Admirable Professions

 Today's Wordpress writing prompt: What profession do you admire most and why?

My response:

I thought of professors right away. I admire the work professors do. I hope to be a professor one day. The motivation project I prepared for my PhD program provided examples of professors that do good work and similar positions I would like to fill.

I do admire other professions such as doctors, police officers, and people in international affairs. Doctors are in the healing business. They help people to live better lives. Police officers help people to live more law-abiding lives. They maintain order in society. Both of these professions are needed and important. 

Professions are admirable but the more I think about it, the people in the positions also have something to do with it. When the right person is in a job, the job he/she does rises to another level. For example, the person may interact better with individuals.

People should enter professions that are a good match for them.

Current Dream Job

 Wordpress writing prompt for today 1/20: What is your dream job?

In recent years, I have been working towards a professor position (it was my stated goal). However, when I think of dream job, another position comes to mind. My current dream job is a top management position at a major international company. In such a position, I will oversee thousands of employees. I imagine I would travel a lot to conduct the business of the company. I would prefer a service business but would also be excited about the job at a company that produces products. I would not mind if I had to relocate. This position trumps a professor position.

Wishes

 Wordpress writing prompt for 10/28/2024: You have three magic genie wishes, what are you asking for?

I remember reading stories about the granting of wishes when I was a little girl. I always read the things wished for with interest. But, I always wondered why the person didn't use one wish to ask for more wishes so that he/she could wish for more things. So, that would be my first wish - to wish I could have more wishes that would work to get me what I want in the future. I don't know what is a reasonable number to ask for though. Would 3 more wishes be reasonable - to double the original number of wishes? Or 10 more? Or even a 100 more wishes?

The second thing I would wish for is to live forever. I assume anything is possible. With the magic wish, I could live for over a 1,000 years in a world that would continue on unaffected by the wish.

Third, I would wish for lots of happiness and joy in my life. That could come from love, lots of achievement, and making a difference in the world.

Wishes to assist my family and better the world would come later. And, I will have more time to think those wishes through.

Career Paths

Wordpress Writing prompt for 10/24/2024: What alternative career paths have you considered or are interested in.

Some people are interested in different career paths and somehow end up staying in one line of work their entire career. That is not my story. During my career, I have gone down at least three different career paths. When I started my career I was a finance professional. I had finance jobs such as Financial Analyst and Financial Auditor. Then, I was lucky to get into an Analyst training program to become an IT Business Analyst. It was another career path from finance - a career in information technology (IT). I worked in IT for many years. I was exposed to user interface (UI) design, technical writing, and training. These were all areas I found interesting and are separate paths I could have gone into as there are separate positions for these areas. I stuck with my IT Business Analyst job for a while until years later when I decided to enroll in a PhD program to pursue a career as a professor. I saw it as selecting training and research as my new career path. I also try to use my UI and technical writing skills when I can.

Grown up

Wordpress prompt for 10/11/2024: When was the first time you really felt like a grown up (if ever)?

I was in my early twenties when I moved to Baltimore from my mother's house. I took care of everything concerning my move. I viewed apartments, selected the apartment I would live in, and provided the required information for the rental application. I organized my move and bought furniture for my new place. I lived alone in a one-bedroom apartment and I enjoyed it. I was responsible. I went to work everyday and I took care of myself. It was the first time I really felt like a grown up.

Favorite Word

 Writing prompt for today 9/11/2024 from Wordpress: What's your favorite word?

My response:

There are literally more than 1 million words in the English language. It is hard to have just one favorite. There are several words that I like: uncouth, chaos, queue, laurel, to name a few. I tend to like words that have a unique sound or a positive meaning. If I had to pick one favorite, I would go with serendipity. Just mention of the word makes me smile.

My Last Search

 The Wordpress prompt for today 8/27/2024 is:  What was the last thing you searched for online? Why were you looking for it?

My response:

I use Google search fairly regularly. I search for such things as: articles/papers, lyrics to songs, and people. I tend to use keyword searches (rather than full sentences or questions) and usually get good results.

My last search was 'haiku meaning.' I entered those keywords in the search bar because I wanted to learn more about haiku poetry. The term was new to me. I stumbled upon it when reading about poetry. 

The search provided good information on the Japanese short form poetry. I ended up clicking on 'What is haiku with an example' in the 'People also ask' section for additional information. I like to review the information on what other people searched for that Google provides.

Board Games

Response to today's Wordpress writing prompt: What's your favorite game (card, board, video, etc.)? Why?

I chose to focus on board games.

I learned to play lots of board games from about age 8. One of the first board games I learned was Checkers (called Draughts) from my father. My father loved the game and played it quite often. I learned by watching him closely and asking questions. My aunt introduced me to chess. I learned a whole lot more about chess much later and learned to play much better. I also played monopoly with family members. I love to play Monopoly and am usually ecstatic when I win. I learned to play chinese checkers on the computer. I love the game. It is probably my favorite game. When I play, I usually win. Some board games I learned to play at school. The Game of Life is an example. I learned to play the game at President's College. I find that some board games involve more strategy (or strategic thinking) than others. I prefer the games the require more strategic thinking. I don't mind that they may take a little longer to play.

What bothers me

 The Wordpress writing prompt for today is: What bothers you and why? After much thought, I decided to write about competitive behaviors that bother me. Competition is all around - we compete for jobs, for promotions, and so on. Some people go overboard during a competition. I am usually put off by "extreme" competitive behavior. This includes things like trying to harm someone to win and spreading vicious rumors about someone they are competing against. I think people are just wrong to behave this way. When someone I am competing against behaves badly, a part of me wants to just hand over the prize because he/she wants it so badly. It would mean giving up easily and I am aware giving up easily is not the way to do it.

