Begin a story with the phrase, “And it was in that moment I knew I wouldn’t get to finish my piece of cake.” 

And it was in that moment I knew I wouldn’t get to finish my piece of cake. Time slowed as the grey tabby, Whiskers to his acquaintances, leapt onto the table, scattering party hats and clawing into the themed tablecloth. Eyes wide with panic, Whiskers scurried past fellow party guests with forks frozen half-way to their mouths, making his frantic way straight towards me. I gulped down what would be my last bite of cake as Whiskers’s front paws made contact with the artfully decorated piece of cake in front of me. Now coated with buttercream frosting, Whiskers launched himself directly at me, knocking me and my chair backward as he transferred frosting and scratches onto my flesh. A birthday gift I most definitely did not ask for.

Across the room, Bobby stood frozen in the doorway with a used party popper in hand and an “Oh, shit” expression on his face.

This post is part of a 31 day writing prompts series I’m doing. Find all the prompts in this blog post.

If you could permanently ban a word from use, which one and why?

I’m going to skip over the obvious racial slurs and derogatory terms for this one and look to something more unconventional because those types of words just shouldn’t be used anyway. If I were to eliminate a word from use, I would choose ‘whom.’ Because what the heck?! Who works perfectly well and ’ whom’ is just a confusing word that when people know it, they lord it over you if you mess up. I’m a firm believer that ‘their,’ ‘there,’ and ‘they’re’ should be used properly, but ‘whom’ is just unnecessary nonsense.

There are enough confusing words out there (‘right’ and ‘write’ I’m looking at you) that we can just eliminate this one…for the good of the people.

This post is part of a 31 day writing prompts series I’m doing. Find all the prompts in this blog post.

Write a letter to your mom. Tell her something you’ve always wanted to say, but haven’t.

Dear Mom,

The funny thing is I know you’ll most likely actually read this post, which adds more pressure to write something good. No hypothetical letters to moms here. But I’m grateful for the constant, unwavering interest you take in my hobbies and passions. Not everyone is so lucky to have a parent deeply invested in what they have to say or what they’ve created.

I want to talk about dad. About how your strength poured into the gaps and holes he left behind to keep our family together. I always think about how I lost my father, but you lost your husband. Your companion. The guy who frustrated you most of the time but everyday you chose him. That’s an unimaginable loss that I hope to never have to experience (I’m going first Alex). You don’t hide your sadness, but you don’t let it consume you. You push on, make lists, and work through the emotions straight on. You will always be known for your strength. 

I’ve never told you that it’s ok not to be strong all the time. Trust me, I know that feeling all too well and want you to know that you won’t be seen as weak in your daughters’ eyes for being vulnerable. Our tiny little family has got your back.

I pride myself in our family’s ability to remain close, connected, and friends. And that’s largely because of your efforts to keep it that way. So thank you.

I don’t say it enough, but I love you with all of my heart.

Kayla

This post is part of a 31 day writing prompts series I’m doing. Find all the prompts in this blog post.

What completely bores you?

My answer to this question would be different if COVID-19 never happened. But we live with the cards that have been played. I cannot for the life of me find online meetings interesting. On average there’s about five minutes of valuable information and the rest is mind-numbingly dull. The cliches about online meetings are so true. There’s always someone with absurd background noise, someone who has a lag in audio or video, and someone who can’t figure out how to turn the mute on and off.

Pre-COVID I would have probably said in-person meetings. Very few meetings need to be in-person in my mind. Most can be accomplished with a phone call or an email. I understand the value of a face-to-face interaction however and I think my introvert is showing with this one. 

Plus I hate how much time is wasted in the anticipation of a meeting. I’m never the person who can just look at the clock and be like, “Oh! Meeting in two minutes better hop on.” I’m constantly aware of how much time I have left before a call and waste that time while worrying that I’ll be late. I’m never late to meetings, but in my mind there is always a first time for anything…it’s even worse when 99% of meetings are completely dull. Praise the ability to not use your camera and/or mute yourself. So much of my other work gets done during meetings that should have just been an email.

This post is part of a 31 day writing prompts series I’m doing. Find all the prompts in this blog post.

What have you been putting off doing? Why?

Our basement has always been a dumping ground. The place where we store old memories, extra furniture, half finished projects, and abandoned hobbies. As just two people in a house that could easily have three times as many people living in it, we have way too much space. 

I live firmly in the world of out-of-site, out-of-mind. It vanishes into the depths of our home never to resurface again. At the start of COIVD-19 Alex and I cleaned out the cement, storage section of our basement. Although that room finally got organized, all of the items we wanted to donate, give to friends, and just get out of our lives now firmly sits in our main living area. From one mess to another. 

One of our biggest weaknesses as a married couple is our inability to fully finish a project. A nearly organized garage left not quite finished so it feels ok to let things pile up. Now a basement with boxes to donate and items to sell just sits because there’s no REAL reason to get it out of the house besides finishing the task. No one is visiting. No one is unkowingly pressuring us to not be pieces of garbage.

So there’s the tea. Someone who prides herself on an organized planner and schedule can’t for the life of her keep her basement the same way. And you know what, I’m cool with it.

This post is part of a 31 day writing prompts series I’m doing. Find all the prompts in this blog post.

With August just around the corner let’s kick it off with 31 different writing prompts to keep you journaling through the entire month. Whether you tackle a few at a time or space it out daily, I’d love to hear your progress or thoughts on them as you go along!

1. What have you been putting off doing? Why?
2. What completely bores you?
3. Write a letter to your mom. Tell her something you’ve always wanted to say, but haven’t.
4. If you could permanently ban a word from use, which one and why?
5. Begin a story with the phrase, “And it was in that moment I knew I wouldn’t get to finish my piece of cake.
6. Take the title of the last song you listened to and make it your post title. Write for a minimum of 10 minutes.
7. What do you know about your family’s history and culture?
8. What is your earliest memory about?
9. What would you tell your younger self about if you could go back in time?
10. What are five hobbies you’d love to get into doing, but haven’t? Why haven’t you?
11. What’s one story that your family always tells?
12. If you could have the perfect date with yourself, what would you do?
13. What’s one thing about your family dynamics that you want to change?
14. What was the best birthday present you have ever received?
15. When was the last time you cried?
16. Describe your favorite color without ever saying the name.
17. What are some of your favorite characteristics of your closest friends?
18. Write about what it would be to live a day in the life of a whale.
19. Write about how you met your best friend or significant other.
20. You’re in charge of creating a new museum exhibit. What will you do?
21. Pretend space travel is commonplace and describe an average day in your life.
22. What’s your favorite childhood memory?
23. Three of your dad’s favorite things?
24. Begin a story with the phrase, “I wouldn’t have gotten away with it too if it hadn’t been for…”
25. What career would you pursue if you started everything over?
26. Create a story that includes tacos, flamingos, and a very large cat
27. If you were to have a “lame” superpower, what would it be and why?
28. Describe what it’s like to eat your favorite food with as much detail as possible.
29. If you were from the future, how would you warn yourself about this year?
30. If you had a spirit animal that followed you around, what would it be and why?
31. What was it like writing the previous 30 prompts?