#wordscanbemagic

[west7coast7wanderer]

In my FB "on this day" feed...not sure about who to credit for the quote, but certainly know the significance of the sentiment. #smallthingsmatter #truth #wordscanbemagic #livewell #lovegentle (at Juneau, Alaska)

[christinefigueroa-blog]

642 Things To Write About #1

Ok here it goes friends, the always amazing Sarah Lapp bought me a book called "642 Things To Write About." She did this in support of my dream to become a writer and help me work on that talent. If we are being completely honest, I am not a good writer, sure I can tell you what I am feeling on a subject, or even what a past experience has taught me, but when it comes to creating characters with beautifully thought out back stories I simply cannot do it. I love stories, I always have - the hero who works against all odds to save the day, the villain who spends the entire story making everyone's life a living hell to then perform one act at the very end to show he was simply misunderstood, these are the ones I live for. And I can genuinely say that character development in a book, movie, or TV show always gives me chills. I love stories, which is why the idea of me creating one instantly sends me into a panic, because JK Rowling I am not. However, I have ALWAYS believed in doing the thing that scares you, which is why I am here ready to type #1 of 642 (cue panic attack). At first I thought about doing this privately in a journal, but as we discussed yesterday, vulnerability is the path to living a fulfilling life, and what better audience then you who have supported me throughout every journey I've been on. There are 642 prompts and they approach many different topics - I plan on doing them all, my goal is to accomplish a minimum of one a day. The topics vary and they allow for the writer to become very detailed in their work which is something I am excited to work on. Here it goes: Prompt #1 of 642 - What Can Happen In A Second There are 86,400 seconds in a day, I did the math three times to get that number correct because I couldn't believe it would be that high. There are only twenty four hours in a day, which somehow never seem to be enough to get our endless list of tasks done; but when you realize that there are well over eighty thousand seconds in a day, it seems that we have all the time in the world. I'm sure you are thinking, what can actually be done in a second? To which I will respond; some of the most beautiful moments this life can offer us. Think about the teenager falling in love for the first time, we've all been there, nervous laughter, fear that everything you say is going to sound dumb, that rush of excitement when your arm brushes theirs. Now remember the exact second you realized they were about to kiss you for the first time, how everything seemed to slow down and nothing else in the world mattered. Remember how in that second you felt excited, happy, and somehow calm all at the same time. Think about the fiancé that is about to propose to their love, and how they have spent time planning for the perfect moment to let this person know how much they are loved. The truth is, in the end it doesn't matter how many flowers there are, or what music is playing, or even if you are simply laying in bed next to each other for this magical moment. Every proposal comes down to one moment, one second; when the person being asked realizes what is about to happen, and before a single word has been said, they know that the person standing in front of them wants to spend the rest of their lives standing by their side. That is the second that always matter most, because it is a second filled with pure joy and love. Think about the first time parents that are about to go into labor, how in the panic of getting to the hospital a million thoughts are running through their heads. They're worried about making it to the hospital in time, they're reimagining everything they packed in the overnight bag in fear of forgetting something, they're trying to call family and friends to tell them "This is it, it's happening!" and deep in their hearts they are wondering, "What if I'm not ready? What if I end up being a horrible parent?" Becoming a parent is a magical experience unlike any other, but when you think of the exact second you realize your life has changed forever, you know it's the moment the nurse places that beautiful baby in your arms. Because in that moment you have already promised that child the world, you have promised to love them, support them, and take care of them in the best way you can. In that moment your heart has filled with more love than you ever imagined possible and you already know there is nothing you wouldn't do for them, all in a second. Lastly, think about the patient that is about to be told, "I'm sorry, but the tests show that it's cancer" and how they would give anything to have back the second before they heard the news. Think about the second you heard the sound of a car horn a moment too late, and a life is changed forever. Think about the soldiers who would still be alive, had they had one more second before they ran into a situation. Think about the spouse who would give anything to hold their loved one in their arms for one more second, or the parent who would give their life to hear their child laugh again, because we never think a second could be someone's last. There are 86,400 seconds in a day, and every second someone is falling in love, a child is being born, and a final goodbye is being said. Every single second has the ability to leave you with a lasting memory that you can hold with you forever, and yes, some will be sad, and some will be beautiful, but if you're very lucky, you will have some of both. 86,400 seconds, I hope you are celebrating yours with love. - Christine ❤️