Over thirty years ago, motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar, challenged me to be a good finder. To become the kind of person who consistently looks for the good in situations and people. It’s easy to see the bad and act like a critic. You have to look a little longer and dig a little deeper to find the good.
Mr. Franklin Holmes was a volunteer chaplain working in prisons in Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. He taught a program in those prisons about the importance of looking for the good in every situation. Those men and women took his prompt seriously. They came up with over thirty things they were grateful for about the place where they were incarcerated.
Sometimes find good just takes is a little prompting. Notice things you like to do, the people you get to do life with, and the opportunities life presents. Some of the observed good will not only be inspiring but useful as subjects for articles. If any of the following prompts create a path for you, I’ll be grateful.
NINE PROMPTS + A BONUS
ONE / Write about an act of kindness from another person.
This could be an act of kindness from a good neighbour, friend, co-worker, family member, or even a total stranger. This might be a small thing. Sometimes small things at the right time make the biggest difference.
TWO / Write about something that brightens your day when you’re feeling down.
Is there something that lights you up on a bad day? Describe it and write about why or how it makes you feel better.
THREE / Describe your favorite time of the day.
What is it and why is it your favorite time? When we focus on small moments, we recognize the importance of each day. Think about the day you are having now. What is special to you?
FOUR / List 4 things you are grateful for today.
It doesn’t matter if these are small things. List them. I had a simple, daily gratitude habit. Every morning I arrived on campus at the church I served for 29 years, I thanked God for the opportunity. This prompt started me on a positive note every day.
FIVE / Describe your favourite person and list all of that person’s good qualities.
Who is the person? Write about one or more of those qualities.This prompt pushes you to not take people for granted and to appreciate those around you.
SIX / Recall a success you had. Write a one paragraph thank you speech describing who helped you achieve the success.
Identify one person who helped you reach that goal. What did they do and how did their action contribute to your success? After writing your speech, share it with the person who helped you succeed.
SEVEN / Write about your favourite hobby.
What is your hobby? What about it makes it good? How does your hobby make you feel?
EIGHT / Write about something you did to make someone happy today.
See the good in what you did today. Describe how what you did made the other person feel. Be thankful that you could reach out and make someone else feel joy.
NINE / Write about something good you saw in your church or how your church is a blessing to your community.
Are there volunteers who stand out for their faithfulness and second mile kind of attitude? Is there a program that helps people? Write about the impact it has on you.
BONUS / Write about a pet and what makes or perhaps made the pet special.
The pet could be yours or another person’s. Maybe it’s a pet you see a few times a year on special family occasions. What makes that pet special? How does the pet make you feel?
Are you grateful for writing prompts? Do you have a favourite source for prompts?
Thank you for reading.
Follow Bob’s writing
at REVwords.
Thank you, Bob, for this lovely start to our writing week: Love this: "Sometimes small things at the right time make the biggest difference."
ReplyDeleteYour entire post was huge validation for some writing projects I'm working on.
Yes, I'm grateful for writing prompts. When something moves me, it also moves my writing hand. This is my favorite prompt for picking up a pen.
Blessings.
Thank you, Wendy. You are a skilled good finder.
DeleteI'm always up for interesting writing prompts - they sure come in handy when my mind goes for a nap and leaves me staring at the blinking cursor. Like you, Zig, and many others, I've learned to notice the details of what's around me, and then pour those evocative insights and grateful emotions into my writing.
ReplyDeleteSince you asked, a great prompt resource is those memoir prompt books one finds at the bookstore (or library). They usually have fill-in-the-blank pages of prompts about one's childhood, school days, family lore, etc., all the way up to one's present day. One great book I have is called "The Accidental Memoir, The Remarkable Way to Write Your Life Story" by Eve Makis & Anthony Cropper. One fun question from it: What's the soundtrack of your life? List favourite or formative songs from the past or present. // The book started as a Christmas present for Eve's father -- she wanted to learn more about her dad's story and he was quite a reserved, quiet fellow. She created prompts with space for short replies. He returned the little book with the pages filled in.
Thanks, Bob, for your great list of prompts. I might be testing a few out as blog post prompts over the next while.
Brenda, thank you for adding to the value of the post with your writing prompt resources. Such a cool story of thoughtfulness about Eve.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the prompts, Bob. I can see myself working through all of them in time. My favourite source for writing prompts is people. I like to hear their thoughts on life and listen for a prompt to pop out.
ReplyDeletePeople are such a great inspiration for writing, Alan.
DeleteWhat a wonderful list of prompts Bob! Thank you for these!
ReplyDeleteLists are great, eh Tracy? I am grateful foir your leadership at Inscribe and your books.
DeleteThanks for your wonderful list of prompts, Bob! I'll be working through them in the next while!
ReplyDeleteAnd I will look forward to seeing your inspired writing from the prompts.
DeleteThanks for these wonderful prompts, Bob. A terrific way to keep on a path of gratitude and graciousness. Will have to give them a whirl!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. Whirl away!
ReplyDelete