Category: Life

One by one

Joey Jones9 Comments

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?

‘ Count your blessings’.  I tend to tell myself this quite a lot. It’s valid.

Whenever I feel a bit mizzy I will have a word with myself and say ‘ get a grip’.

It’s quite apt at the moment as I’ve been feeling quite unwell since last weekend. I was concerned and it wasn’t until I thought to myself I hadn’t felt this ill since I had COVID I wondered if that was it. I did a test but it was negative. So I guess it’s the flu of some description,  that’s properly flooring me. Not very nice whatever it is. The paracetamol with caffeine has kicked in, allowing me to put pen to paper here. I’ve not contributed much to the Daily Prompt for a good few days.

Hopefully I’ll get my mojo back before too long. In the meantime I will count my blessings one by one, it’s nothing more serious..

Talk to me

Joey JonesLeave a comment

What topics do you like to discuss?

It depends whom I’m talking to, where and when. If they are into animals and especially dogs we are by definition on the same page. If the welfare of animals, their rights and needs is something they are interested in, then we’re pretty much in the same paragraph, if not sentence.

A shared interest is always nice. Makes for an easy-going time. But it doesn’t have to be so. I love listening to a person with a passion for something. They way they light up and become animated, is great. So many years ago now I used to work along side a lad who loved rock climbing. Personally I would rather stick pins in my eyes, than try it…but to hear him chat on about his lastest adventure was quite something. Even the actions of holding on with his fingertips, he’d show me. That conversation must have made an impact, for me to remember it so vividly. A similar moment, but much more recently was a young talented designer/builder. Usually the quietest of young men, he came to life as he told me about his latest project. His enthusiasm was infectious and the positive vibe he excuded lifted my spirits.

I don’t enjoy being trapped in a room/area with lots of people. ( Weirdly it’s what I dream about the most, but usually set in a big building) as I struggle with small talk. Direct personal questions, horrible! On the other hand brief light-hearted banter with strangers I find enjoyable. Those seconds out of your day when you can share a mutual laugh or smile about something, as you cross paths.

Of course with old friends you don’t have to talk at all, if that suits the mood of the moment. Often sharing views on current affairs/ politics, health, nutrition, pollution, world leaders, the lack of clean water for all,for example. That long list of topics you could chat together about into the night. Or not.

So to directly answer the Prompt today I’d say dogs, dogs and more dogs….but if folk want to tell me about their families, their concerns, hopes, skills, opinions or dreams for the future, I’m all ears!

P.S. How does the picture I have posted today have anything to do with what I’ve written about? It doesn’t, but it’s pretty, eh?

If you aren’t paying for a service, you are the service, they say.

Joey Jones3 Comments

How do you unwind after a demanding day?

I am very grateful to Matt Mullenweg and his co-founder Mike Little for this space they have given us for free. ( Yep, we can pay for premium) Allowing us to say/write what we want when we want. I don’t know who originally coined the phrase ‘ if you’re not the service/product……….’ Several claim it was their thought first off. Tristan Harris and Andrew Lewis have both had their names attached to it. But here in this tiny corner it isn’t the case is it? They really do let us have it for free. No strings. Thank you, Sirs.

Today, if I may, I’d like to address the department which is Daily Prompt. Being a relative newbie here I am not noticing any repeats, but many of the other guys mention it from time to time. I think I could handle a couple of them as there is always something left unsaid, or another angle to come from. But already I digress, that’s not what I initially wanted to say.

So, today you are asking how do we all unwind after a demanding day. Thing is I have now got off the treadmill and escaped that rat race. So, unwinding is second nature. Something I have perfected to the extreme, you could say. Zen it is.

But actually it’s not about me ( for a change) I write about today….but the folk who love to come here to write who are physically, mentally or emotionally unable to partake in a demanding day. And now how ridiculous that sounds as the words leave my head and I look at them in print! Life for those with challenges are almost by definition demanding, aren’t that? Silly me!

What I am trying to say and not very well is how much thought goes into the Daily Prompts, you generously supply us with each morning. How hard do you consider the bigger picture? Sometimes you ask about family or parents, what if some of the folk here don’t have any, what if someone doesn’t have a demanding day, not for the want of trying, but they just can’t. There are lots of prompts/scenarios that don’t resonate, simply don’t evoke anything at all?

And here is where you emphasize they are prompts not briefs….I really am not complaining WordPress, as I said I’m having fun here, I just look at that bigger picture and wonder how folk are going to answer…..and that’s the point, I guess. Mmmm.

For the record listening to rainfall on an app is the ultimate way for me to chill……which is a bit strange really, as extreme weather is something I fear.

