Thoughts, Poems, Pictures, I Would Like To Share

Please indulge me as I write about my son…

He is not perfect, but he is my joy. I wish he were not so far away. I miss him more than I like to think about. We talked on Voxer this morning, which made staying up all night worthwhile. He is writing a book, and unlike mine, I fully expect it to be published. He makes me believe I might even be able to write something publishable. He inspires me.

Aptly Suited

You were chosen
To be exactly
Who you are in
This time and place.

Your experience
Has made you quite
Perfect for the tasks
Given you to do.

No one else in
All of Creation
Can fill your special
Place so completely.

No matter what you
Think, no matter how
You feel, it is clear
You are exactly ideal.

Called to be part
Of this time and space,
Someone who has an
Influential place.

So make the best
Of your many talents,
Take advantage of
Your wonderful gifts.

Leave a trace of
Yourself in all things
You accomplish here,
Helping create reality.

Who knows who may
Be watching, depending
On you to go forward,
Leading courageously?

Be light within
The darkness where some
Fear greatly to tread,
You make the difference.

Never let those
Positive words leave
The center of your mind,
For you matter so much.

You were chosen
To be exactly
Who you are in
This time and place.

©Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Monday, July 29, 2013

Positive Uncertainty

You never know,
It is absolutely true,
You never know
When time will end
For those you love,
Or even yet for you.

So make the best
Of every moment,
Letting your love
Shine clearly through
In everything you do,
Because you never know.

Just because you
Have become angry,
Or you carry hidden hurts,
Does not mean you
Should not forgive, make up,
Because you never know.

Live your life to the best
Of your highest ability
And share your heart freely
With those who touch
Your existence so many ways,
Because you never know.

You can be a blessing
If you will only choose
To share your love abroad
With every single person
And creature every day,
Because you never know.

You never know,
It is absolutely true,
You never know
When time will end
For those you love,
Or even yet for you.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, July 31, 2013

The other side of the persona that makes up who I am…

Guilt And Shame

Tell me why I must
And always how I can be,
Because I cannot
But see where this failure is
Held within the depths of me.

I am not ever
And never could I yet be
The perfect answer
To the prayers lifted for
Who I should in their truth be.

I am illusion
And perhaps a delusion,
Not a reality,
I am someone no one else
Can completely imagine.

I am the broken
And crushed reed once left standing
In the cruel wind,
Who cannot survive the fall
Or the awful loss of grace.

I hang my head low
And wish I could hide away
So no one else sees
The tears that constantly fall
Because of my great mistakes.

Tell me why I must
And always how I can be,
Because I cannot
But see where this failure is
Held within the depths of me.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Monday, August 12, 2013

I am grateful:

1)   Depression does not always dog me.
2)   I am blessed beyond measure.
3)   I have not lost my faith in others despite the fact I often feel incompetence rules.
4)   Technology has allowed me to do more than I ever imagined.
5)   Dreams do come true.

As a prompt, write about a person, place, or thing that inspires you to fulfill your potential. You have an infinite ability to create, just put your heart, mind, and soul into it. I believe in you…

Please come back here again. I am not writing quite as often as I did with my Creativity Project, but you can definitely explore the past entries and perhaps find something encouraging.

God Bless You in all your endeavors.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 152

Journal entry:

The following poem is in answer to the prompt at Our Lost Jungle which is “wicked”. I am not quite sure I got it right, but I made a valiant attempt…

Oddly Whimsical

It is a wicked
Truth that I am different,
Especially strange,
But it does not bother me…
I am accustomed to it.

People may wonder
How it is I am become
This way that I am,
But it is difficult to
Make any explanation.

Life has been so much
A puzzle of highs and lows,
Which have somewhat shaped
Me into the person who
Lives in this world nowadays.

I may not fit an
Ordinary description
Of who they would like
Me to be, but I am who
God exactly chose I be.

Considering what
I have survived, it is quite
A miraculous
Blessing I continue in
Achieving so many things.

It is a wicked
Truth that I am different,
Especially strange,
But all of us are chosen
To be uniquely deranged.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Sunday, June 9, 2013

I am grateful:

1.   I have wonderful tools with which to express my creativity.
2.   God gifted me with extraordinary imagination.
3.   I am blessed to live in a time when there is freedom of expression.
4.   I have opportunities to do things I enjoy.
5.   I am loved.

