13. Prompt of the Day – A Skill to Learn

Daily writing prompt
What skill would you like to learn?

A skill that I would love to learn is negotiation. I am the kind of person who gets swayed quite easily, and I don’t like confrontation or anything that makes me feel like I am in a vulnerable situation where I have to keep proving myself again and again. Negotiation is quite a life skill that I wish I had more of. It is uncomfortable indeed, but it is an important skill that applies to every area of your life.

When I think about negotiation, I realize it is not just about getting what you want. It is about standing firm in what you believe while respecting the other person’s perspective. For someone like me who avoids confrontation, this feels like an uphill battle. But I know that learning to negotiate would help me in so many ways. From discussing salary packages to setting boundaries in relationships, negotiation shows up everywhere.

The discomfort I feel around negotiation comes from a deeper place. I worry about being seen as difficult or demanding. I worry about damaging relationships or creating tension where none existed before. But maybe that is exactly why I need to learn it. Because avoiding difficult conversations does not make life easier. It just postpones the inevitable and sometimes makes things worse. I am slowly realizing that negotiation is not about being aggressive or pushy. It is about clarity, confidence, and communication. It is about knowing your worth and expressing your needs without apologizing for them. And that is a skill worth developing, even if it means stepping out of my comfort zone many times.

12. Prompt of the Day – Paying More Attention

Daily writing prompt
List three jobs you’d consider pursuing if money didn’t matter.

Given how my mind works and my personality, I think I would have more than three jobs that I would love to do in this lifetime! I would love to be:

A baker, bringing comfort to people through warm bread and sweet treats that make ordinary days feel special. Or maybe a dog groomer or pet sitter, spending my days with animals who remind me to live in the moment without overthinking everything. I would love to work in a library as a librarian, surrounded by stories and helping people discover their next favorite read. Or work in a bookstore, where I could talk about books all day and connect readers with stories that might change their lives the way books have changed mine. Or volunteer in old age homes, listening to the stories of those who have lived full lives and have so much wisdom to share.

Working in a flower shop would be a dream, arranging blooms and creating beauty that marks life’s celebrations and comforts during its hardships. Or maybe in an art studio, where creativity flows freely and every day brings something new to discover about color, texture, and expression. I could also see myself working in a gym or maybe in a running-specific shop like REI or Runner’s Roast or Fleet Feet, helping others find the gear and motivation to push their limits. Or maybe work in a spa or as a beautician, helping people feel their best and take care of themselves in a world that constantly demands more from us.

Yeah, I think that’s it. For now.

11. Prompt of the Day – Paying More Attention

Daily writing prompt
What details of your life could you pay more attention to?

I wish I could pay more attention to how I use my time in present and less attention to so many things at once! I definitely suffer from time blindness, and feeling overwhelmed with so many thoughts at once or no thoughts at all. It’s really hard for me to visualize or understand the gravitas of time, which is why I always have reminders and a lot of other alerts, and I wear a watch almost 24/7 just to understand what time I am in at the moment.

Being more present rather than having my mind dwindling between memories of past and hopes and expectations of future or fears in general. Just being more present and taking in all that I have at the moment. Feeling less stressed so I can pay attention to, for example, how I drink my coffee (which I technically do but I would like to be more present minus the usual dread and chain of thoughts).