I would be truly amazed if anyone has actually read to the end here. If you have, I thank you for taking the time out today. Have yourselves a safe and pleasant day. Best wishes All xxx

Navigating the Wild West

Joey JonesLeave a comment

How do you use social media?

Once you have learnt to bypass the fake news, AI generated content, advertising and plagiarism and given a wide berth to the Influencers ( do people really forget they are paid to endorse those products?) you are on your way. Rants, raves, negativity and nastiness pushed aside the path becomes much clearer and you can reach your objective quite easily.

I love Bluesky. From there I can get links to news items and lifestyle articles from The Guardian, the only unbiased newspaper out there, it seems to me.It gives me access to things that make me smile, laugh out loud on occasions. Heartwarming things appear there too. We all need those from time to time to counteract just how brutal life is getting out there.

Weirdly I get totally taken in by hairdressing clips. Dogs agility will hold my attention for way too long.

On the Socials I can chat to old friends and make new ones, and do have the apps for most of the platforms, but use them in varying degrees, depending on my mood. I’m enjoying the WordPress Daily Prompt a great deal and from The Reader I get to see the latest posts from those lovely peeps I subscribe to. It’s so interesting to read other folks slant on life.

I’d like to leave Twitter, but some of the charitable organisations I follow, mainly animal rescue related, are there only. I respond and repost to all their posts about rehoming the often broken souls, so brutally abandoned and abused.

If I need to lean how to do something I’ll go straight to YouTube. I have my trusted companion of course, but even with four legs it’s limited what he can achieve. And anyways if he’s not playing, sunbathing, out walking or eating, he’s asleep.

To keep my grey matter in place I’ll play games of all descriptions most days….and yes, I scroll….for longer than I should, but hey. I’m not hurting anyone.

The Kindness Of Strangers

Joey Jones7 Comments

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

There is a beauty

that walks in the darkness,

makes its way

among the bombs

and broken lives,

offers blankets

and shoulders to cry on

puts on kettles

and bandages,

mends what it can,

and asks

for not one thing back,

as it wraps

in its arms

the troubled night,

and waits

for morning

and its pale sunlight……….

* The Kindness Of Strangers was written by Bill Bilston

Every day is a school day

Joey Jones6 Comments

Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

Goodness WordPress ‘a ‘ descion ?! Learning and growing has been a bit of a theme that I’m happy to say continues with me to this day and hopefully will accompany me until the end of my life.

‘ Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever’ – Mahatma Ghandi

Like everyone I’ve made good and bad descions and hopefully will have learnt from those choices along the way. Not always though! It can take a while of trying and getting the same results, before it sinks in.

‘What doesn’t kill you….’ and all that.

By listening to my beloved LBC London Radio every day I’m learning something pretty much from the off. This commercial station is mostly unbiased, though there are a couple of presenters I find a bit off. But there is light and shade everywhere, I guess. The early morning show with Nick Ferrari ( yes, I mention him a lot, don’t I? Lol) is the immediate news going on and from that I get the shape of the day. It starts my engine and from there the doors to my mind are open. Deep thinking, day dreaming, remembering, changing my mind.

Perhaps one of the latest descions I made was to get back into blogging here at WordPress. I’d started before but somehow lost momentum along the way. This time it’s different and I love the daily prompt to kick start the process.

I don’t use all the bells and whistle available here because this space provided is enough, for now. I just do my stuff and along the way I’m crossing paths with some interesting people, which I am really enjoying.

Thanks for reading this far…The encouragement I get from you acknowledging my existence is nice, very nice x

Dear Lily…..Thank you x

Joey Jones11 Comments

Describe a positive thing a family member has done for you.

Today, once at again I’m tapping away on my tablet, with my left hand only. The dog currently commandeering the whole of my right side. Lily would smile at this comical stance, I’m sure. She liked dogs and had a lovely thick coated crossbreed called Darkie. There was a cat at her house too. Liquorice a tabby plus.

Genetically I wasn’t related to Lily, but she did more for me in the years she looked after me than anything my blood relatives ever did. Today I would like to honour her and give thanks for everything.

I was only two weeks old when this wonderful soul came into our lives. With two young sons and a new baby my mom was struggling to cope. I am sure my dad would have been of little or no help at all.

And so it was when Lily’s own daughter fled the nest ( more about her (SB) in a future post) that I was invited into the void she had left behind, her bedroom became mine and I was safe. At the same time my own mom had fled, too. Without the safety net which was Lily I don’t know how I would have coped, at all.

There is so much more to write about her and my life with her, but for now to answer the DP. What positive thing a family member has done for me? The answer is she did everything she possibly could do for me. I thank you. R.I.P 💜

*Also, thank you SB for sharing your mom with me x

Arthur….I haven’t forgotten you x