Friday, January 29, 2021

Things that Keep You from Sleeping


 

1. Babies. When the baby is awake, the entire house is awake.

2. Excitement for tomorrow. When something big is happening the next day, it makes sleep hard to find.

3. Traffic. Whether it be a midnight train or just the typical night traffic of a city, sometimes people who need to get somewhere else are just too loud.

4. You brain. If there is a time to shut down the mind's rambling, it ia bedtime.

5. Cats. Why should you sleep, when you could be guving them attention?

6. A really good book. Saying "just one more chapter" is the road that leads to a sleepless dawn.

7. Being hungry. It can be hard focus on sleeping when your stomach growls.

8. Being sick. Sometimes, all you can do is sleep. Other times, sleep is the one thing you can't find.

9. Nightmares. When going to sleep leads to being jolted awake from an awful dream, keeping yourself awake becomes fairly important.

10. You've gone past the point of tired into that exhausted fatigue that never really goes away.

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

The Storm


 

The night was dark. Clouds covered the sky, blocking out the sliver of moon amongst the stars. The air was heavy with the promise of a storm, though nothing had yet been unleashed.

The trees below swayed with the growing wind. When the clouds finally released their load, the wind picked up to fling water and leaves about with abandon. Positively shrieking with glee, the wind thrashed about with the rain, whipping the fat water droplets around every which way.

The creatures of the wood were sensible enough to stay within their various shelters. It proved wise when with a crack of thunder, a bolt of lightning struck one of the trees. The wind-thrown water soon saw the glimmer of fire extinguished before further damage could be done.

And so the storm carried on through the night. Not even the most reckless of creatures were tempted out of their shelters until the first hints of day finally broke through the clouds and the storm subsided.

Even after the storm ended, it took some time for any creature to feel safe enough to come out into the storm ravaged wood. But come out they did, for the storm had passed, and they had lives left to live.

Friday, January 22, 2021

Cute Critters


 

1. Cats. Big or small, wild or domesticated, super fluffy or completely hairless, cats are adorable.

2. Frogs and toads. Something about them just makes me croak at how lovely they are, and I cannot like one without also liking the other. They're just too cute.

3. Spiders. I love their eyes. The way some have facelike features that just scream I see a tasty fly. Their legs. The way they show up on your ceiling in from out of nowhere, when you were certain there was nothing there a minute ago...

4. Snakes. They are fantastic. Elegance coated in scales, often with a deadly tinge. Some are little, others massive. Either way, simply fantastic.

5. Bats. Have you ever watched them fly about catching bugs? It's a lot of fun.

6. Praying mantises. I like to keep an eye out for them, and even got one to pose for some really cute photos once!

7. Turtles. I met one once on a walk home, just hanging out in the brush at the edge of the road. Such a nice fellow to greet along the way.

8. Bettas. I had a few different bettas at various times in my life. I always seemed to get a red betta that I would name Blue.

9. Walruses. They just make me smile.

10. Moths. I may have very strong opinions about their bombardments upon my person from childhood camping trips when trying to read at night, opinions that make me dislike them fluttering about me, but they are really cute.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Cookies


 

Once there was a boy who wanted some cookies.

He saved all pennies and he did all the odd jobs his parents offered in order to earn more. While his siblings spent their money on candy and toys, he saved.

Then, when he had saved enough, the bought all the things he'd need for the cookies. Flour, chocolate chips, all the things his mother said cookies were made from.

With supplies in hand, the boy went to visit his Grandfather.

When Grandfather heard what the boy wanted, he led his grandson into the kitchen.

"Here is how the cookies are made," Grandfather said, guiding the boy through each step. And with each step, Grandfather told stories of his mother, who learned the secret of making cookies from her mother, who learned from her father, who learned it from his great grandfather, who was taught the secret ways of cookie making by a witch who lived in the woods.

"Really?" Asked the boy, his eyes wide as they put the cookies into the oven.

