Decluttering....

I recently read a great blog post by Leo Babauta on decluttering your life. This section really resonated with me.

Decluttering Your Calendar & Digital Life
Physical decluttering is only one type of decluttering. You can also simplify your day, and your online/computer life as well.

A few simple tips:

• Decluttering your day is about reducing commitments, and saying no to the non-essential things. So first make a list of your commitments.
• Make a list of what’s most important to you (4-5 things) and declutter the rest. Say no to people with a phone call or email, and get out of existing commitments.
• Be very ruthless about saying no to new commitments — and seeing requests as potential commitments. Guard your time.
• Declutter your digital life one step at a time, just like your physical life. Email newsletters, blogs, social networks, online reading and watching, forums, etc. — are they essential? Can you declutter them?

My first step was to merge Write 4 Ten into this website but based upon participation, I feel it is time to let it go. Not only are the contributions almost non-existent, now there are several other blogs/websites using the same premise. So starting this week, there will be no more Write 4 Ten word prompts. I'll be sad to see it go but it will also remove an unneeded burden on me.

I currently maintain too many blogs and over the next couple of months, I'll be merging all the personal ones into two basic blogs. It still makes sense to keep our Ecuador blog separate from our US based blogs.

So what can YOU do to simplify your life?

#Write4Ten Prompt - ANGUISH

The word prompt today is ANGUISH.

Go for it, fact or fiction, memories or tales - your choice. Write for ten minutes - minimum. Don't worry if you take longer, that means your creativity has been sparked...and that is a good thing.

When you're done, add your BLOG POST LINK to our new linky list below. That's it! [No blog? Feel free to post your writing in the comments.]

an·guish  (nggwsh)

n.

Agonizing physical or mental pain; torment. See Synonyms at regret.

v. an·guished, an·guish·ing, an·guish·es

v.tr.

To cause to feel or suffer anguish.

v.intr.

To feel or suffer anguish.

#Write4Ten Prompt - ASTEROID

The word prompt today is ASTEROID.

Go for it, fact or fiction, memories or tales - your choice. Write for ten minutes - minimum. Don't worry if you take longer, that means your creativity has been sparked...and that is a good thing.

When you're done, add your BLOG POST LINK to our new linky list below. That's it! [No blog? Feel free to post your writing in the comments.]

as·ter·oid  (st-roid)

n.

1. Astronomy Any of numerous small celestial bodies that revolve around the sun, with orbits lying chiefly between Mars and Jupiter and characteristic diameters between a few and several hundred kilometers. Also called minor planet, planetoid.

2. Zoology See starfish.

adj. also as·ter·oi·dal (st-roidl)

Star-shaped.

#Write4Ten Prompt - STOP

The word prompt today is STOP.

Go for it, fact or fiction, memories or tales - your choice. Write for ten minutes - minimum. Don't worry if you take longer, that means your creativity has been sparked...and that is a good thing.

When you're done, add your BLOG POST LINK to our new linky list below. That's it! [No blog? Feel free to post your writing in the comments.]

stop  (stp)

v. stopped, stop·ping, stops

v.tr.

1. To close (an opening or hole) by covering, filling in, or plugging up: The tea leaves stopped the drain.

2. To constrict (an opening or orifice): My nose is stopped up.

3. To obstruct or block passage on (a road, for example).

4. To prevent the flow or passage of: stop supplies from getting through.

5.

a. To halt the motion or progress of: stopped me and asked directions.

b. To block or deflect (a blow, for example); parry or ward off.

c. To be or get in the way of (a bullet or other missile); be killed or wounded by.

6.

a. To cause to desist or to change a course of action: stopped us from continuing the argument.

b. To prevent or restrain: stopped him from going.

7. To discontinue or cease: He stopped his complaining.

8.

a. To defeat (an opponent or opposing team).

b. To defeat in boxing by a knockout or technical knockout.

9. To order a bank to withhold payment of: stopped the check.

10. Music

a. To press down (a string on a stringed instrument) on the fingerboard to produce a desired pitch.

b. To close (a hole on a wind instrument) with the finger in sounding a desired pitch.

