Memoir
/ˈmemˌwär/ noun. a record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation. Usually memoirs. an account of one's personal life and experiences; autobiography. the published record of the proceedings of a group or organization, as of a learned society.
Prompt #15 has just landed. What sets humanity apart from every other species on the planet? One of these things are the belief in miracles. Believing in magic, in the impossible can make a person achieve and become almost anything they can dream of. That's one reason I feel next week's prompt is so very important. Belief in miracles can instantly elevate a people from good to great.
Memoir Monday has grown so much that I won’t be able to comment on everyone’s posts anymore (and get my own work done) but I’ll still be supporting your posts with reblogs, votes, and shares on my other social media accounts (X, Facebook, etc.).
For all of those who’ve regularly participated in Memoir Monday - keep going, you’re making great progress in chronicling your very own life story for future generations to enjoy.
For those who missed the inaugural post explaining what the Memoir Monday initiative is all about you can find it here.
Now for next week’s Memoir Monday prompt:
Do you believe in miracles?
My answer:
I wholeheartedly believe in miracles and have been lucky enough to experience what I would consider to be a few extremely significant ones in my life.
One of the most profound and frightening miracles I ever experienced was written into chapter six of my sci-fi novel, Alarm Clock Dawn, almost exactly as I remember it when it happened to me in 1992. As it turns out not everything in that book is fiction. I’ve never spoken about this experience publicly but, although going through it was traumatic at the time, it created a undeniable transformation in my life for the better. There’s a distinct difference between my life before and after that even occurred. I still can’t explain it or fully understand what occurred but I’ve gone on to do things that I couldn’t have dreamed of achieving. I credit this miracle with playing a role in most of it.
The thing about miracles is it’s not just those big ones that are important. In the long term, sometimes it’s the sum of all the small miracles that are the most beneficial and impactful.
An example of these small miracles could be a moment of synchronicity when a friend you were just thinking about reaches out to you unexpectedly, a quiet moment communing with nature, a magnificent sunset that forces you to pause and drink in its beauty, or seeing a shooting star just as you’re thinking of a friend or relative that has passed. These things are a potent reminder of our universal connectedness.
Miracles are more than just mere coincidences, they’re catalysts of hope that foster resilience and enhance our coping mechanisms. They have a way of creating within us a sense of purpose and being part of something much greater than ourselves. The ability to recognize and experience these miracles in our lives create a deep sense of psychological well being within us and often spark altruism and kindness to those of us who experience them. This sends ripples of goodwill out into the world. Those who experience miracles tend to want to pay that good fortune forward.
The truth is miracles are unfolding all around us, at almost every moment of our existence. Sadly, most of us are too distracted or are not in the proper frame of mind to notice. We must learn how to change our perception to become more in tune with our environment and in the moment. The best tool I know of to allow us to retune our perception is meditation.
Miracles are one of humanity's superpowers, like magic they encourage us to dream beyond our limitations, act with compassion, and embrace the wonders of our life’s journey. In a world often plagued by uncertainty and adversity, believing in miracles illuminates our path, guiding us toward a more hopeful and enriched existence. Hopefully we never become so "evolved" that we no longer believe.
Rules of Engagement
- Please reblog this first post and share on other social platforms so we cast the widest net possible for this initiative;
- Pictures paint a thousand words. Include pictures in your posts if you have them;
- Answer each Memoir Monday prompt question in your own post. If possible, the prompt question will be published in the week prior so you'll have the entire week to answer and publish your own post;
- Have fun with it, don't worry about getting behind, or jumping into the project at any point after we've begun; and
- Lastly, be sure to include the tag #memoirmonday.
It's that simple.
At the end of the next twelve months we'll have created something immensely valuable together. It's so important to know our "whys" in life and there's no better way to do that than this.
Someday all that will be left of our existence are memories of us, our deeds, and words. It's up to you to leave as rich of a heritage as possible for future generations to learn from. So, go ahead, tell your stories. I can't wait to read them.
Be well and make the most of this day. I want to sincerely thank all of the participants thus far. I've really enjoyed reading your posts!
~Eric Vance Walton~
(All photos are original.)
