“My life is like a single coin. I can spend it any way I want…but I can only spend it once.”

~Robert Boardman

I encourage you to consider what Mr. Boardman is saying in today’s journal writing prompt. This holds true for all of us. Actually, when I read this quote earlier, I immediately printed it out on a beautiful handmade paper, matted and framed it, and put it next to my desk.

After you have spent some time thinking about today’s quote, write in your journal about how you have been spending your single coin of life - remember each of us can spend it any way we choose - and if you would rather spend it in a different way from this point forward. Write about both your past “spending” of your coin, and what you would like your future “spending” of your coin-called-life to be.

Daily journal writing prompt: Follow up to the previous entry by starting with a simple bulleted list - changes you can make now. Next, write a bulleted list - changes that will take time.

Then, think about how much time you have to change. Remember, none of us know how much time we have here - and oft times we put those things off that are most important.

Finally, revisit your list. What are the things that are most important to you that you would like to “spend” more of your life-coin on. Make sure those are the top of your list. Then, with each item, ask how important it is to you, and prioritize it on your life-coin-spending list accordingly.

Happy Journaling

Dee

This daily journal writing prompt is brought to you by Legacy Journals and is copyright (c) 2006, Dee Phipps & Saving Grace Enterprises unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Duplication without permission is not permitted.

“Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.”

~Ellen Goodman

When I first read this quote, I found it rather irritating. I know that many people are not able to run their business from their home office - for many reasons. And, I also believe that some people are meant to work out “in the world”, rather than sequester themselves in a small studio with limited outside contact. (makes me sound like a hermit, huh?)

However, when I stopped and took some time to reflect on this quote, it really made me think, and since thought and reflection which lead to growth is one of the reasons this site exists, I found it appropriate to include this as one of your daily journal writing prompts.

In your journal, write about what is “normal”. Do you agree with Ms. Goodman? Do you find living a life as described by her “normal”?  If so, is “normal” fulfilling?  Which is more important - fulfillment or “normalcy”? Develop this entry in your journal as much or as little as needed.

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“Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.”

~Aldous Huxley

Have you ever had one of those times where you just don’t feel like your hard work is being fully appreciated?  Or, have you ever had a time when you caught yourself *not* appreciating someone around you?  In your journal, write examples of both situations.  How were they remedied?  What do they tell you about how you can handle the situation in the future?

Daily Journal Writing Prompt Bonus:  In your journal, take some time to write about today’s quote.  What do you think causes this phenomena of taking things for granted?  What advice would you give your children, or others, on how to avoid that from both sides?

Happy Journaling!

Dee

This daily journal writing prompt is brought to you by Legacy Journals - providing you beautiful custom leather journals - and is copyright (c) 2006, Dee Phipps & Saving Grace Enterprises.  All Rights Reserved.  Duplication without permission is not permitted. 

“A true friend knows your weaknesses but shows you your strengths; feels your fears but fortifies your faith; sees your anxieties but frees your spirit; recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.”

~William Arthur Ward

One thing I frequently talk to my daughter about is what a true friend really is. At her age (12), there are simply too many “wolves in sheep’s clothing” - people disguised as “friends” but who are really poisonous, and not enough experience in discerning who the wolves are and who the real friends are (not to mention the difficulties that are inherent of a girl that age in wanting to be popular and fit in). Of course, I suppose we can say the same thing even as adults - although, as we age, we are better able to discern a true friend from a wolf.

That being said, what do you think of Mr. Ward’s quote today? In light of his definition of a true friend, consider your own friends. How many true friends do you have? What advice would you give to your children or children’s children (or neighbors children if you don’t have any of your own) about friendships? Use your own relationships with your true friends as an example.

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“I have yet to see any problem, however complicated, which, when you looked at it in the right way, did not become still more complicated.”

~Poul Anderson

I have a good friend with whom I’ve discussed this sort of thing many times (and she knows who she is!). It seems to me that we spent more than a fair share of time taking something that is relatively easy and straightforward and *making* it complicated. It’s almost as if humans have this innate desire for everything to be so complex that there’s no hope of solving it.

For example, when I first started using WordPress (blogging software), I thought it was about the best thing since sliced bread (maybe THE best, but, maybe only a runner up, it’s hard to say when I don’t eat sliced bread. ) I couldn’t believe anyone used anything else to blog with. Yet, when I introduced this to my friend, it took a little time for her to see that it was so easy to use. It was almost as if her brain was subconciously telling her that there was no way it was that easy, there must be a catch! Very quickly, though, she realized that, yes, it was super easy to use - and the rest is, well, history!

In your journal, write about something that your brain turned into a very complicated matter that was truly quite simple. Reminisce about the path you took to come to the realization it wasn’t nearly as difficult as you initially thought.

Daily journal writing prompt bonus: Are you facing an exceptionally complicated matter right now? Are you sure it’s *that* complicated? In your journal, write about it, and do some “child-like” brainstorming to see if it’s not nearly as complicated as your mind wants you to believe.

Happy Journaling!

Dee

Today’s daily journal writing prompt is brought to you by Legacy Journals - providing you custom leather journals - and is copyright (c) 2006, Dee Phipps & Saving Grace Enterprises, except where otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Duplication without permission is not permitted.

“Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.”

~Aristotle

In your journal, comment on today’s quote. Do you agree or disagree with Aristotle? Why?

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“Genius might be described as a supreme capacity for getting its possessors into trouble of all kinds.”

~Samuel Butler

I used to have a beagle (Buddy) who was so smart, that he found a way to feed his “carb addiction” by pulling out drawers to make his own private ladder to the kitchen counter. When I first read today’s quote, my mind immediately drifted to memories of his frustrating “supreme capacity” of getting into all sorts of trouble. Another thought that popped into my mind was “too smart for his own good”. Which, is sort of what Mr. Butler is talking about in today’s quote.

In your journal, provide your own personal story that reflects this “too smart for your own good” situation. This can be a story about you, someone you know, a pet, an animal, or simply someone you “heard” about (you know, your sister’s-boyfriend’s-cousin’s-brother’s-girlfriend)

Daily journal writing prompt bonus: In your journal, respond to Mr. Butler’s idea that genius can be seen as a supreme capacity for getting into trouble. Do you agree? Have you ever known a teenager who was a troublemaker in school - but, had an extremely high IQ? Write about this or other examples to illustrate your agreement or disagreement with the idea.

Happy Journaling!

The daily journal writing prompt is brought to you by Legacy Journals and is copyright (c) 2006, Dee Phipps & Saving Grace Enterprises, except where otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Duplication without permission is not permitted.