"THE GIFT"... SMASH365: WRITE

KINDNESS...PASS IT ON. 

Photo:  Courtesy of unknown source...no copyright infringement intended.

“Use this prompt to inspire. Write for 5 minutes:

 A gift is left on the back porch.”

 

THE GIFT

It had been a difficult day.  A deep sadness permeated my heart.  Yet, I knew I had to go home and face the ghosts of my illusions. 

As I was walking from the garage to my back door, I noticed a small piece of paper jammed in the crevice of the storm door.  I really did not give it much thought as I approached the door.  I was deep inside and was thinking:   “‘storm door’…does it keep the storms in or out?”  I grabbed the note and unlocked the door.

“I just stopped by for a quick visit.  I hope you are having a beautiful day.  Love always, your friend.”

The tears flowed freely as a read the note.  The love of my friend entered my heart and suddenly the sadness lifted and I was filled with peace.

Sometimes, the smallest gesture…a note, a smile, a simple hello, can make the BIGGEST difference in a person’s life.

Let us all go out and make a difference.

Peace.

Nico

Smash 365: I AM THE OWL

Smash 365:  I am the Owl

Prompt:

“. . . Human beings already are animals. But becoming fully conscious of our animal nature and identifying with the lives of nonhumans is a way to increase our awareness that animals share the Earth with us, that they are made of the same fiber as we are, that they are our kin. Writing from the viewpoint of an animal puts us in touch with minds that are starkly different from our own — an excellent way of growing our creativity and intensifying the kind of understanding we can call writers’ empathy.

Select any animal that you are fascinated with and consider life through that animal’s eyes. What does he see? What does he think of what he sees? Write in first-person point of view and capture that animal’s inner thoughts in a particular setting.

How can this exercise help you better convey the inner thoughts and motivations of others you might be writing about?”

I am the owl.  I am the creature who awakens in the darkness.  My vision is unlimited.  I hear all things below as I am perched above the earth on my branch.  You, however, will not hear my arrival for I fly in silence.  But, you will know the wrath of my search.  I will swoop down and capture you with my claws and take you with me back to my darkness.  If you do not fight me, you will learn that you have great vision.  You will learn to see in the darkness.  No one will be able to deceive you.  No one will be hidden from your vision.  Your wisdom will become known not only to you but to all those around you.  The Truth will become known to you, for you will no longer be blinded by your darkness.

This is my gift to you as my fellow traveller on the earth.  Take heed of my generosity and you will learn to survive in your darkness.  Your insight will be heightened and you will never be fooled again.  Your lesson will be to thrive in adverse situations and come to see the illusion that others will try to make your reality. 

Smash 365: Write: ALGAE

Use this prompt to inspire. Write for 5 minutes:

“She lays motionless underneath the surface of the water with bright green algae.”

Can she breathe?  Will the stagnation keep her in the darkness? What is this bright green substance trying to teach?  Could it be that she might need to stay under for a while longer?  Could it mean that she needs to hold her breath and feel the isolation that surrounds her being?  There is certainly a lesson to learn from this.  There is meaning in all situations if you look deep enough. 

Is she alive?  How long has this state of stagnation been her life?  What will it take to jolt her out of this dead zone in which she is suspended?

Is it the pain of the past?  Is it the longing for the comfort from a mother’s love?  How long will it take to let go of the chains that bind her to the depths of despair?  When will she ever look from above to see the beauty of the bright green algae…instead of looking from below, up into the darkness, where the sun never shines?

There is no answer for this.  In her own time, in her own way, when she is ready.  There is no other path to take at this moment.  She must live in the illusion; she must survive in the pain.

The only thing that will help her break through the green darkness is connection to others.  The algae may seem bright on the outside.  But, looks can be deceiving.  Do not let this trick you into believing the task is simple.  It could very well be a life long journey.

Bid her well.  To her closest friends, reach out to her in the darkness.  Be her tether, ground her to the present.  For she does not know the time in which she lives.  Her sight is altered by the algae.

Smash 365: The River

Use this prompt to inspire. Write for 5 minutes:

“Paddling the canoe down river, I finally understood what Dad meant. “

 Photo Courtesy of Rainbowcabins.com

RESPONSE:

**As a young child, my dad would take me to the river to fish.  It was so peaceful.  We could stand in silence for hours, yet feel connected to each other.   It did not matter if we ever caught a fish.  It was something about nature.  I could never put it into words, but I could FEEL it.  Before we would leave to return home, dad always said, “Life is like a river.  Always remember, live your life like a river.” 

He never went into detail, probably because of my age.  Then suddenly, unexpectedly, one day, he was taken away.  Through the years, I always returned to the river because of the memories.  But, I also needed and longed for his thoughts about living life like a river.  One day, “paddling the canoe down river, I finally understood what Dad meant.”

The river flows onward without clinging to where it has already been.  It does not look back with regret the path it has taken and carved.  It has no fear of the inevitable upcoming boulders.  If it comes upon a DARK hole, it fills it up without dread. It moves toward something bigger than itself without the worry of losing its control or losing its identity.  It merges with the vastness elegantly and gracefully, becoming one, contributing to the larger body all its power and energy.

This is my ultimate goal…to let go of the ego and become one with the Self; to flow in harmony with my Creator; to live in respect of nature and FEEL its connection; to join the vastness and dedicate all my power and energy for good; to help others heal; to play my role in helping humanity heal.  This is how I want to live the rest of my life.  This is where I will find peace.

 

Nico

  

**The part about my father is fiction.

STOP CHILD ABUSE.  IT MURDERS THE SOUL.

Smash365: Create

Photo Courtesy of howstuffworks.com

Original post for September 2, 2011 by Cara Moulds

Start with this scene and bring it to life. Write for 10 minutes or create a piece of art.

Place: under a bush
Character: an independent thinker
Object: a telescope
Mood: interested

My weakness and I had been travelling companions for many years.  We had traversed many different terrains…the highest peaks and the lowest valleys on the earth.  Our struggles were many. There were times when our wills clashed and we became engaged in battle. 

One day, as we were raging war against each other, we rolled under a thorny bush.  As we continued to struggle, suddenly we saw something shiny inching its way up through the dirt.  Curious, we both started excavating this brass looking object.  Much to our surprise it was a telescope.  We cleaned it and began looking through the lens.  We looked up.  We looked outward.  Beauty was abounding. 

Without warning, a small voice whispered through the air, “Look within you, look within each other.”  It frightened both of us as we were not used to hearing other voices.  We only heard and listened to our own voice.

We began to take turns looking within.  This was no surprise as we knew our own selves very well.  Then we looked into each other with open minds.  It was then that I saw the value in my weakness and realized that I had been struggling and fighting with myself all these years.  I saw the beauty and strength in what I had viewed as less than human.  For in my weakness, I found vulnerability; I found kindness and gentleness; I found a caring for humanity and earth that I had never recognized before this moment.

So, as I looked into my weakness’s eyes, I begged her forgiveness and took her into my arms embracing all the beauty that I had left in the wilderness for so many years.  I had always thought I was stronger without my weakness.  But, in the moment of acceptance, I could feel my strength growing.  I had finally found peace…no longer did I have to live in the torment of war.

A Very Nice Face book page in the making!

The Power of Authenticity:  https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Power-of-Authenticity/273106916049479

Beautiful Pictures!!