Creativity Project Year Two-Day 86

Today I wrote a bit of story, instead of journaling:

I combined the prompts from NaPoWriMo and Poetic Asides to create my poem. If you need a little nudge to get your muse in action, please visit those sites.

Hold That Jaundiced Outlook

Don’t look at me with
Envious accusing eyes,
I have just as much
A right to express myself
As do you loftier ones.

You may still believe
Your advantages will buy
You a greater share
Of everyone’s attention,
But I own a voice as well.

Keep those unfair thoughts
Within your own shuttered minds,
Without spreading your
Bitterness throughout this our
Fair social environment.

My experience
Is worthy of chronicling
Just as is your own
With great creativity
And wild imagination.

Remember freedom
Belongs to each one of us
No matter our wealth,
We are fortunate people
Who can achieve all our dreams.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, April 4, 2013

I am grateful:

1.   I got up in time to go to town today.
2.   The CHN&V magazines were available at the mall.
3.   I had my Droid and was able to call Mom at home.
4.   Wal-Mart still had Easter candy and I was able to get some at half price.
5.   It did not rain on me while I was out.

My Thursday went quite well. I hope your day was pleasurable. If you are not too busy, I recommend you engage your creativity and make something you can share with others. It can be writing, photographs, crafts, art, or anything you can imagine. The point is to use the multitude of talent that lies within you.

As a prompt, write about an unexpected meeting with someone from your past. You might want to write a poem, story, or journal entry to explore the subject. It does not have to be someone you were romantically involved with. It could be a teacher, a friend, a classmate, a business associate, anyone really. If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for reading my blog. I hope you will return often, but you might also want to enter your email in the space above and subscribe to Chronicles to receive future updates. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share, please leave a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 19

Journal entry:

Freely Given

In this
World nothing is
Really free, all things come
With strings attached and some of those
Can be quite overwhelming to ourselves,
But full salvation given by
Christ comes to us by grace
A free gift to
Accept

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Sunday, January 27, 2013

I am grateful:

1.   I was able to get up after only four hours of sleep.
2.   I went to Sunday School and Worship Service at my church.
3.   I am learning a lot through our Bible study.
4.   The children sang in the worship service and it was very moving.
5.   I am up to date on all my devotional and Bible reading.

I have had a wonderful Sunday. I found the time spent discussing the full divinity and full humanity of Jesus very enlightening. I hope you have had an enjoyable day. Before you retire this evening exercise your creativity and make something wonderful to share with the world.

As a prompt, write about your concept of something free. You might want to write a poem, story, or journal entry. Even a note that might lead to further writing later would be good. If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Should you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share with me, leave a comment. Maybe you liked what you found here, please take some time to check out the archives. If you would like future updates you can subscribe to Chronicles by email.

Always,
Jo Ann

 

365 Creativity Project-Day 181

Journal entry:

My poem today is in answer to the prompt at The Sunday Whirl. The italicized words in the poem were supplied by that site. If you are in need of inspiration you might find the prompt helpful, so go visit.

Fair Warning

Ignorant men spurn
Housewives who fall deeply and
Completely in love
With them expecting to spend
Eternity in marriage.

These unlikely chaps
Spend months subtracting themselves
From every year where
They think their balls must retire
In dusty musty drawers.

They avoid the sting
Of soft words penetrating
The tough outer rind
Of the skin they build around
Their ruthless unfaithful hearts.

These unenlightened
Creatures believe privilege
Allows them to use
Women only as playthings,
Discarded after handling.

Ladies do beware
Keeping your sweet affections
For appreciative
Men who know full well to treat
Their partners with great respect.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Sunday, July 8, 2012

Photographs:

I am grateful:

1.   I woke up early again this morning.
2.   The Sunday Whirl gave me an interesting list of words with which to work.
3.   I enjoyed listening to some music from my iPod and Bose SoundDock.
4.   The televangelists gave inspiring messages today.
5.   We are halfway through reading the Bible completely this year.

I hope your Sunday has been relaxing allowing you many enjoyable moments. Take time to create something now, if you have not already today. It will help complete your day and make you feel you have accomplished much.

If you need a prompt write about something you learned this week. We are bombarded by information each day, so I am sure you encountered something new. If you use this prompt please leave a link to your work in the comments so we can enjoy your creation and perhaps learn something ourselves.

I am so glad you took the time to read my blog, please leave me a comment about your experience.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 124

Journal entry:

I Am So Over Our Past

We were then as one
I was happier than ever,
But it could not last.
Our destiny together
Was to be driven apart.

I no longer pine
For your arms wrapped around
My wistful body.
I have found my happiness
Beyond those old boundaries.

I left yesterday
In the shadows languishing
Without amorous
Memories to idolize;
I am so over our past.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, May 12, 2012

Photographs:

Kirby…

Mother and child…

Iron…

I am grateful:

1.   I have some wonderful music to which I can listen.
2.   My iPod keeps my whole musical library sorted.
3.   My Bose SoundDock renders music perfectly.
4.   The Kirby helps me keep the floors clean.
5.   Mom is here with me.

I hope your Saturday has been pleasant. Take a few moments to do something creative. It should not be hard for you at all.

Let me know what you think of today’s entry by leaving a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 106

Journal entry:

April Poem A Day Challenge, poem twenty-four:

More Wasted Words

I know I should not
Write about you once again
Because you are gone,
But when I think of loving
You always come to my mind.

