Open Your Heart

Daily writing prompt
What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

Put your wallet and your credit card away….far away, because you won’t need it.
The greatest gift to give me is true, unconditonal love [or friendship]. “Things” on my wishlist, I can certainly get myself. Should such desired items be out of my financial reach, I won’t have them. Simple as that.

Specifically Tailored Lessons

Daily writing prompt
What colleges have you attended?

I’m not ashamed to say, that I don’t have a college education. The school of life taught me all the valuable lessons, tailored specifically to me and my personal growth. I was never without a job until early retirement, some better than others no doubt. Without ever setting foot on a college campus, neither in Germany, nor in America, I was always financially stable and independent.

Just Once

Image: Claudia Braun 01/2026

Today’s question of my new Q&A prompt asks:

Do you ever go to stand-up comedy shows?

To date I watch a comedy show on TV called “Die besten Comedians Deutschlands” which translates to “Germany’s best comedians”. From what I understand, they are on tour in 2026 and 2027. I would love to see them live just once, even knowing, that getting to the venue in Frankfurt and back home with public transportation would be quite the challenge. Not to mention all the people, the noise, the commotion [due to misophonia]. But it would be so worth it. I’ll keep the idea tumbling about in that head of mine and just maybe, I can come up with a way to make it happen for myself. Especially in such demanding, difficult times a few good laughs are just the ticket, don’t you think?

Facts Only, Please

Image: Claudia Braun 01/2026

The second randomly generated question of my new Q&A writing prompt reads…

What annoys you about news reporting in your country?

I think journalism in my country changed quite a bit towards the negative. Headlines are no longer “catchy” and well thought out, but instead unnecessarily dramatized, to get the reader’s attention [at all?]. It is rather frightening, that we seem to have accustomed to hearing or reading about yet another tragedy, war or political difficulties. Did journalism change to sensationalism?
What really annoys me, to answer today’s question is, that too many of our journalists here in Germany freely give their own opinions in articles when, in my understanding, they should simply present the facts. Just the relevant information, and please, without leaning towards either one of Germany’s political parties. It is also quite upsetting that you’re no longer able to trust what you are reading, without researching yourself, whether or not the information is in fact true or false. I’m stating this with regard to manipulation tactics, to sway our thoughts and opinions into the intended direction or towards questionable causes. And then again, maybe news reporting has never been a whole lot different or better years and decades ago. Perhaps I learned to be more critical and ask more question instead?

Bored Much?

Image: Claudia Braun 01/2026

Like clockwork, the daily writing prompts keep repeating and I’m bored to tears with giving the same [or very similar] answers to the same questions again…..and yet again. You do you, but I’m starting my own Q&A writing prompt. The questions I will answer are randomly generated. Hopefully this will give me some new prompts to ponder and respond to [fingers crossed].
Let’s begin, shall we?

What do you do when you’re bored?

Fortunately, I’m not bored all that often. This mainly happens during my “dark days” [I don’t like to call it by its real name, being “recurrent depressive disorder”]. Boredom is usually a result of me being in the mood to do various things, but feeling a lack of energy, not being able to concentrate or not experiencing any joy in what I’m working on, and being interrupted by crying fits. Add to that the ever present thoughts of not being good [enough] at anything I do.
When I’m bored, not always due to the above mentioned but most often, I play with Lilly to get into a better frame of mind, or I listen to my favorite tunes. I have a couple of go-to songs, that I know work – at least for a short while. When I listen to them, I can’t help but smile. Once, my mood starts climbing towards positive, I get my perkiness back and try to achieve, what I originally wanted to do. It does not work every time, because it depends upon how bad the “dark days” are, but it is what I do and what helps the most to overcome being bored – and sad. 😊