Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
Create an emergency preparedness plan.

I have started an emergency backpack for each of us. They are not complete but here’s what’s packed so far.

Flip flops

Whistle

4 small recharable flashlights and charger each

Small first aid kit

Pop up dog bowls

New leash and harness for both dogs

Copies of dog’s shot’s

I have a few personal items to add to mine and may think of other items. My backpack is large, I’m hoping to have time to get my phone and laptop. The key is to get us and the dogs out of the house in an emergency. Items can be replaced.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Fun · Self-Care

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
If you were going to open up a shop, what would you sell?

After retiring in 2005, I opened a store on Ebay for five years. It was fun but a ton of work, of course any business you want to be successful is hard work. The only brick and mortor store I’ve thought about was a coffee shop/bookstore. I would create a relaxing area where people can enjoy their coffee, chat and buy a few books.

The idea came to me in the early 90’s when I was buying Starbucks coffee online, long before stores opened. All the work behind running the business didn’t cross my mind because of my workload. It’s still a cool idea if you create an environment that is welcoming, comfortable and serves great coffee.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Health and Wellbeing · Self-Care

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What is the most important thing to carry with you all the time?

My phone is the most important item I carry with me. I have cognative impairment and agoraphobia, my driving is very limited but without a phone I can’t call my husband to help me home. If it weren’t for the health issues I would say chap stick.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
Describe your life in an alternate universe.

I don’t believe in alternate universes which makes it impossible to describe my life living on one. My life would be the same bacause I like my life. The only fake universe I’ve seen is on the original Star Trek. Living in another universe doesn’t even cross my mind. That could be my thinking process is on the logical side.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Fun · Health and Wellbeing

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
Describe one habit that brings you joy.

Birdwatching gives me so much joy from the squirrels chase each other around the tree and enjoying learning a new call from migrating birds. We have two types of woodpeckers, the smaller one has the nicest little chirp, it’s like it’s telling me he has arrived. There’s also Red Tail Hawks in the area, luckily they hang out in a near by tree top and I watch the majestic wings when they leave to hunt.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Men & Womens Health · Moving Forward

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
How would you describe yourself to someone who can’t see you?

I am a huge animal lover who is concerned about climate change, mental health, helping others and enjoying life. How I look doesn’t matter, that’s the last thing I want someone to remember. I’m a whole person and it’s important to show who I am on the inside.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What traditions have you not kept that your parents had?

We eat in the living room vs the dining table most of the time. Our recliners have desk attached we can eat on it.

Long gone are the days of cooking every possible item for the holidays.

Only cooking on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The eve’s are spent eating a meal that includes, hard meats, several cheeses, olives, crackers and deserts of course. It’s a simple way to have a special meal without cooking.

Eating at 5:00 PM everyday.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Travel

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
If you won two free plane tickets, where would you go?

For me to travel to Jordan, the conflict in the Middle East would have to change dramatically. I’ve wanted to see Jordan since I saw a feature on the Travel Channel. The awe-inspiring Petra, Dead Sea salt baths and the people are so inviting. They are so generous by taken in so many refugee’s.

The list of places and countries to travel to is long but with planes falling out of the sky every day, I’m not flying.

St. Petersburg, Russia

What a great view out of my hotel window.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health · Music Videos

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What do you listen to while you work?

I didn’t have the opportunity to listen to music at work until I moved into a sales role. My days were spent driving to client meeting to client meeting so there was time to enjoy some tunes. I listened to some popular 90’s music but mostly CD’s of my favorite old Rock & Roll tunes.

I’m now retired and enjoy quite days unless my husband sends me a link to a song he thinks I’ll like. I’ve included a great tune by Bonnie Rait & Keb Mo.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family · Family Cookbook · Fun · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What’s your go-to comfort food?

Many of the go to comfort foods today are the same since childhood. Mac & cheese, chicken & potato soup, peanut butter & jelly sandwichs, chocolate cake and my daily Cherrios top the list. My Gramps made the best homemade chicken soup and a mean job on potato soup.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Family · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Photography

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
Which activities make you lose track of time?

There are many activities I can lose myself into, like photography, ancestry, looking at old photos of my family and ancestors, working in my garden, watching birds and researching topics of interest.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
List 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.

God loves me

Jesus died for my sins

Artificial Intelligence is good and very bad

Climate change is real

My dogs love me

My husband loves me

Writing is the perfect outlet

My Grandparents past the through the pearly gates

Compromise is the start to finding a solution

The politics of today will change in future

I’m not sure what picture someone will draw about me after reading this post, I’d love your feedback.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Communicating · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
If you could host a dinner and anyone you invite was sure to come, who would you invite?

My dinner party would be non-traditional in that each guest is deceased. First it would be multiple parties to talk with everyone I have questions for. The first party would include Jesus, The Virgin Mother, Peter, and Moses. Each shaped my would profoundly and I would love to expaned on certain topics I’m not clear on. I believe Jesus has the ability to see present day but not so much the others. I would love to hear Jesus take on the world today and his new rally cry to Christains. Since the Bible is the foundation of the Christain religion, Jesus might not have anything else to add.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health · Travel

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
Describe your most memorable vacation.

I was on the way to the airport to fly to St. Petersburg, Russia when 9/11 happened, we heard about the disaster on the radio. Back home I called my gramps to ask him if he thought this was the beggining of WW3, he replied it to soon to tell.

The airspace was closed for two weeks before I could make the trip. What was so surprising is people from around the globe were coming up to me to say how sorry they were, some were offering hugs, it was comforting.

The city was more than In could ever ask for, the people, the food, the art, the architecture, the ballet, I could go on. I was told that most women do not travel alone so people would know I was American. The hotel staff took great care of me including calling the restaurants to let them I was coming and to look for me.

