Published in The Bad Influence·3 days agoMember-onlyYou Thought You Were Thinking What You Thought Was RightThrifty Words 100 Challenge #90: Thinking — But I was wrong. When I was in counselling in my 40's, working on my anxiety and depression, I told my therapist I was too scared to visit the bank on my own. This was long before internet banking — I’m that old! “Why?” I’ll have a panic attack while…Mental Health2 min readMental Health2 min read
Published in Reciprocal·4 days agoMember-onlyThe Rhythm of the Rain Beats to the Seasons in Our HeartsAfter sorrow we dance toward a brighter tomorrow — What a coincidence that I wrote this on Sunday as our first rain in two weeks arrived after a fortnight of extreme heat with temperatures reaching 35° Celsius most days. I could smell the petrichor wafting in through the kitchen door, drifting over to bless me at my desk. How…Music3 min readMusic3 min read
6 days agoMember-onlyDavid Crosby Dies — Another Musical Icon Reminds Us We Are Not ImmortalA stark reminder we all have to leave one day — Although David Crosby’s distinctive voice is now silent in life, the arrival of sound recording in the 20th century will enable me to immerse myself in oceans of music for the rest of my days. I can turn on and tune in whenever I want. Background I’m a baby boomer who…Music7 min readMusic7 min read
Published in Reciprocal·Jan 26Member-onlyTales of My Veggie Garden — Past and PresentGrowing my own vegetables is a balancing act between intuition and facts on the ground — In the spring of 2020, we asked the landlord’s Malawian gardener to help us prepare a small bed for us to grow our own vegetables. The ground around our little cottage is mostly bush veld and very stony soil, but we identified a small spot outside our kitchen we could…Vegetables5 min readVegetables5 min read
Published in The Bad Influence·Jan 21Member-onlyDoes Anybody Know Who They Are?Thrifty Words 100 Challenge #89: Discover Me — is the me you see the same i see wrapped in layers of complexity tied in fancy ribbons or cheap string whatever was to hand why unwrap this decades-old parcel of possibilities and potential expose those fancy-filled dreams and clever schemes which turn to dust when exposed to air i…Poetry On Medium2 min readPoetry On Medium2 min read
Published in The Brain is a Noodle·Jan 21Member-onlyDid You Know Grocery Shopping Is Good for Body and Brain?Neurobics and aerobics ease your neurotic abhorrence — Why not embrace stocking up as an avenue to boost your fitness rather than throwing a frothy fit? It shouldn’t be a drag, especially if you’re hungry. Imagine all those delicious meals you can enjoy once you’ve completed the preparation, planning, purchasing and unpacking when you return home — except…Food5 min readFood5 min read
Published in Reciprocal·Jan 19Member-onlyYour Roots Don’t Always Dictate Who You Are or Where You LiveYour family tree is an anchor you can raise and sail to other harbors — My family history goes back centuries, as does my husband’s — mine from England and his from Portugal. You will notice the surname on my profile is de Braganza. However, my full surname is Lucas de Braganza. When we married, I took my husband’s surname — de Braganza — but…Family4 min readFamily4 min read
Published in Blue Insights·Jan 18Member-onlyThe Power May Be Out, but the People Are Not PowerlessA poet’s lament on our endless blackouts — When my heart is closed. Poetry Unlocks the door, Spills pent-up emotions. Words Pour onto rage and Drown the pesky rant. I crave power When there’s none. No electricity, No lights on Ten hours a day. When may I play with Draft, essay or article, Access electron particles To spark…Poetry3 min readPoetry3 min read
Published in The Brain is a Noodle·Jan 14Member-onlyBamboozled — Another Sorry Bagel StoryCan you believe I did it again? — It’s no surprise I’m no longer a Top Writer in Mental Health, because I keep doing insane things that set a terrible example for others. There’s that famous quote from Einstein which defines insanity as doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. Well, what I…Food4 min readFood4 min read
Published in Promptly Written·Jan 13Member-onlyMy Nose Weaves Magic Spells Around New SmellsTake a sniff of these olfactory haikus — New car’s leather seats Heady rush of endorphins Revs nasal engine Fresh baked aroma Bread, cake, muffin or biscuit Olfactory bliss Redecorating Change of color alters mood Scent of pristine paint Frankincense and myrrh Drift and spiral through the room Redolent incense Slow-cooker curry Fragrance of basmati How my nostrils…Poetry1 min readPoetry1 min read