365 Creativity Project-Day 143

Journal entry:

The poem today was inspired by the prompt at Trifecta. You should visit the site if you are in need of inspiration.

My Decline

I decay daily
My lined face falls into ruin,
I am diminished
My appeal fades slow away,
But I am not discouraged.

I still have great worth
Beyond the physical form,
My love increases
As the time quickly passes,
My wisdom grows more astute.

I reach out for new
Experience enriching
My ongoing life,
I build up a treasure trove
Of victory over waste.

Faith continues on
Becoming ever stronger,
Belief becomes more
Easily applied to days
Wherein I grow still older.

Even as decay
Works against my advancing,
I fight on each hour
Moving toward perfection
Furnished by my vibrant soul.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, May 31, 2012

Photographs:

Mom’s Homebound Buddies, Frances and Wendell, who visit every month or so to bring literature and recordings from our church.

Me, as I usually am… not as I imagine myself to be…

Penny cooperating with the camera…

Ko-Ko and Hope lounging with Mom…

I am grateful:

1.   I woke up from a laughing dream early this morning and chose to stay up.
2.   I took a shower and dressed instead of staying in pajamas.
3.   Wendell and Frances visited.
4.   My daughter-in-law, Laura, called and we had a wonderful conversation that lasted nearly an hour and a half.
5.   I completed my creative work very early.

I hope you are enjoying this last day of May. If you have been following my promptings you should have a store of creative work from this month. Reflect on it today and do something more.

There was an interesting article I read, and I want to pass along the link to you: Ode Magazine. This dealt with the health benefits of writing, and I want you to know that your creative endeavors can have a lasting positive influence on your life. I encourage you to do creative work for your well being and happiness.

I hope you will leave me a comment expressing your thoughts. Your feedback is much appreciated.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 142

A somewhat biographical story start:

Today’s poem was inspired by the prompt on Poetic Asides which is a Writer’s Digest Editor blog.

Common Pleasures

It is the small things
That enliven every day
Bringing happiness:
The curve of a smile gracing
The face of someone you love,

The gentlest touch
Comforting in its kindness,
The encouraging
Words that move you to action
That you thought impossible,

The furry embrace
Of a beloved pet who
Crawls into your lap,
And the sight of something you
Consider so beautiful.

These and the many
Other things that touch your life
With their plain sweetness
Make daily living worthwhile,
Enriching like a treasure.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Photographs:

A very good book I am dipping into along the way…

This is a very interesting volume…

I love this mug… it is Mom’s.

Common barnyard fowl make great decoration…

I am grateful:

1.   Our mammogram results were good.
2.   The air conditioner helps keep us cool.
3.   The thunderstorms last night caused no damage.
4.   Electricity makes life more enjoyable.
5.   Photographs capture moments in time.

Wednesday is the middle of the week, hopefully your day was rewarding. There is no reason you cannot do something creative. You have the talent within you. The tools can be as simple as a pen and paper. Make no excuses, just do it, and expand your happiness.

I would love to have your comments, please leave one.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 141

I did not want to expound on my day, so I instead played with words:

The prompt for today’s poem came from Carry On Tuesday. You might like to visit the site and try your hand at creating a poem of your own.

The Long and Winding Road…

Life is a journey
That runs from birth to the grave,
Along the way we learn
Many lessons that carry
Us toward our completion.

At times our road leads
Us in winding directions,
Back and forth along
The path we choose to follow
With companions on our way.

We long to finish
All the tasks we are given
With our best effort,
Using capabilities
That we have developed strong.

Disappointments may
Come into our lives, but we
Keep our spirits high
By continuing forward
And accomplishing our goals.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Photographs:

Wisteria reaching out to pine tree…

Wisteria climbing pine tree…

The damage wind did…

I am…

The novel I am currently reading, along with others…

I am grateful:

1.   I can have Oreo cookies for breakfast.
2.   Penny’s prescription was written and ready.
3.   Even though the doctor was not in and the office had our phone number wrong, our trip was not wasted because the nurse drew Mom’s blood.
4.   I mailed a small package to one of my friends.
5.   We had Subway sandwiches for supper.

I hope your Tuesday has been pleasant. Try your hand at something creative before the day is over.

Leave me a comment if you have the time.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 140

Journal entry:

Missing

She told me he will
Leave for Afghanistan soon,
I asked exactly
When and she said she could not
Tell me, so it is secret.

I am only his
Mother now and not privy
To things going on,
She is his wife so she knows
What I can no longer learn.

