Life in progress


19 Comments

JusJoJan 5/26 – Nature

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “nature,” is brought to us by J-Dub. Check out her blog here!

I thought maybe I’d find the last picture I took outside to go with my post today.

But it’s one I’ve shared before, taken on the 10th of September.

One blue heron

I think I’ve been out of the house since then, but I’m not entirely sure.

This short, housebound post is part of Just Jot it January! Want to join in? Just click here to get to the prompt and drop your link. It’s fun!

Thanks again to J-Dub for the prompt!


7 Comments

JusJoJan 4/26 – Arms

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “arms,” was chosen by Cheryl. Check out her blog here!

Unless you really try, you rarely notice how good you’ve got it until something comes along to make things worse.

I’m thinking, at the moment (because I’m really trying) of how wonderful it is to have the use of both of my arms.

A few years back, I had a frozen shoulder. My right arm was essentially useless, because every time I moved it, it hurt like the dickens. Then it got better and my other shoulder went. I never really regained the full use of my left shoulder joint, but I’m grateful for what I have.

So this is just a reminder … to remember. Remember the last time something hurt (something that got better, that is) or even the last time your nose was stuffed up, and take a moment to move and to breathe.

And enjoy doing it.

This grateful post is part of Just Jot it January! Want to join in? Just click here to get to the prompt and drop your link. It’s fun!

Thanks again to Cheryl for the prompt!


19 Comments

JusJoJan 2/26 – Magnify

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “magnify,” was the word choice from Barbara. Check out her blog here!

The bots are at it again, scraping this website and artificially boosting my visitor and view numbers in order to feed AI.

I used to get an emotional lift out of my increased stats on WordPress. They made me want to do more, work harder; they provided incentive to keep writing.

Now?

The bots, to me, magnify the effect AI is having on our humanity.

Why bother trying when there are machines that can surpass all our efforts? Write books in the blink of an eye, draw anything we can come up with on a whim without ever putting pen to paper?

We are important, damn it.

Our efforts are important, and so are our talents. The details we envision when we create CAN NOT BE INCLUDED when a simple prompt is typed into a machine.

We must never lose our appreciation for what we create. For what we imagine. For what our lifetimes of experience supply to our work and make it human.

This soapbox-elevated post is part of Just Jot it January! Want to join in? Just click here to get to the prompt and drop your link. It’s fun!

Thanks again to Barbara for the prompt!


17 Comments

JusJoJan 1 – Mindfulness

This post is part of Just Jot it January, and the prompt word, “mindfulness,” comes to us from Emily. Check out her blog here!

About 20 years ago or so, back when I was learning and playing Tai Chi, I practiced mindfulness a lot.

Mindfulness is deeply ingrained in what Tai Chi teaches—movement with intention, movement that takes every ounce of concentration.

I’d love to go back to Tai Chi, but I don’t think there are any classes here where I live.

I’ll check when I finish this post.

And Just Jot it January strikes again, making me mindful of what I should be doing. 😀

This self-motivating post is part of Just Jot it January! Want to join in? Just click here to get to the prompt and drop your link. It’s fun!

Thanks again to Emily for the prompt!


53 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday – Happy 2026!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, prosperous, and safe new year!

P.S. Watch for the “Prompt Me” post later for Just Jot it January.


If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com



25 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday – All I want for Christmas…

…is for everyone reading this to have a wonderful Thursday, December 25th, no matter what you celebrate. 🙂


If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com



21 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday – Whatever shall we eat?

It’s that time of year again when I have to decide what I want my kids to cook for Christmas dinner. I truly am blessed.


If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com



23 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday – An accomplishment?

Yesterday I had a whole to-do list and managed only to take the family to get our flu and COVID shots and decorate a gingerbread house, neither of which were on my list.


If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com



36 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday – I don’t think this is mathing

Is it just me, or does this seem a bit … off?

Photo: From my WordPress stats: 61 visitors but only 39 views. … What were the other 22 visitors doing if not viewing my posts?


If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com



37 Comments

One-Liner Wednesday – What did you do yesterday?

I published a new book. What did you do yesterday?


If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.

NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.

Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”

The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:

1. Make it one sentence.

2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.

3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.

4. Add our lovely badge to your post for extra exposure!

5. Have fun!

Badge by Laura @ riddlefromthemiddle.com