thefouramigosblog

It depends on what I’m doing. . When I was younger, my most creative and productive moments came between the hours of 1am and 3am. All was quiet and I could hear myself think. My mind was allowed to freeflow through insights, beliefs and truths.

When I worked as a writer, after lunch was my most unproductive time. Food made me sleepy and my wits dull. To avoid this I usually spent the time in the gym working out. The workouts stimulated me and my brain.

I think productivity can be measured also by how much you enjoy something. For instance, when I’m planning a trip, I’m very productive. I can work for hours researching places to stay and reading reviews.

But I hate housework. So I’m slow to start and find a million excuses to take breaks, and therefore it takes me much longer than someone else. That’s also called procrastination.

Lately, I’ve been looking forward to these little prompts. I write them during my morning coffee and read others as well.

One of the things I’ve learned in life is that whatever you decide to do, choose passion over pay. If you love what you do it will never be work!

These are a few I use 👍🤗💕🙏🤣but that’s about it.

👍To say ok to whoever I’m texting with.

🤗 💕 for hugs and love at end of a text

🙏 if someone needs prayers I usually text the words first

🤣🤣🤣How I feel about this prompt

Ridiculous!!🤣🤣

Sometimes I love to play devil’s advocate when discussing a particular subject. Point counterpoint. If you like something I take the other viewpoint. It’s fun and engaging. It also expands the mind because we are not locked into our preconceived notions.

I don’t watch news that only supports my viewpoint. This way I’m well-versed in the topic.

With family we discuss history. Do you remember this or that? That happens with long time friends as well.

With everyone I discuss how we travel luxuriously on a budget. That’s always a subject with lots of questions for me.

Politics not so much unless it’s with people who don’t tear their hair out or attack when a viewpoint other than their own is expressed. I’m not crazy about radicalization on any side.

Spirituality and healing are great topics. That’s usually a calm insightful topic unless it heads in the direction of religion which is fraught with tension if the person is too rigid in his thinking.

But above all discussing anything is great fun if it’s filled with humor and compassion.

Many years ago I met a man. We had conversation and he was very nice. He was well spoken and smart.

One day I ran into him at my daughter’s school. She was 11. I said hi to him and making small talk, I asked “do you have a child in this school.”

His response was, “I have children in the memorial school, central school, middle school and high school.”

I said, “Wow! How many children do you have?”

His response, “five!”

My response, “nice seeing you.”

However, he pursued me and I took a risk. We have been married over 30 years and have built a wonderful life together. And all our children are grown and we now have 9 grandchildren.

Life is good!

I’m not sure how to address this since often I took action and regretted it. Often I needed to pause before I responded. But mostly this is with words.

But let me think back. Last year my dear sister died. She hadn’t looked well and had lost a lot of weight. Of course, she wasn’t much for doctors and it took my cajoling to get her there. Her doctor ordered a chest scan but it came back fine. No cancer. He told her he would see her in six months. She died two weeks later.

A part of me wished I had taken her in my car to an emergency room. Instead, we did nothing. She died on her couch sitting next to her husband.

So should I have taken action? I’m not sure. She died peacefully without tubes and tests or being a guinea pig for the doctors. It was peaceful! But I miss her and wish she had stuck around a little longer.

Nervous? Sometimes everything. Sometimes nothing.

When I’m getting ready to go on a roller coaster at Universal Studios I can feel my stomach do a little flip flop. But I actually love the thrill!

When I was a kid and knew I had to present an oral book report in school, I would get so nervous I missed school. I still get nervous doing public speaking but have done it quite a bit during my life. I always feel nervous. Nobody can tell or at least that’s what they told me!

I used to get out and out frightened when I saw a worm. Yes, a teeny weeny worm. I could wrap a boa constrictor around my neck but a worm would send me into a panic attack. If it rained, I wouldn’t leave my house because all the gushy worms were all over the sidewalks.

But then one day later in life, my mother and I were talking about it. She said when I was little, about 2, my brother and his friend put me in a hole in the backyard that had lots of worms in it. Alas, the answer to the worm problem. Today I still don’t like worms but I can leave my house and walk on the sidewalks. Just don’t ask me to touch one!

Demanding days are far and between since I have been retired. But even in retirement, it can be trying at times. So what do I do? Well, I now live in sunny Florida so walking is always good. I like to go to this wetlands area where I get to see lots of wildlife.

I will call a friend and share about my day. Usually, a friend who will make me laugh because laughter always lightens the day.

And if things were really trying, I take a hot shower and let the day wash down the drain. Afterward, I listen to meditation music and center myself. Usually, by this time, all the demands of the day have finally disappeared.

My favorite thing in the world to do is to travel and see new places. I like to share these moments with family and friends because I know they won’t go to many of the places I travel to.