Technology Affects Jobs

 Response to the WordPress prompt for 3/26/2024:

Technology has affected people's jobs in a myriad of ways. I found some posts in Twitter/X that provide examples. Some jobs are enhanced by technology, some lose jobs because of technology, employees are more productive because of technology (electronic monitoring), and so on.

A question I don't like to be asked

 I continue to receive good feedback when I respond to prompts. I will continue to respond to them.

Responding to the WordPress prompt for today 3/6/2024: 

I was always known as inquisitive. I usually ask a lot of questions. People ask me a lot of questions also. In the United States, people like to ask me where I am from. They also ask about my parents, my background, where I am working, and so on. The questions I don't like to be asked begin with: Are you really .......? Examples are: Are you really X years old? Are you really going to do X? I generally don't like these questions because the questioner already has an opinion (i.e. there is disbelief about what they are asking) and wants me to present an argument for my view of the truth.

Objects I Cannot Live Without

Responding to the Wordpress Daily Writing Prompt for today 3/3/2024:

Three objects I cannot live without include: my glasses; utensils, especially a drinking glass; and a mobile phone or tablet. I need my glasses to see properly. I wear my glasses every day. I need a drinking glass to drink water, which is essential for life. The other utensils are for eating meals for sustenance. Finally, I need a mobile phone/tablet to stay connected to people, including people I may need in an emergency. The phone/tablet will also keep me updated on current events. Further, I could read the Bible on the phone/tablet.

I recorded my thinking process to come up with this response. Please listen here:

https://fb.watch/qA2lNh5baD/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Project

Daily prompt question:

What is a word you feel that too many people use?

My response:

Project is overused (not necessarily a bad thing). There are projects at the country level, organization level, and personal level; projects by different types of professionals (IT professionals, economics professionals, and so on); and projects completed by executives, managers, individuals, and students. I worked on different types of projects at different organizations. I completed a personal research project. I completed projects as part of the requirements for a pass at the GCE A-Level Statistics examinations. I also completed projects at the O-Level (for Computer Studies).

Strategies To Increase Comfort In Daily Life

While taking a break from working on a paper for publishing, I decided to respond to today's prompt in Wordpress. See responses to the Wordpress prompt for 7/12/2023 here: https://wordpress.com/tag/dailyprompt-1994.

What strategies do you use to increase comfort in your daily life?

I read this question and immediately thought of air conditioning. In the summer, air conditioning provides much comfort, especially on 90 degree days like today (It is 1:38pm and it is already 89 degrees fahrenheit). Unfortunately, we are currently dealing with an AC issue.

Sometimes I listen to music, which provides comfort. When I feel stressed, music could be the stress reliever. Music also relaxes my mind.

Reading a good book can also provide comfort. Reading the Bible is supposed to provide comfort. A simple Google search will provide verses for or about comfort - https://www.google.com/search?q=bible+comfort. 

One of the most important things is to get a good mattress. Everyone needs a good night’s sleep (comfort at night). Your day is more likely to be miserable if you did not get a good night’s sleep.

Comfort also makes me think of hospitals and the nurses who ask, "Are you comfortable? I could move the pillow...." Simple changes (such as moving the pillow or covering your legs) or a drink of water could bring comfort in the hospital.

Oldest Thing I Own That I Use Daily

Wordpress writing prompt for 6/18/2023:

What’s the oldest thing you own that you still use daily?

I was unable to think of an answer to this question in five minutes. I thought about the answer for about 15 long minutes. My strategy was to think about things I use daily (or almost every day) and then think of the oldest. I thought of my vehicle, a 2004 Nissan. I drove it almost every day for years and years. Unfortunately, I was involved in an accident so I stopped driving the vehicle months ago. I will also lose the vehicle since the insurance company considers it a total loss. I thought of my phone. I use it every day to make and receive calls, send text messages, and so on. I have had that phone for at least three years. The winner is my computer that is over 4 years old (but a much older model). I use it almost every day. Some of the things I use the computer for are: read the bible, check email, and write/edit papers for publishing. I still use an email account that I have had for 19 years (the oldest intangible thing I use every day).

The exercise made me think of my days and how monotonous they are. Each day I repeat a lot of things. These days, I don't go out much or do much spontaneous things. Life was much more fun when I could get into my vehicle for a drive to see a movie, visit the lake or grab a bite. I must get a new vehicle.

 

Nervous Reactions

Today I decided to respond to a writing prompt. The prompt is: What makes you nervous?

My response:

My first thought about nervous reactions was that a person generally cannot control what makes them nervous or what triggers a nervous reaction. It is similar to a reflex action - it just happens. But, as I thought about it some more, I thought of people who experience some things so much that they no longer react with nervousness. An example is public speaking. Some people are no longer nervous when speaking in public because they have addressed a crowd countless times and have learned to control their nervousness. Another example is driving a vehicle especially driving to faraway places. People are no longer nervous about driving after they have been driving for a long time. This has been my experience.

Some things still make me nervous though. I get nervous just before I write an exam. I think it is because of the fear or failing. I force myself to calm down and get to providing answers to the questions. Sometimes, I get nervous when a doctor is about to tell me about issues he discovered. In general, I get nervous when I get scared or when I am dealing with the unknown.