I do not love you
In the way of fresh lovers,
But my heart remains
Entangled in the idea
Of you, though you are absent.

I sincerely wish
There were someone else brand new
Filling emptiness
You left in my heart and life,
But no one appears to start.

Perhaps the fault is
All mine for so vividly
Remembering us.
Maybe I need to excise
The thought of you from my mind.

So once again you
Captured my full attention
Even though I know
You will never read my lines;
Get behind me, you bastard.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Photographs:

Amaryllis…

Amaryllis…

Yucca with new shoot which will bloom…

Clover…

I am grateful:

1.   I took a shower and it helped me wake up.
2.   I went to town and back safely.
3.   I use the BlackBerry to keep my shopping list.
4.   I like the poem I wrote today.
5.   I have a few ideas for new creations.

Tuesday has been a very full day for me. I hope you accomplished what you wanted to get done. Take some time to create something. The PAD Challenge for today was a love poem or anti-love poem. I am sure you can write one of those.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 73

A poem:

Photographs of some journals:

I am grateful:

1.   I went back to bed to rest.
2.   I am feeling a little better than earlier.
3.   We are reading in Joshua, and I am reminded of how awesome God is.
4.   I have enough money to pay my Boost Mobile bill.
5.   The cut on my finger was not so bad that it required stitches.

Happy Thursday, I hope you did some creating today.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 72

Journal entry and poem:

Photographs:

Decorative sign at Zaxby’s…

Another sign…

Malibu in parking lot…

Pansies…

Close up of pansies…

Another close up of pansies…

I am grateful:

1.   Mom’s bone density test went well.
2.   Lunch at Zaxby’s was delicious.
3.   Mom liked the cup I bought her and it was a surprise even though she was with me.
4.   The cleaning did not hurt much.
5.   I only had two cavities.

I hope your Wednesday went well. Take a few moments to do something creative.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 42

This is something a little different. It is a bit of creative writing, maybe the beginning of a story. At least it is a scene:

Some pictures:

Squirrel in tree…

Daffodils…

Close up of Daffodils…

Squirrel…

Squirrel with nut…

Squirrel with nut…

Squirrel…

Daffodils…

Camellia and bud…

Hawk in flight…

I do not usually write stories, but I am quite good at beginnings. It is sustaining the tales in the middle that causes me vexation. I suppose practice would make it easier for me, but I tend to consider myself more a poet than prose writer.

I am grateful:

1.   The chiropractor was able to give me a more intense adjustment because my muscles were not as tight as they have been.
2.   I replaced the milk that was spilled.
3.   We picked up Krystals for lunch.
4.   Hope and I walked a mile.
5.   We are moving through Leviticus in our Bible reading.

I hope you had a great Monday and nurtured your creative spark.

Always,
Jo Ann

Part of the 99%???

Why I Understand Struggle and Heartache

I read the stories of others and am reminded to be thankful for all the wonderful blessings I have.

I have Schizo-Affective Disorder, which is in simple terms a combination of Schizophrenia and Bi-Polar Disorder. My condition is debilitating and without medication, I am unable to function.

I was originally diagnosed as a severe Paranoid Schizophrenic in 1981. It was then believed I would never be more than a vegetable needing care for all my needs. Thanks to my parents, medical intervention, and a great deal of prayer I recovered enough to go to work and live normally. I continued to have breaks with reality because I was unable to afford regular medication and in those periods, I would become unable to work. Hallucinations and paranoid delusions make one unfit for the working world.

During one of the good periods, without medication, I became pregnant and gave birth to my wonderful son. His father did not want our marriage to continue and did not want a child. We returned to my parents’ home because the stress of the break-up caused me to breakdown.

When I recovered, I went to work and became manager of a convenience store working for Marathon Oil. I paid for Cigna health and disability insurance. I won many commendations for my accomplishments at work. I worked diligently and well for several years. Workers became undependable and scarce and I had to work eighteen-hour days to keep the store operational. I hardly slept or spent any time with my family. After months, I lost my grip on reality and had to stay home one day. My district manager fired me rather than allow me the sick days and vacation time I had earned. I lost my health and disability insurance. The disability insurance would have been paying me a comfortable wage all these years, but the company cheated me out of my earned benefits by unfair termination. I was too sick to fight for my rights. I was married at the time so my husband and family helped me regain my senses. I was a full-time homemaker, wife, and mother for some years.

My nephew and father died suddenly and the stress led to my having another breakdown. My husband was unable to deal with the pressure and divorced me. It was 1997 and I was finally forced to seek Social Security Disability benefits because I could not survive without the help. Even then, I lived with my Mom to avoid homelessness for my son and myself.

There have been three more significant breaks with reality in the intervening years. I eventually had to declare bankruptcy because I could not maintain the payments on my debt.

I managed to raise my son and he has become a United States Marine. I have become full-time caregiver for my Mom who has serious health problems including Parkinson’s disease, mini-strokes, and mild dementia.

I live on a Social Security Disability Income of $790 a month and a medically needy Medicaid benefit that helps pay some of my medical expenses. I contribute by caring for my Mom who would otherwise require full-time care.

I would enjoy a part-time job, but I would lose my Medicaid benefits and the stress might bring on another breakdown, so I remain unemployed.

I am very thankful to be able to write this today because there have been many times when I was unable to form cognizant sentences. I hope my words touch you and make you realize there are some who need government benefits to survive. I am doing my best and functioning at a high level, but this is a good moment. God willing things will continue well, but with a condition like mine, there are no guarantees.