"That is the story each member of our family who learns how cookies are made is taught." Grandfather said with a solemn nod. "You'll not find another cookie like these, even if they use the same ingredients. The measurements will not stay on paper, nor will they leave your mind now that you have learned them. These cookies are the best you'll ever taste, so long as you only make them with good intentions."

"What happens if you aren't good when you make them?" The boy asked.

"Terrible things. You see, our many greats grandfather was not alone when he learned the secrets of cookie making from the witch. His sister also learned them, but then misused the knowledge she'd been given." Grandfather shook his head in sorrow and stared at the oven. "She abused the power of the cookies, and was consumed by the very oven she'd baked them in."

The timer dinged, and the boy shakily helped his grandfather take the cookies out of the oven.

Then the boy and his grandfather each ate a cookie while it was still hot, savoring the yumminess. For the cookies were delicious, and the boy made a promise to himself that he would never misuse their powers.

Friday, January 15, 2021

For Snow


 

1. The dog loves it.

2. It looks pretty.

3. You can drink as much hot cocoa as you want while there's snow.

4. Snowmen ninjas can guard your yard.

5. It makes you appreciate being in a warm room.

6. It's so quiet. Snow sneakily falls while you're not paying attention.

7. You have a reason to bundle up and wear all the scarves you have.

8. Staring at it for too long can cause you to fall into deep, contemplative thoughts.

9. Snow lets you feel like you're in winter. Like seasons are an actual thing that happens.

10. It means that the cat tries to escape outside less often.

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Betrayal


 

You think he's your friend. You think you can rely on him to be there to comfort you when you're feeling down.

You think he will always be there when you need him.

But then, when you reach out your hand, he strikes.

Your hand burns, blood welling up from the scratch.

You give an anguished cry.

Why? 

The cat merely lashes his tail and darts away, in no mood for pets nor explanations.

Friday, January 8, 2021

To Take Chances


 

1. You might make a new friend.

2. You could learn something.

3. You might have fun.

4. You might discover a previously unknown talent.

5. You could gain confidence.

6. You might have an opportunity to help someone.

7. You could make others happy.

8. You might fall in love.

9. You could find a new favorite food.

10. You might like the you you meet at the end of the day.

Wednesday, January 6, 2021

New Year, New Growth


 

A new year brings opportunities for growth. New goals, new dreams, new choices. It is a time when many make lists of those things they want to do.

Get healthier. Be more productive. Make new friends, or reconnect with old ones. There are so many ways to fill up the list.

A new year is also a time to let go of old pains. To free yourself from the weight of past mistakes.

It is a time to learn. To forgive. To relinquish those grudges that are holding you back.

The new year can only move forward, day by day progressing on, regardless of whether we take the opportunity it provides. For we needn't change with the year, if we don't feel the need to change.

Change for the sake of change is not always the answer.

So when you make your list of resolutions, try and think on whether the changes you want to implement will actually improve your life, or if they are there merely so you can claim to have made a resolution.

Friday, January 1, 2021

To Speak Kind Words


 

1. They could brighten up someone's day. A kind word can make another person so happy, and you never know when someone might need a bit more happiness in their day.

2. They could make you a friend. People tend to enjoy spending time with people who are nice to them in both word and deed.

3. Because sometimes people need to know that someone believes in them.

4. Because it is more satisfying to walk away from an arguement after saying something nice to the person you were disagreeing with, then to give them the satisfaction of hearing you say something mean that makes you seem like the bad guy.

5. People are always watching. What kind of reputation do you want to carry?

6. Kind words tend to build amazing and kind kids.

7. Because you are worth being nice to, and kindness isn't just for others.

8. Animals tend to prefer a kindly spoken word, rather than a harsh command.

9. It can confuse your enemies when you sincerely compliment them on their sinsister secret base.

10. Food tastes better after being part of a pleasant conversation.