It makes me worry
No less that I am left out,
The information
I used to be the first to
Know has departed from me.

I am now banished
To the outskirts of knowledge,
He is my one child,
My failure to obtain truth
Is just a part of his growth.

I am so misplaced
In this new life of his choice,
My outstanding fault
Is the continuing need
To explain I still MISS him.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Monday, May 28, 2012

Photographs:

My great-niece, Jayden…

Jayden…

Jayden…

Jayden…

Jayden…

I am grateful:

1.   I finished reading the Song of Solomon today.
2.   Jeremy came, cleaned the gutters, and took off the trash.
3.   I spent some time with Jayden.
4.   We had hot dogs and French fries for supper.
5.   Carrie Leigh and little Jesse came to visit.

I hope you all have had a Happy Memorial Day. Take some time to do something creative before your day ends.

Please leave me a comment to let me know your thoughts.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 139

Journal entry:

Today’s poem is derived from The Sunday Whirl. I hope maybe you will take time to create something from this wordle.

The Reunion

I scrape off the rough barnacles
That cocoon my flinty tongue,
The words brittle like old chalk
Blur in the austere presence
Of those drenched in the cold hate
Splattered upon me by their slander
Which burnished my youthful days,
And yet I speak soft syllables
Of generous friendliness
Accepting them without regret
Moving beyond the fallen tears.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Sunday, May 27, 2012

Photographs:

A few books for inspiration…

Hope…

Mom’s plant I gave her for Mother’s Day…

Mom, Hope and Ko-Ko…

I am grateful:

1.   Laura and Alex had some time to spend together before his deployment to Afghanistan.
2.   I can rely on God to make life worthwhile.
3.   The internet allows me to stay connected to others for whom I care.
4.   Tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches made us a good supper.
5.   Writing is an honest joy.

I hope you are enjoying this Memorial Day weekend, and that you remember why we celebrate. I believe creativity honors our time here, so do something creative today.

If you enjoyed this entry, or have suggestions for improvement, please leave me a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 138

A retrospective story start:

The prompt that inspired the above and the poem below was found at Poetry Jam. I have much material on the subject of bullies. Unfortunately, those memories of being victimized have never faded.

Inhumanity

They want to be friends
Now so many years after
The damage was done,
I suppose they believe it
Easy to forgive meanness.

The scars I carry
Are deeper than the surface
Of my tender skin,
The cruel words still remain
Echoing loud inside my mind.

I am a victim
Of their youthful savagery
Even in this time,
The atrocity keeps me
Bound by their brutality.

Maybe they forgot,
But my memory is fresh,
I face it each time
I look into a mirror
And am bedeviled anew.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, May 26, 2012

Photographs:

Ko-Ko…

Hope…

Penny…

I am grateful:

1.   I got up early.
2.   Sherry, our groomer, came and sheared our dogs.
3.   I finished reading The Distant Hours by Kate Morton, which was a very entertaining novel.
4.   The green beans we bought recently were surprisingly good.
5.   Hope allowed Sherry to clear out her ears better than usual.

I hope your Saturday has been filled with happiness. Make some time to get creative. You can produce something wonderful if you only make the effort.

Your comments are as always welcome and appreciated.

Always,
Jo Ann

 

365 Creativity Project-Day 137

The second exercise in What If? is to use one of your first sentences and take your story in different directions by adding a second sentence. I found this interesting. I had never thought about how each sentence could change a story so drastically.

My thoughts are concentrated on other places:

Reluctant Explorer

I rarely travel away
From home preferring my own
Environment to any
I have opportunity
To visit on a journey.

Sometimes other places call
With sweet majestic voices
That make me want to venture
Far from my comfortable
And familiar residence.

Mountains, forests, beaches, all
Entice me with their beauty
Cajoling me with their songs
Of rare untamed adventure,
Life is unpredictable.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Friday, May 25, 2012

Photographs:

Lucy and Max…

Angel Bear…

Hippopotamus…

Angel Dog…

I am grateful:

1.   I slept in today.
2.   Laura, my daughter-in-law, called to say she had gotten home safely from her trip to Okinawa to see Alex, my son.
3.   Alex works in a support position in the Air Wing of the Marine Corps.
4.   The hot dogs and French fries I cooked for supper were very good.
5.   I enjoy reading, writing, art, and photography.

I hope each of you had a fabulous Friday. If you have one, I hope your long weekend is enjoyable. If you feel so inclined do something creative with your time. It will help you feel joy.

Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 136

A few more story starts that I may explore in depth in the future:

The prompt for today’s poem came from The Sunday Whirl. I am going back to earlier prompts on this site because they are so engaging. You might enjoy giving some of them a try.

Uncertain Deity

Even a goddess is hounded
By demons who visit sacred
Rituals without intention
Of adding real significance.

They string along her followers
Distracting from indigenous
Culture elaborated in
Text that defines divinity.

She communicates her desires
From the summit of her mountain
Where graceful flags fly quite untamed
Tousled by vicious winds of change.

A goddess doubts significance
When sacred rituals are viewed
As useless despite intention
To celebrate true devotion.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, May 24, 2012

Photographs:

Day Lilies…

Yucca blooms…

Can crusher…

What If? is an inspiring book chock full of writing exercises that will have you creating material of which you have never dreamed. I purchased it from Amazon.com What If?.

Writing Magic is a book for younger writers, but you might find the exercises spark ideas as well. I purchased it from Amazon.com Writing Magic. It is a very quick read and can be passed on to inspire a youngster in your life.

I am grateful:

1.   I woke up early.
2.   The UPS driver delivered my package in a timely manner.
3.   I was able to order Iverhart for Penny since Interceptor was not available.
4.   Jeremy says he will try to come out and clean the gutters this weekend.
5.   I may be able to have a vacation next year.

I hope your Thursday has been a good day. Take time to do something creative before your day is over.

If you have thoughts to share please leave me a comment. I greatly appreciate your input.

Always,
Jo Ann

 

365 Creativity Project-Day 135

I often say I am very good at beginnings, but middles are a problem. Today I submit these story starters that I may attempt to develop into something more in the future, or maybe not.

I used the prompt at Poetic Asides to write the following poem:

Unstructured Mane

Hair is glorious,
Yet it can also be more
A trial for caring
When it chooses to go its
Own way without good guidance.

I wear my hair straight
Because that is how God chose
To make it for me.
Curling does not suit my style,
But sometimes I would like it.

Nowadays white threads
Wind their way throughout tresses
That no longer grow
As quickly nor as thickly
As they did a few years past.

I hesitate to
Go to the beauty salon
Because I cannot
Seem to make it understood
What exactly I want done.

So therefore I am
Convinced hair is both blessing
And unruly curse
To be worn in pure lovely
Freedom without much control.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Photographs:

Day Lily…

Cactus…

Cane Mill…

New figs…

Weathered chair…

I am grateful:

1.   I woke up fairly early this morning.
2.   I remembered to mail the power bill today after forgetting yesterday.
3.   Mom was able to shop with me at Wal-Mart.
4.   Because my order was damaged in shipping Amazon is sending me replacement books.
5.   I had money to purchase all the things I needed.

I hope your Wednesday has been especially rewarding. Take a few minutes to do something creative.

If you have anything to say I would love your comments.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 134

Journal entry:

Today my poetry prompt came from Carry On Tuesday. You should try their site if you are looking for inspiration.

After All, Tomorrow Is Another Day

These things you say I should do,
You have no real conception
What you are asking of me,
Nor how ill prepared I am
To take on additional
Tasks beyond my regular
Responsibilities now.

My disorders render me
Unable to accomplish
The many things required on
Ordinary every days.
It is God’s grace providing
All the care I am able
To give my full attention.

I do my personal best,
But eventually there
May come a crisis in time
Where someone else has to take
On accountability
As incapability
Might overcome my usefulness.

For now I am still enough,
After all, tomorrow
Is another day and it
Is all in the hands of God
Come whatever will He sees
Fit to bestow upon us,
But do not expect the most of me.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Unfortunately, that poem made my Mom cry because she knows how easily I could have problems that incapacitated me. I have both Schizo-Affective Disorder and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Either one could render me unable to care for her and the dogs for a time, but I hope God will continue to see fit to bless me with strength to do the things I must. My sister-in-law, Linda, indicated I should do something that I cannot manage and inspired the content of the poem. My family should back me up so that all the responsibility is not mine, but they don’t.

Photographs:

Mom close up…

Mom…

I am grateful:

1.   I woke up early.
2.   There were Oreo cookies for breakfast.
3.   I finally found a parking space at the hospital.
4.   The printer cartridge was the right one.
5.   We were able to skip Wal-Mart today.

I hope your Tuesday was less problematic than mine. Try to do something creative before you retire tonight.

If you feel moved, please leave me a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann