Poetry Challenge – October Round Up

The prompt for October for the A and I Poetry Challenge, was to

~ Write a poem to, or about, your future self.

How might you see yourself, or your life, in ten years time

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

For more details – click here

Here are the contributions so far:

Amanda – Something to Ponder About

Hester – (Afrikaans and English)

Manja Mexi

If you have written a poem in October and would like a linkback included here, please comment below.

Host bloggers Amanda  from Australia at Something to Ponder About and

Ineke from New Zealand at scrapydo2.wordpress.com  jointly hosted the challenge.

Ineke mostly does the poetry in Afrikaans, while Amanda uses English.

The challenge was open to all, from first-timers up to well-advanced poets. Be sure to comment here so that we can find your poem for October and add you to the link up.

Something poetic to ponder about in the future.

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Proverbial Friday – Happiness

Do not waste all your happiness

by overlooking everything you have,

for everything you wish you had.

If you do, you will never have enough.

~ Polish Proverb

 

“Happiness is a quality of the soul…not a function of one’s material circumstances.”

~Aristotle

Several years ago, I created ‘Proverbial Friday’ on my blog.

I became fascinated with traditional proverbs and sayings, their metaphorical layers and the many different interpretations found within just a few, succinct words. I marveled at their ability to transcend race, religion, opinions and age.

Mostly anonymous, proverbs are a portal through time to generations past and echo a diverse range of cultures.

They speak of the experiences of many lessons learned and the wisdom from thousands of lives already lived.

They offer us knowledge; knowledge that is passed to us in much the same way relay runners might pass a baton. Once it’s handed over, it is up to us what we do with it and how we pass it on.

Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something. This week we are examining the concept of being happy.

 

Do you agree with Aristotle or the Polish proverb?

Is attitude, in itself, integral to feeling happy?

Charles Swindoll seems to think so.

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of Attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home.

The remarkable thing is that we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our Attitudes.”

~ Charles R. Swindoll

I invite you to join in the discussion by leaving a comment.

Everyone’s opinion is important. What is yours?

Poetry Challenge – October Prompt

This is the final of the A and I Poetry challenge,  I co-hosted with Ineke from IScrap2.

The October Prompt was

~ Write a poem to, or about, your future self.

How might you see yourself, or your life, in ten years time.

I am a bit stuck with the rhyming format. Anyway, here is my contribution:

Hey You!

You always doubt yourself; to self, you aren’t that kind,
so do you heed that lesson any better, in ten years time?

Your head is filled with Scandi dreams, of cool and wintry climes,
Whilst living out your life, in heat, with family’s loved pastimes.
Children: oh they have aged so fast, it’s now harder to keep up,
Do you care for any grandchildren, or only Schnauzer pups?

Is there work, or books, that fill your days, so happily evermore?
Surely there’s those countless walks, along the sandy beach foreshore?
Life’s curves can twist, and you might land so soft, or brutally hard,
Changes in health might come so fast, your mind must be on guard.
I hope the body is still supple, and your mind sharp enough,
To contribute to community, a blog, a conversation, and silly stuff.

Ageing is not a pleasant thing, it kinder creeps up on you,
A seventh decade life stage, then retiring from plainview.
As constant as the sun greets each morning, in the east,
Your pursuit of happiness and fun will continue till you cease.

Amanda
2018

This is me 8 years ago…. 

and now

and I hope this still will be me in ten years time….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A and I Poetry Challenge. 

 

Something poetic to ponder About

Scrapydo2

 

Poetry Challenge – October Reminder

October Prompt:

~ Write a poem to, or about, your future self.

How might you see yourself, or your life, in ten years time.

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

This prompt is merely a suggestion and you may choose a topic of your liking and still be included in the challenge.

Remember to add the tag A and I Poetry Challenge, to your post, so that I can link to your blog in the final end of month round up of contributors.

FINAL  MONTH FOR THE POETRY CHALLENGE

POST BEFORE 31ST OCTOBER to be INCLUDED in the CHALLENGE ROUND UP POST.

The challenge is open to everyone, from complete beginners to advanced writers or aspiring poets. The challenge will include writing tips and link backs for contributors. Beginner poet, hobbyist or Advanced writer We hope you will join in.

You can write in either language, however, please post a link back, and comment at both WordPress blogs to indicate your interest and include the tag  A and I Poetry Challenge. 

In this way, we can find you and read your poetry.

 

Have fun!

Something poetic to ponder About

Scrapydo2

Proverbial Friday

 

I find there to be profound wisdom in proverbs, sayings and quotes and I marvel at the way they are so succinct in communicating messages to the reader.

Mostly anonymous, they come to us from past generations and from across cultures. They speak of the experiences of lives lived and lessons learned.

Quotes, like proverbs, make us think more deeply about something.

Weekly Proverb

 

“Man ska inte köpa grisen i säcken”

One shouldn’t buy the pig in the sack

 Swedish Proverb

 

Is this proverb a caution similar to suggesting that a ‘buyer beware?” A warning against buying items, sight unseen? Or could there be a deeper hidden layer of meaning?

Weekly Quotes

“If you don’t stick to your values when they’re being tested, they’re not values:

they’re just hobbies”

-Jon Stewart

 

and this:

Social comparison is the thief of happiness. 

You could spend a lifetime worrying about what others have,

but it wouldn’t get you anything

~ Marc and Angel

Join in the discussion by leaving a comment.

Everyone’s opinion is important. What is yours?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~ Amanda from Something to Ponder About