Hot day began outside, sitting in my comfortable blue outdoors rocker, sipping coffee. Watching the birds at the feeder. Blue Jay trumps all and the little ones disappear. Gazing at the labyrinth, too lazy to pace those 55 steps in and then 55 steps out. I’ll do it later, I think. When the sun moves on. Trumpette nudges me with the mew of a baby kitten. Why is it her “voice” hasn’t changed now that she is two years old? Still a rambunctious little beast. I’ll consider a name change when she changes.
Just found the C.S. Lewis quote on a friend’s post in Facebook. “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” Something to think about.
Morning pages, that’s what I sometimes write to get my mind flowing for the day. A place to dump the brainstorm that goes on inside. But now I try a new tool. If you manage to read to the end of this piece, you will see inside my head, all that I think and consider for this ten minutes only. That’s a scary thought. But, have you tried it? Would you dare to post yours below?
This one seems tame. Maybe I am being careful about my thoughts knowing that I plan to share this exercise. Maybe next time I’ll use Quick Write (thank you, Len at Twenty Minutes a Day for the idea and letting me use “Quick Write” as a tag). Warning to my readers, since I made a “Quick Write” tag, I may have to do this again. Perhaps I’ll find a prompt to follow instead of just dumping my mindless chatter on the page.
I cheated. I looked at the timer. I have two minutes left to bare my soul and bore my reader. It’s a hot day, getting hotter by the minute. The air outside is suffocating with smoke from the California fires. I long for rain to clear the air, water my plants. I’m at a loss for words. You don’t want to know what I’m thinking now. Let go of that thought. Move on.
Okay, it’s your turn. Write me a 10 minute brain dump in the comments. You don’t have ten minutes. Okay, 10 words will do… or 5… or just one little word so I know you made it to the end of this.
By the way, I found this cool website for word art
WittBits 
This is not boring. It is your life. I liked getting a tiny sliver of it here. Onward!
Thank you, Len. And thank you for the Quick Write idea for when I don’t find those “Twenty Minutes a Day” times.
Happy you can use it!
Dear friend, wonderful writer, open and insightful,you are amazing!
Thanks, Carol
Good morning dump. If I am to dump mine as I write it now, mine will be the evening news. This hasn’t been done in ten minutes, I have chosen so many words.
The day turned out hotter and I was wondering if it was going to be hotter than expected and struggle. I just managed the days heat, but I see now I’m in the cool, that I have been caught a little on my arms. So a little stinging. But I feel good for the day today, as it was spent with a friend and I got to see quite a bit of Oxford.
I should sleep tonight.
Like you, there is no way I could tolerate a heatwave every day. It just drains me.
Hi Liz. Stay cool and thanks for stopping by.
Mine is an afternoon dump, sitting in a hospital room next to my ailing husband. This is not how we wanted his retirement to start! Yet we are helpless against a raging infection in his pancreas that will not seem to cease. Our summer trip to Yellowstone sits on hold, unresolved, wavering, like start of our new life. Has anyone else had the body, health problems rear their head at retirement? Did you get through it unscathed? Thanks for the opportunity to dump. I needed that.
Hi Martha. I wish the best for you and your husband in retirement. There are always hurdles but remember – they make you stronger. Thanks for stopping by and “dumping.”
I have a house guest coming, for an entire week. I didn’t exactly invite her and a week seems excessive, especially considering we are both introverts. I do love showing old friends from a state with only tame mountains and beaches my beautiful Washington, but really? A week? And I have to come up with meals? And I generally eat whatever I can find at 6:00? I woke early trying not to stress. Another f***ing growth opportunity: go with the flow, figure it out as you go. I’m also about to send out an invitation to join a writing circle on the mere idea of legacy writing, but without six fully formed lesson plans. Ey yi yi. Spontaneity is not my middle name, but I’m trying. Onward.
Thanks for stopping by and responding, Gretchen. I’m so like you when it comes to meals. Maybe you can go out a couple of times? Writing circles are a great way to make friends and at the same time progress in your writing.
I don’t want to bore you with my ten minutes of quick write, but I love the idea, and I love your writing. I am inspired. I have followed you since I met you in line dance class (missed you, by the way) You have come a long way. I am impressed. Funny, I am bursting with thought, but the pressure of “ten minutes” is blocking.
I moved to Florida a year ago and am visiting CA now. I think about you and felt we had much in common in regards to our troubled children. I so appreciated the documentary “Dogtown etc.” How is your son? How has he recovered from the loss of the his livelihood” I am trying to not look at the clock, but I think I have a few more minutes.
Millie is still chugging along. I love her classes, although very challenging the second hour. The first class at 9:00 rocks! Have you kept ion touch with Jenny?
There! I think my time is up. I miss you. I’ll keep reading. I have a blog, too which I can’t access to edit or add to. It is chromatic hue@blogspot.com. I’ll keep trying. Thank you for the inspiration!!
Hi Sally. Good to hear from you. I do miss those line dance classes but I took such a long break due to back injury that I find it difficult to find motivation to return. I still play words with friends with Ginny (I think that’s who you mean). Life has challenges but we keep putting one foot in front of the other – and yes, we have a lot in common. Keep on writing and I’ll look for your blog. Miss you.