My Flash Facts - Deadline [#Write4Ten]

This time I went with FACTS...
  a snipped from my day.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Funny that the word prompt for Monday from Write4Ten was the one thing I'm facing daily - a deadline. I know it's a self-imposed deadline, but it's still an important one. The last six months of this year currently are and will be a choatic hot mess! Preparation for a two month motorcycle trip, preparation for a seven day cruise and preparation for our move to Ecuador (and leaving our property for ten months before we revisit) - plus finish writing "Barely a Spark", get it edited and published on both Amazon and Smashwords, get it formatted and a cover made for a print version. Oh yeah, and get my first children's rhyming book finished and published as well. YIKES! Time to go to work, meeting my first deadline!

Check out the Write 4 Ten word prompts on Monday and Thursday. Join in the fun and write for ten minutes, fact or fiction, your choice.

#Write4Ten Prompt - DEADLINE

The word prompt today is DEADLINE.

Go for it, fact or fiction, memories or tales - your choice. Write for ten minutes - minimum. Don't worry if you take longer, that means your creativity has been sparked...and that is a good thing.

When you're done, add your BLOG POST LINK to our new linky list below. That's it! [No blog? Feel free to post your writing in the comments.]

dead·line  (ddln)

n.

1. A time limit, as for payment of a debt or completion of an assignment.

2. A boundary line in a prison that prisoners can cross only at the risk of being shot.

tr.v. dead·lined, dead·lin·ing, dead·lines

To govern by setting a time limit: "He was never going to be deadlined by a day, or even a month" (New Yorker).

#Write4Ten Prompt: EARLY

The word prompt today is EARLY.

Go for it, fact or fiction, memories or tales - your choice. Write for ten minutes - minimum. Don't worry if you take longer, that means your creativity has been sparked...and that is a good thing.

When you're done, add your BLOG POST LINK to our new linky list below. That's it! [No blog? Feel free to post your writing in the comments.]

ear·ly  (ûrl)

adj. ear·li·er, ear·li·est

1. Of or occurring near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events: in the early morning; scored two runs in the early innings.

2.

a. Of or belonging to a previous or remote period of time: the early inhabitants of the British Isles.

b. Of or belonging to an initial stage of development: an early form of life; an early computer.

3. Occurring, developing, or appearing before the expected or usual time: an early spring; an early retirement.

4. Maturing or developing relatively soon: an early variety of tomato.

5. Occurring in the near future: Observers predicted an early end to the negotiations.

adv. ear·lier, ear·liest

1.

a. Near the beginning of a given series, period of time, or course of events: departed early in the day; scored important victories early in the campaign.

b. At or near the beginning of the morning: She never used to get up so early.

2. At or during a remote or initial period: decided very early to go into medicine.

3. Before the expected or usual time: arrived at the meeting a few minutes early.

4. Soon in relation to others of its kind: a rose that was cultivated to bloom early.

#Write4Ten Prompt - LATE

The word prompt today is LATE (and yes, this post IS late - sorry).

Go for it, fact or fiction, memories or tales - your choice. Write for ten minutes - minimum. Don't worry if you take longer, that means your creativity has been sparked...and that is a good thing.

When you're done, add your BLOG POST LINK to our new linky list below. That's it! [No blog? Feel free to post your writing in the comments.]

late  (lt)

adj. lat·er, lat·est

1. Coming, occurring, or remaining after the correct, usual, or expected time; delayed: The bus is late. See Synonyms at tardy.

2.

a. Beginning after or continuing past the usual or expected hour: a late breakfast; a late meeting.

b. Occurring at an advanced hour, especially well into the evening or night: a late movie on television; the late flight to Denver.

3. Of or toward the end or more advanced part, as of a period or stage: the late 19th century; a later symptom of the disease.

4.

a. Having begun or occurred just previous to the present time; recent: a late development.

b. Contemporary; up-to-date: the latest fashion.

5.

a. Having recently occupied a position or place: the company's late president gave the address.

b. Dead, especially if only recently deceased: in memory of the late explorer.

#Write4ten Prompt: ALIEN

The word prompt today is ALIEN.

Go for it, fact or fiction, memories or tales - your choice. Write for ten minutes - minimum. Don't worry if you take longer, that means your creativity has been sparked...and that is a good thing.

When you're done, add your BLOG POST LINK to our new linky list below. That's it! [No blog? Feel free to post your writing in the comments.]

a·li·en  (l-n, lyn)

adj.