My Sunday was very peaceful. I hope you had a great day. Now while you have a chance, engage your creativity and produce something to enliven the world. Your gifts are plentiful and you must only make an attempt to accomplish wonderful things. I know you can do it, because I do.

As a prompt, write about how you break the ordinary mold through your personal expression of uniqueness. Maybe you have a talent that is very rare, or you have done something most people only dream of doing. Whatever makes you different, write a poem, story, or journal entry about it and leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for reading this blog. I hope you will find your way back regularly, but you might also like to subscribe to Chronicles by email. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share, I would appreciate you leaving a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 148

Journal entry:

The prompt at my friend Khara’s Our Lost Jungle helped initiate this poem, as did the quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson…

Avoid The Crush

Emerson wrote,
“Things are in the saddle,
And ride mankind.”
Even those many years ago,
It was realized that people
Are crushed under the weight
Of all that they possess.

We need to turn our hearts
To the finer things of spirit,
Letting go our occupation
With always acquiring more,
Our souls are forever reaching
Out to be filled with sweetness
Found in loving interaction.

We can develop our potential
By employing our creative powers
Making our dear held dreams
Become reality and leaving things
To a lesser importance within
The days we live… Then we will
Be much happier every moment.

Loaded down with soulless things
We are crushed and find ourselves
Unable to rise above the heaviness,
We must break free, desiring
Relationships that reward us
With the best fulfillment of
Our many human needs.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, June 5, 2013

I am grateful:

1.   I slept long and soundly with no disturbing dreams.
2.   The buffalo hot wings we had for supper were as good as something at a restaurant.
3.   We have a working air conditioner.
4.   There is rain coming down outside.
5.   Using Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations is helping me write when I have so few ideas.

I caught up on some rest on this wonderful Wednesday. I hope your day was pleasurable. If you will turn your thoughts to working creatively, I am sure you can make something of worth to share with the world. You have the tools you need, the most important being your imagination. I urge you to give your talent a chance to shine.

As a prompt, use Emerson’s lines, “Things are in the saddle, And ride mankind.” in a poem, story, or journal entry. No doubt you can do something marvelous. If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you will return often, but you might also want to subscribe to Chronicles for updates by email. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share, please leave a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 108

Journal entry:

Casting Out Crazy

It is time to put
All these unreasonable
Thoughts away and shut
Them in a box where they can
Stay, forever and a day.

I wish it was that
Simple to take back control,
But wrestling with thoughts
Is not an easy game to
Play, especially today.

Casting out crazy
Is much harder than I thought
It would ever be,
Because I am unsure of
Myself, not trusting of me.

There is no one to
Talk to who I believe can
Fully understand,
Because it is all plainly
And surely insanity.

I do not have such
Answers as will put my mind
Finally at ease,
So I am casting about
For another fantasy.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Friday, April 26, 2013

I am grateful:

1.   I was not rushed this morning.
2.   Mom was able to have her appointment with the PA today.
3.   The technician was able to increase the strength of the stimulation Mom receives.
4.   We had a nice lunch at Wendy’s.
5.   I was able to do what was needed for my test so I do not have to return to that office anytime soon.

My Friday has about driven me out of my mind, but parts of it went well. The parts that are messed up, are some upon which I choose not to dwell. I am hoping my mind will somehow let them go. I hope your day was much less stressful and more enjoyable. Right now I encourage you to busy yourself doing creative work. If I can manage it in my present state of mind, I am sure you can do something of greater worth.

As a prompt, write about a time you did not trust in yourself. This might be sometime your self confidence was low, or a time you did not feel quite sure you knew how to act. Just write… If you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for reading my blog. I apologize for the material being a bit bizarre this time, hopefully I will regain some stability soon. I do hope you will visit again, you might also consider subscribing to Chronicles by email. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share, please leave a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 67

Journal entry:

It Is A Miracle

My mind is broken,
Yet I still think…
My heart is broken,
Yet I still feel…
My body is broken,
Yet I still stand…
My spirit is broken,
Yet I am healed…

By the power of Jesus
My life continues:
Sane within my insanity,
Loving despite my hurts,
Upright despite my infirmity,
Saved despite my many
And terrible wrongs,
By His grace and mercy.

