of the children they took in.
My third choice would be to do the other job I am now doing. I would be a fully retired, do nothing but what I want to do. I would spend my days writing. When I wasn’t writing I would be napping, watching movies, cooking good food, reading good books. I would generally do just whatever I wanted. The totally ideal job. I would be the best boss I ever had.
Daily writing prompt
List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.
I really don’t know exactly what my cultural heritage is. I have never done any DNA testing. The only thing I do know is that some members of my family traced our roots back to Ireland. And for some reason, I feel like I should have some Scottish ancestors. I don’t know why but Scotland fascinates me. I don’t know but I think there might be some German ancestors in the past. My mother’s cooking was a lot like the Pennsylvania Dutch is why I am saying that.
I am extremely interested in someday visiting both Ireland and Scotland. I would be interested in everything from their music, dances, festivals, holidays and foods. i would love to experience all of those. Both Ireland and Scotland have beautiful country sides with amazing scenery. Castles and history are also part of their past. I would love exploring some of those castles.
Since I don’t really know much about my cultural heritage, I am going to say I am a proud American. I am proud of the traditions that millions of other people from different nations brought to our country. Americans have a rich history of combined cultural heritages. In America, we can experience Chinese, Mexican, African, Amish and so many other wonderful foods and cultures. We can visit Indian Reservations and learn about their culture, foods and traditions.
I am a proud American. Proud to be living in the land of freedom.
Daily writing prompt
What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?
I am not important enough to be linked with any brands. I am not sure exactly what a person must do to become connected to a particular brand. I have never really been a follower of any type of brand. Can anyone explain to me what an associate of a specific brand does? What does someone have to do to be an associate?
I do know this. If I were to become an associate of any brand, they would have to share my values and morals. There’s many brands out there that I wouldn’t care to be connected with.
Brands I Do Like And Buy
I buy Levi jeans primarily because they are the only jeans that fit. Well, they fit the best at any rate. However, I would not want to be associated with their brand. I really would not want to be an associate for Levis because they don’t represent my values.
Alfred Dunner
Alfred Dunner is a brand of women’s clothing. Alfred Dunner makes stylish clothing mainly for older women. I like this brand of clothing because they are stylish and classy. They also usually fit well. This is a brand I would like to be associated with. Although, I would have to so more research on the company itself.
Fur Babies Leo and Lucy
Cat Products
I love cats. They can be so funny. They also make the most wonderful companions most of the time. I have four cats. Three are great loving cats but the fourth doesn’t get along well with other animals.
I would make a great associate for brands of cat food, litter and other cat products. I use enough of those cat products myself.
I would only choose brands that I would be comfortable with associating with. Mostly I would choose cat products, faith type products, certain clothing brands, and possibility health related products.
History Lovers Corner 