1. Owing political allegiance to another country or government; foreign: alien residents.

2. Belonging to, characteristic of, or constituting another and very different place, society, or person; strange. See Synonyms at foreign.

3. Dissimilar, inconsistent, or opposed, as in nature: emotions alien to her temperament.

n.

1. An unnaturalized foreign resident of a country. Also called noncitizen.

2. A person from another and very different family, people, or place.

3. A person who is not included in a group; an outsider.

4. A creature from outer space: a story about an invasion of aliens.

5. Ecology An organism, especially a plant or animal, that occurs in or is naturalized in a region to which it is not native.

#Write4Ten Prompt: CONFUSED

The word prompt today is CONFUSED.

Go for it, fact or fiction, memories or tales - your choice. Write for ten minutes - minimum. Don't worry if you take longer, that means your creativity has been sparked...and that is a good thing.

When you're done, add your BLOG POST LINK to our new linky list below. That's it! [No blog? Feel free to post your writing in the comments.]

con·fused  (kn-fyzd)

adj.

1. Being unable to think with clarity or act with understanding and intelligence.

2.

a. Lacking logical order or sense: a confused set of instructions.

b. Chaotic; jumbled: a confused mass of papers on the floor.

My Flash Fiction - Brandish [#Write4Ten]

Once again I tackle a new Write 4 Ten prompt....how about you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brandish [Write4Ten]

"No, no, no. Not like that, like this!" Sir Geoffrey stood behind his young charge and once again showed him the correct stance.

"I'm trying but my body doesn't want to obey." Reginald pushed his tutor to the side. "I don't want to do this anymore. I don't like swords." He glared at the castle behind them. "I don't care what my father says." He spun to face his tutor, "Father doesn't understand me."

"Now, now. Let's do one more session and the we'll be done for the day. Come, get in position. Every gentleman must know how to handle himself in a duel." Sir Geoffrey positioned Reginald and took him through the moves.

No one noticed Reginald's youngest sister brandishing her wooden sword and mimicking every move with perfect precision.

#Write4ten Prompt - BRANDISH

The word prompt today is BRANDISH.

Go for it, fact or fiction, memories or tales - your choice. Write for ten minutes - minimum. Don't worry if you take longer, that means your creativity has been sparked...and that is a good thing.

When you're done, add your BLOG POST LINK to our new linky list below. That's it! [No blog? Feel free to post your writing in the comments.]

bran·dish  (brndsh)

tr.v. bran·dished, bran·dish·ing, bran·dish·es

1. To wave or flourish (a weapon, for example) menacingly.

2. To display ostentatiously. See Synonyms at flourish.

n.

A menacing or defiant wave or flourish.

My Flash Fiction - Anticipation [#Write4Ten]

My ten minutes of writing in response to the Write4Ten prompt.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Anticipation [Write4Ten]

Laying in her bed, she struggled to ignore what was happening in the kitchen. It was quite difficult, between the smells of brewing coffee, burning toast and cooking bacon. Coffee? Good. Burned toast? Bad. Cooking bacon? Dangerous.

She pictured her kids, sticking forks into the toaster to retrieve the charred remains of the toast. Or getting spattered with hot bacon grease. Or spilling a boiling cup of coffee. And knives, she knew there had to be knives involved.

"No, close your eyes. They'll be fine. There haven't been any screams. Yet." She took a deep breath with the intentions of calming herself but all that did was intensify the smells coming from the kitchen.

She rolled over and pulled the pillow over her head. "Much better. Dulls the sounds and the smells." But that didn't last long, she needed to breath so the pillow got tossed on the floor.

"Wait, it's quiet. Is that good or bad? Should I get up? No, I need to stay in bed. The anticipation is killing me!" She retrieved the pillow from the floor and plumped it before stuffing it behind her back. Sitting up straighter she listened. Muffled voices, something being dragged across the floor. A body?

"Stop it," she scolded herself.

Finally the door opened and in walked two proud kids, carrying a Mother's Day breakfast tray with her boiled coffee, some bacon and scrambled eggs, two pieced of well scraped toast - no butter, half an orange, accompanied by a flower and a card. She knew it was worth the wait as she looked at their glowing faces.