I can still think
Because He clarifies my mind…
I can still feel
Because He works in my emotions…
I can still stand
Because He works in my weakness…
I can claim healing
Because I am forgiven by His blood…

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, March 16, 2013

I am grateful:

1.   I had Oreo cookies for breakfast with a glass of cold milk.
2.   I had my Droid with me and was able to call Mom to help her set the thermostat on air conditioning so she would not get too hot.
3.   My friend, Jana, and I met for lunch at Wendy’s.
4.   I had enough money for lunch and we had some uplifting conversation.
5.   I talked to my best friend, Reba, this evening and am seeing her tomorrow after church.

The weather today was gorgeous and I thoroughly enjoyed my Saturday. I hope your day was filled with blessings as well. If you have a few moments to spare, or can make the time, engage yourself in creative work. It will enrich your life and calm you mind. Make your work a prayer or meditation and let it flow from your heart. Your talent will bless the others who are influenced by your imagination.

As a prompt, write about some of the things you take for granted from an attitude of gratitude. You might be surprised at how much is good in your life. If you create a poem, story, or journal entry, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

I almost did not write tonight, because I have so many other things I should be getting done. I had nothing about which to write. No inspiration graced me, but I managed to create something. I truly appreciate your taking the time to read my blog. I hope you will return often, but you might also want to enter your email address above so that you receive future updates from Chronicles. I hope something here has touched you. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism to share, please leave me a comment. I am in need of your opinions on whether this blog is effective.

Always,
Jo Ann

 

 

 

 

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 65

Journal entry:

Earnest Plea

Lord help…
Send someone who
Can minister to those
Who are so greatly in need of
Love, tenderness, understanding, and care.
Lord let me do something to help
Show me a way where there
Is not a way,
Lord help…

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, March 14, 2013

I am grateful:

1.   I have a home.
2.   My Mom cares for me.
3.   I have medicine to help maintain my clarity of mind.
4.   I take my medicine daily.
5.   I have my Social Security Disability, Medicare, and Medicaid to help me survive.

This was another busy Thursday. I hope your day did not run you ragged. I have taken time to work creatively and I encourage you to do the same. I did not think I had anything to share because I was so overwhelmed by what I experienced today, but I found words. You can find words too, just make an effort.

As a prompt, write about your experience of a social problem. If you have a solution, include that in your poem, story, or journal entry. Should you use this prompt, please leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I apologize for getting it posted late. I hope you will return and read more, but you might also want to subscribe to Chronicles for future updates by email. Sign up above. If you have thoughts, suggestions, or criticism, please leave a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

Creativity Project Year Two-Day 57

Journal entry:

Thoughts

I am wondering
Why no one ever mentioned
That there possibly
Could be detrimental side
Effects to my prescriptions.

I thought these drugs were
Kinder, gentler than those of
Past generations,
I was hopeful that they were
Safer for my long term use.

If the disease does
Not get me through suicide,
I guess the meds will
Through their slow destruction of
My body’s physical health.

I am not going
To let it constantly haunt
Me with its looming
Inevitable ending,
I surrender to God’s hands.

I have been letting
Him carry me the longest
Time and now is not
The point to lose faith in God’s
Ability to preserve.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, March 6, 2013

I am grateful:

1.   My appointment was in the afternoon.
2.   Mom went with me.
3.   My Droid was not broken, just turned off and there was operator error.
4.   I liked Debbie, the new nurse practitioner.
5.   I do not have to go back for six months.

I had a pleasant Wednesday. I did not have to wait as long as usual for my appointment. I hope your day went equally well. Turn your mind to doing something creative now. The present moment can be best used instead of procrastinating. Your imagination simply awaits exercise.

As a prompt, take something that happened today and turn it into a lament or a celebration. Even small things can be used to inflame your creative fire. Write a poem, story, or journal entry, then leave a link to your work in the comments below.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you will return often, but you might also wish to subscribe to Chronicles to receive email updates. Just enter your address in the space above. I would appreciate your comments should you have something to share with me.

Always,
Jo Ann