Actually, I started out just posting this photo on Flickr.

But when my friend Joanna Young made a comment about it on Twitter the other day, I thought to myself; Self, that’s not a bad idea!

Her comment, if I can recall, was somethin’ along the lines of, “What, are you telling pictures with your photos now?”

Well, Joanna; I didn’t plan to, but what the hey!

p.s. If you’d like to know more, follow the link to the Flickr photo and read the description. Suffice it to say, I found this little drama unfolding in my backyard!

But my question for you today is this: What little dramas are unfolding right under your nose? You might be surprised! Take a moment and look around, won’t you? And if you feel like it, share it with the rest of us! I’ll leave the light on.

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Yeehaw! Waahoo! And what the heck; a big ol’ tip o’ the topper, too, for all the fine entries in this month’s What I Learned From the World of Plants groupwrite project! And what an interesting topic it turned out to be, wasn’t it?

There were 16 entries this month! (sound of crowd cheering enthusiastically) And I’ll tell ya, we covered the gamut of content here, folks: funny, serious, ironic… you name it – there’s a post that fits. (In fact, one enterprising participant changed the meaning of the word, “plants”, and wrote about something completely different. Way to think outside the box, there, Bubba!)

Anyhoo; take a gander at the list of entries below, won’t you? In fact, why not do them the honor of leaving a comment – or even starting a conversation? You’ll be glad ya did! They’re in no particular order except it’s how I found ‘em.

• Talking Dirty, by Steve Woodruff at Steve’s Leaves
• What I Learned From the Plant World, by Patrizia at VOIP
• Two Important Lessons From Plants, by Deb Brown at Deb Works
• What I Learned From the Death of My Bosai, by Ulla Hennig at Ulla Hennig’s Weblog
• It May Look Easy, by Paul Merrill at Shiny Bits of Life
• What I Learned From the Plant World, by Nancy Kourmoulis at Treasures of Darkness
• 8 Things I Learned About Sales From the Plant World, by Brad Shorr at Word Sell, Inc.
• The Art of Paying Attention, by Joanna Young at Confident Writing
• What I Learned From the Plant World, by Lillie Ammann at A Writer’s Words, and Editor’s Eye
• What I Learned From a Bunch of Spinach, by Luke Gedeon at Luke Gedeon
• What I Learned From the Plant World – Restoration, by Elizabeth Spitter at Made for Something Greater
• Cold Comfort, by Sam at Future Nostalgic
• What I Learned From the Plant World, by Meryl Evans, at meryl.net
• And the Day Came When… by Amy Palko at Less Ordinary

And last, but hopefully not in the least, er, least, here’s a couple of entries from yours truly:

• Bloom Where You Can, by Robert Hruzek at Confident Writing (published as a guest post over at Joanna Young’s place, Confident Writing, while coincidentally fitting into her own theme this month: Possibilities. What can I say? I’m such an efficient fellah!)
• Constrictor, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings

Y’all give yourselves a big hand, my friends; once again you’ve outdone yourselves! And as always, a big ol’ tip o’ the hat to ya! Plan to join us next month for the next What I Learned From… project.

What’s the topic going to be, you ask? Well, now… that would be tellin’!

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Hey, just a quick note to let you know I’m guest posting over at my very good friend Joanna Young’s place today: Confident Writing. So just follow the link to explore the wonders of literary prose I have for you today!

What’s it about, you ask? Well, lessee… the title is, “Bloom Where You Can“, and it’s about what I learned from a small bunch of flowers. So to speak.

Actually, it’s a “two birds with one stone” sortof post (hence the title and image). On the one hand, it happens to be my entry for this month’s “What I Learned From the Plant World” groupwrite project going on right here at the Middle Zone this week. In addition to that, it also dovetails nicely into Joanna’s theme this month: Possibilities.

What can I say? I’m an efficient fellow, don’cha know!

By the way, you’re invited to join both of us for our themes. Joanna will be exploring the possibilities theme all month, but the What I Learned From… groupwrite project (click here for details) ends this coming Sunday night. So, hop to it, y’all; time’s a-wastin’!

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Photo: Killing Two Birds With One Stone, by beast love

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… that is the question, isn’t it?

In fact, it may even be the question of the ages, wouldn’t you say? What, exactly, do you want to be? (In my opinion, it doesn’t matter if you’re grown up or not – or even planning to – hey, it’s a pertinent question for whoever you are, right now.)

As many of you may know, a few weeks ago I joined the several millions of Americans (literally) who have lost their jobs due to the condition of the economy. (I can’t begin to estimate how many have lost theirs worldwide.) In fact, this year alone I lost my job twice! Shucks. Alas. Dang.

I’m tellin’ ya; it’s takin’ a near-superhuman effort not to turn that into a political comment. But not today. (sound of big sighs of relief) But rather than just rant about that, it did bring up an interesting question. Now I’m sorta thinkin’ to myself, What, indeed, do I really want to be, anyway?

Oh, don’t get me wrong; as to my profession, well, I’m certainly a well-qualified Project Engineer. (That’s someone who manages either one or more “small” projects, or bite-sized chunks of much larger projects. Note: “small”, in this case, can be more-or-less defined as “less than $15-20 million” in total installed cost. And it’s usually more like $5 million or less.)

But is that what I want to do with my life? Well… when it comes to my professional life – the answer is yes! After all, I love the work, and I truly enjoy the things I do when managing a project. So, yes; I do want to be a Project Engineer – and perhaps one day, a Project Manager (which is the next step up).

But I’m thinkin’ along a slightly different wrinkle here. After all, a fellah’s gotta make a livin’, y’know, and I do love to do what I’m good at, y’know, doin’, if you get my meanin’. But that’s just a job, after all. It’s not who I am.

No, the real question is, who do I want to be. Can you hear the distinction? I’m not even sure I can adequately define it, for that matter. Hey, at least I know what I mean. And I think you do, too, right?

See, besides bein’ a darned good Project Engineer, I’m a whole herd of other things, too. For instance (and in no particular order): I’m a husband, a writer, an author, a Bible teacher (the Mrs. And I teach Newlyweds at our church – loads of fun, I’ll tell ya!), a Christian, a friend, a fine fellow (or an insane person, depending on who you ask) – I mean there’s literally no limit to the things I can be at any given moment.

So why the seemingly ambiguous question, you ask? Well, maybe it needs to be stated in a different way.

I guess the question is really, what do I want to be that will produce something that will outlast me? Or that affects other people in a positive way? (And that’s positive as defined by me, of course.) In other words, what difference do I want to make in that totality of existence we call life, the universe, and everything?

Do YOU know what I mean? Maybe we should throw that one against the wall and see what sticks.

So, how would YOU answer the question: “What do I want to be?”

As always, feel free to respond in the comment box. Or, if you need more room and it fits your blog, write it there. (Just link here so we can all enjoy – and learn – from your responses.) Don’t worry; I’ll leave the light on for ya.

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Photos

… or not 2B, by Robert Hruzek

find out who you are 3042×2154, by Joanna Young

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