Closed Doors

I’m sure you’e heard the saying, when one door closes, another opens or something similar. It often refers to failing or losing one thing and a new opportunity appears shortly after.

But what about doors you’ve closed?

Once I graduated from my master’s program, life really fell apart and together at the same time. I started a career and focused only on that, closing my master’s degree door behind me.

I locked it and threw away the key.

Why you ask? It’s not like I hated the program, in fact I met some of the best people in the program and gained so much experience from it that I cherish. It was such a dark time for me towards the end, I dropped the ball on everything except what made me money. Yes including family.

I’m not a quitter but this time I quit.

I was so engrossed during my study time that when I left, I quit with all my heart and now I feel guilty about it. I want to make mends with the program director and everyone involved in the program. I also feel guilty of the wasted hours spent on me.

Can closed doors be reopened?

The good thing about doors they typically can be reopened again unless they are cinder blocked off then you may just have to bust it down but never the less you can reopen a closed door.

I’m not sure if I’m ready to reopen that door. Then again we shouldn’t stare too long at the closed door otherwise we miss out on the opportunities starting at us.

Til Next Time.

-WN

Invisible Enemy

These days, I find myself staring at covid-19. I’m constantly reminded of the invisible enemy from radio/television commercials, texts from family members, endless zoom meetings, working from home, face masks or no face masks, six feet stickers or tape everywhere I look. I’m sure you’re facing the same. We are all faced with this and each determining their new routines.

Let’s take a step back and look at Polio.

That’s right Polio – it’s a highly infectious viral disease that largely affects children under the age of 5. It can be transmitted person-to-person mainly through faecal-oral route or less common vehicles like contaminated water, according to the World Health Organization. There is no cure for Polio but it can be prevented with the Polio vaccine given multiple times can protect a child. One reason why vaccines are so important.

What does Polio have to do with Covid-19?

As mentioned, there is no cure for Polio as it is a viral disease. Coronavirus is a virus, as of now has no cure for. Polio has been around since the Egyptian time period with a major break through, (by major I mean a 99% reduction in cases), was made in 1988. Back then, Parents had their children keep distance from others. They went through much of what we are going through now. I’m sure they too had similar fears like we do today, yet they prevailed.

Now What?

We must be strategic about how we interact with one another. Start thinking, is a hug harmless? Is the risk of exposure worth it? Wearing a face mask, keeping 6ft apart and most of all washing hands are just the tip of the iceberg for precautionary measures. Is it a 100% guarantee we won’t contract the virus? No, its recommendations to slow the spread. Whatever this virus is, it’s not going away any time soon. That means we need to do our part in protecting ourselves, now is the time to be selfish for our own health.

‘Til Next Time.

-WN

P.S. – I’ve started a new book that is supposed to help me be a better writer. So, I hope you’re enjoying them so far. The book is called Write Blog Posts Readers Love by Henri Junttila

Human Touch

Experiencing the new normal is almost comical but also kinda depressing. My boss personally delivered a sweet surprise to me for my hard work. She handed it to me and stepped back – we’d normally hug during this type of exchange. We kind of just laughed about the “air hug.” The exchange was a tad bit awkward because neither one of us really knew each other’s comfortable level.

Let’s be real, nothing and I mean nothing can replace human touch. It’s something we all crave. Think about it, babies longed to be held they often cry. When you hold them sometimes it calms them, because human touch is security or its supposed to be. My nibbling’s often want to be held or cuddled with when they go to bed or have a night terror.

Physical touch with another human cannot be replicated.

I’ve gone to the office a handful of times but have kept my distance from the skeleton crew. Today was a tad differently as I had to help IT locate equipment to fix some technical issues. I get into the office and immediately take off my mask while IT puts their mask on. Now I feel awkward…

I don’t care for wearing my mask but I wear one to protect myself from passing it on to my nibblings. I’ve noticed that as my city continues to reopen that less and less people are wearing masks. I get that wearing a mask is uncomfortable and kinda awkward but is it better to be proactive than not? I mean everyone who bought all the toilet paper says proactive is better.

Til Next Time

-WN

Do You…

Alright fellow community do you ever start writing a post and stop half way and delete it? Or worse have save drafts of half finished work? Be honest now. No… Just me okay.

Well currently sitting in my draft section on here I have 10 saved drafts. Why not just publish them? Excellent question fellow reader! I haven’t published them because they are half ideas!!

Today’s the day I share one of my half ideas and “finish” it. Maybe this will push me to finally finish all my drafts and just let my sloppy drafts be your muse or laughter for the day.

This piece was titled Tardy and has bee sitting in my draft folder since January 2020.

*Alarm Buzzes*
Snooze
*Alarm Buzzes*
Snooze

Eyes shoot open,
to face the awful truth,
I’m late, I’m late, I’m late….

Random shirt,
day old pants
socks and shoes
don’t slow me now.

Gum to freshen
last night’s
Chinese breathe.

Keys, wallet, phone
I’m forgetting something,
No time!

-Door Slams-
*meow*

What pieces do you have sitting in the draft stage? Why not publish them?

-WN

Hobbies

Pre-lock down, I often longed for more free time to do the things I was so quick to put off giving the excuse ‘I just don’t have enough time or energy.‘ Since I’ve been strongly urged to stay home, I find myself wanting to write more, read more, photograph more, run more. All the things that I wanted to do more of, I am now able to do them.

If you’ve followed my posts, I’ve started to write more and not just poetry (sorry to all my poetry fans). I’ve been attempting to determine a writing schedule to ensure once this lock-down is over and life finds its new normal, I’ll be able to continue to write. Writing with no muse is quite the challenge but I shall not give up!

Now is the time to pick up a hobby.

Before I really focused in on writing/poetry, I picked up photography at relatively young age 11 (thanks MySpace!). I’m just a novice by no means do I think I am a photographer. Although, my family thinks otherwise — they often comment how I should make a side business out of it but I’m not sure I could charge people to take their photos. Its something I enjoy doing and I’d do it if anyone asked me to.

Recently, I’ve looked back at some old photographs some are really good and some well What was I thinking!? Pictures are magical though. They capture a single moment in time forever giving us the opportunity to “visit the past”. I believe music is the same but that’s for another post.

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Whatever your hobby was before the lock down pick it back up now. If you don’t have a hobby start one. Go write, photograph, cook, exercise outside, make candles, etc. Whatever it is just go full force and see where it takes you.

-WN

Advice: If you tend to fall off the wagon create a plan to hold you accountable such as documenting it on a blog like wordpress or social media.

First draft

Articulating words has never been
so challenging.

Brilliant articles fill my feed
my work now inferior.

Collation of words
singled out one by one.

Diminishing at my fingertips
this poem is getting worse.

Expressing poorly composed
and formidable imagery.

Gambling my chances of
becoming a number one hit.

Kindled by uncertainty
losing my grip with reality.

Raged with fury,
each paper shredded.

Dare I be ignorant
of my jargon.

Frantically I salvage
lines of wisdom for
tomorrow’s attempt.

---

So I attempted to do an A-Z poem, where I must use a word beginning with all 26 letters of the alphabet. I made it 15 words only 11 more to go. Looking for some inspiration? Why not give this a go on your blog.

-WN

Staycation

A few weeks ago I wrote about Blurred Lines and Cabin Fever. I’d like to revisit the same sort of topic/theme. Why? Well, I went to the office today to pick up some supplies and realized how much I miss being in the office.

*gasp* But I thought you liked working from home!? You even said how much you enjoy making hot lunches and having no commute to work.

Let me be clear, I do thoroughly enjoy working from home. There are far too many benefits. Just to name a few: No commute, Pj pants, hot lunch, my cat, my own bathroom, no parking/traffic hassle, no office phone requests, etc…

Here’s what I really miss about working in the office. I miss being able to distinguish when I am working and when I am home relaxing. Often I feel compelled to work earlier or later than my normal working hours. Today, I have felt extra anxious about my work duties vs. home life. I believe this is the first sign that I need a staycation soon.

Perhaps, I’m feeling overworked because the lines are truly blurred as work seems to always be on my mind. I’m sure I can’t be the only one who feels this way or similar. Stay well folks.

-WN

Advice– Take some time to yourself to truly disconnect from work. Turn off your email notifications. Go outside. Most of all take care of yourself.