I have been doing the Tao of Maud project for four years now. I’ve gotten into a rhythm that long practice makes. Choose the character and the attribute for the week. Select the phrases, making sure none have been used in the last two years. Original wisdom, even better. Update the spreadsheet. Prepare the artwork, then prepare the posts themselves in Corel Draw X6. Use HootSuite to schedule the posts for Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Instagram, then queue them up on Tumblr. All in all, about two hours work for each week.
Most weeks are straightforward. But one comes with a particular significance for me. This week I worked on the posts for Week #22, based on the character of Tank from My Little Pony. For those unfamiliar, Tank was a tortoise who became the pet of Rainbow Dash. On the show, Tank eventually goes into hibernation, but Rainbow Dash won’t accept it at first. Until she does.
That episode mirrors the grieving process. It’s an amazingly well-written metaphor for someone passing away… which is why I use Tank.
Which brings me to Week #22. The week’s attribute is Grief. By the calendar, that would be May 28 through June 3. Friday, June 1 is right in the middle of the week. It’s the second anniversary of my mother’s passing.
The post for the first day this week is simple.
Here is one of the worst things about having someone you love die: It happens again every single morning. – Anna Quindle
Two years, it’s still true. Not a morning goes by that I don’t think of Mom. It doesn’t ache as much as it used to on some days. Which is a good thing, I guess. But I miss her.
Her last words to me were, “It will be all right.” I know that I can’t wait for that to happen, that I have a part in making that occur. But her guidance helped in so many ways. I miss that.
Yet June 1 is also a day for celebration. It is the birthday of my grandson, Caleb. The day will always have a bittersweet quality, like dark chocolate. It just makes you savor the day a bit more, knowing how precious it is.
My plans for the week are simple. I will celebrate my grandson from afar, I will honor my mother, and I hope that the wisdom I’ve gathered to post on the Tao of Maud that weel will inspire people to think about their own relationships with life and those around them.
If I make even a small ripple in the pond, perhaps I’ve done some good. Maybe I’ve even been all right.
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About D. G. Speirs
D.G. Speirs is a storyteller, novelist and voice actor living in Florida. He keeps searching for better stories to tell, even if he has to make them up himself. His latest novel, THE AGENCY, is now available on Amazon.com.
D. G. Speirs - Storyteller and Dreamer
The One About…Tanks for the Memories
I have been doing the Tao of Maud project for four years now. I’ve gotten into a rhythm that long practice makes. Choose the character and the attribute for the week. Select the phrases, making sure none have been used in the last two years. Original wisdom, even better. Update the spreadsheet. Prepare the artwork, then prepare the posts themselves in Corel Draw X6. Use HootSuite to schedule the posts for Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and Instagram, then queue them up on Tumblr. All in all, about two hours work for each week.
That episode mirrors the grieving process. It’s an amazingly well-written metaphor for someone passing away… which is why I use Tank.
Which brings me to Week #22. The week’s attribute is Grief. By the calendar, that would be May 28 through June 3. Friday, June 1 is right in the middle of the week. It’s the second anniversary of my mother’s passing.
The post for the first day this week is simple.
Two years, it’s still true. Not a morning goes by that I don’t think of Mom. It doesn’t ache as much as it used to on some days. Which is a good thing, I guess. But I miss her.
Her last words to me were, “It will be all right.” I know that I can’t wait for that to happen, that I have a part in making that occur. But her guidance helped in so many ways. I miss that.
Yet June 1 is also a day for celebration. It is the birthday of my grandson, Caleb. The day will always have a bittersweet quality, like dark chocolate. It just makes you savor the day a bit more, knowing how precious it is.
My plans for the week are simple. I will celebrate my grandson from afar, I will honor my mother, and I hope that the wisdom I’ve gathered to post on the Tao of Maud that weel will inspire people to think about their own relationships with life and those around them.
If I make even a small ripple in the pond, perhaps I’ve done some good. Maybe I’ve even been all right.
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Like this:
About D. G. Speirs
D.G. Speirs is a storyteller, novelist and voice actor living in Florida. He keeps searching for better stories to tell, even if he has to make them up himself. His latest novel, THE AGENCY, is now available on Amazon.com.