View out of my room

I was not alarmed or scared the entire time. Traveling back to St. Petersburg is a desire of mine, the political situation would have to change greatly.

Happy travels.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Communicating · Family · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What’s your definition of romantic?

It’s hard to define romantic because romance is different to everyone. Romance has to be pure without an agenda or expecting something in return. The action makes you happy as well, meaning that you are happy because they are happy. Romance doesn’t have a price tag or have to be a big deal, a hug or helping to fold clothes works great for me.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What are you most worried about for the future?

The first major concern is the state of politics around the world. Since I live in America I’m more concered than ever. Some county’s dislike Trump so much they are now taking it out on American travelers. I’ve seen locals in Italy carring water guns and shotting them on Americans, and the protest over Jeff Bezos wedding was pure hatred. I understand why other countries are unhappy with Trump but direct your energy towards him. I don’t like him either, he’s an embarrassment but hating all Americans because of him is ridiculous.

This isn’t about politics, it’s about countires like Italy who are unhappy in uptick of visitors. Before you shoot that water gun at a traveler remember, tourist generates a huge amount of money in businesses across the board, if tourist stop coming people will loss their jobs and the economy will down slide. Get over yourself. This is one way hatred starts.

Climate Change has concerened me for many years, it started with recycling newspaper and once recycling was expaned to others items I was able to more to help. We use less water, set the temperature up or down a couple of degrees, bought thermal windows, and I’m looking for ideas every day.

I slowly learned more about what Climate Change looked like, large icebergs melting at record speed which has increased the water levels which has created flooding in areas is one example. Now when buying items, I think about how they may impact the environment and is the packaging recyclable.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What are your daily habits?

My life has changed so much because I have several chronic illness and I don’t leave the house that often. So my habits are a bit boring. The first thing is start the fireplace in my office, give the dogs a snack, eat breakfast and hit the computer to work on my blog. After the writing is done I play with the dogs, if needed do laundry and eat lunch and take a short nap.

I do any chores I can, spend time for self-care, make calls and at 4:30 I join my husband downstairs. A short time later we start working on dinner, watch the news and two shows we’ve recorded and then I’m off to bed an hour before bedtime so I can unwind and be relaxed when it’s time to sleep.

Its not a habit but each week there a couple of doctor apptoinments.

My life is the opposite of life before Lyme, cognitive impairment and agrophobia.

I keep looking for brighter and more exciting days.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Self-Care

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
How do you practice self-care?

Self-care is critical to my mental health and I take time every day to take care of myself. It can be as simple as closing my computer and enjoying a candle. At night I have a relaxing routine which consist of laying down at least 45 minutes before bedtime to unwind, slather myself in body cream, use a roller ball with essential oils to use on my pulse points and turn on the ultrasonic diffuser with relaxing essential oil. I meditate to clear and head a shake off the stress and I relaxed come bedtime.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family · Fun

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?

There are several food items that remind me of childhood but the one that rises to the top is a multi-flavored snow cone. I can’t recall the last time I saw a snow cone truck or store but no doubt they are out there. I can still hear the music blaring from the snow cone truck, and running out to get my delcious treat.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
Write about your first crush.

I don’t remembeer my first crush but do remember my crush at nine years old. We didn’t attend the same school so the only time we saw each other was on weekends at the skating rink. He was so cool and hade the greatest personality but I broke up with him because we both had braces and I was afraid of our braces getting caught in each others. He was totally cool about it, I mean how serious is a crush at nine years old.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What’s your favorite thing about yourself?

This is not a question I’ve thought about before, I like to keep looking outwards. The favorite thing about myself is the ability to get up after being knocked down, the strenght within has brought me a happy life.

Have a great day.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
How do you want to retire?

How I thought retirement would happen is the opposite of how it actually happened. My granny had two major strokes which caused Dementia and she became violent regularly. I made a promise to both of my grandparents that I would make sure they could die at home which was their wish. After the first stroke, I would come over to allow gramps to run errands. This worked until the day it all fell apart.

He was at the grocery store and she thought he had left her at somebody’s house and wasn’t coming back. There’s no understanding or logical times when dealing with Dementia. I took the photos off the walls of my gramps, my father, myself, and her long-dead favorite dogs, nothing would bring her back to reality. I had to give her a sedative and it broke my heart.

The only way to calm her and keep her from trying to hurt herself was for gramps to be there.

I was semi-retired at this point but my grampa needed me every day to help. The reality is, I would not change one thing. I showed up, gave all I could four weeks on end and I has able to keep my promise to her about dying at home.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
Describe one of your favorite moments.

I’m blessed to have so many great memories thanks to my grandparents but one funny memory was with my gramps. He took me to the levee bottoms to teach me how to park, and he brought too big trash cans with him for me to practice with. With each attempt, I would knock a trashcan over, and gramps would patiently reset the can. After an hour we called it a day, I bet he prayed I would pass my test. I did pass but not with the highest score I’m sure.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Fun · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What are you passionate about?

That’s a good question because there are times when my passion changes, like learning something new. My neverending passions are photography, my houseplants, traveling, and our dogs. As I’ve aged my passions are less adventuresome but I have the greatest memories of diving, hiking, and traveling internationally.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What’s the one luxury you can’t live without?

I’m blessed to have luxuries like good candles and a Lambswool throw but one luxury I can’t live without is the fireplace in my office. I use it every day year-round because I’m cold-natured. It can be 90 degrees outside and I’m in front of the fire with a sweatshirt on.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family · Fun · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
What are the most important things needed to live a good life?

When I was much younger, having a good life meant money and material things but those things did not make my life a good one. After turning 40 years old, I realized what is most important to me. Family tops the list followed by being kind, trustworthy, follow through on commitments, and being grateful for what I have.

I have a great life now instead of a shallow one.

Melinda

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