Nights or mornings

Daily writing prompt
Are you more of a night or morning person?

I used to be a night person. Then I had kids. Then I discovered the saying:

If it’s not important enough to be first thing in the morning, it’s not important enough to be the last thing in the evening.

— Someone said that on the Internet

I’m now a morning person. I still do evening work sessions to catch people in distant timezones but my most productive time is the early morning.

What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?

Daily writing prompt
What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Why?

Looking back, I think the hardest decisions I made were related to giving up certain things, projects, or ideas.

For example, I gave up a series of pet projects I had from my early years of engineering. Some of these were integral part of my self-identification. But we need to recognize what’s important and focus on that, recognize what brings joy and focus on that as well. All of my pet projects needed significant maintenance and moderation and over the years, turned to unpaid chores that drifted away from their original purpose. I only mildly regret about my old blog.

Speaking of pleasurable activities that turn into chores, reading can be one. I can see myself switching from reading to gaming at some point in the future. Or maybe I’ll watch a TV series. Owning books can be that as well. The first batch of books I gave up to the library was particularly hard. I’m glad I did it because books pile up quickly and can clutter any home. There has to be a way for all these books to be rehomed.

There are harder decisions in life but I prefer to think about choices that are not between different evils. Like the following:

Kickin’ in the front seat
Sittin’ in the back seat
Gotta make my mind up
Which seat can I take?

Flowers

I was surprised to see this little fellow outside, after all the cold lately. We had several sub-zero days. The violets were fine, and were not alone.

It was also my first long morning walk from home to our shared co-working space in over a month. My current route is about 6km long. I enjoyed the weather and attempted to capture some blog-worthy photos with a mixed success.

Here’s a photo of a pigeon eating popcorn.

Name your top three pet peeves

Daily writing prompt
Name your top three pet peeves.

Parked cars. Moving cars. Drivers.

Cars take so much space. They need wider roads, parkings, highways, bridges, traffic lights. That space can be better used. We can have bus stops, bike lanes, grass, mud, or even puddles full of grass, mud, frogs, and everything.

Moving cars tend to be dangerous. A cat stands no chance when hit by a car. The heaviest stroller wouldn’t provide any protection against the lightest of all cars. The EU keeps raising the requirements for pedestrian protection but the math is clear – most fatal car accidents involve cars. It is possible for two rapid pedestrians to crash and bump their heads but way less likely.

Car drivers would be number three. Driving is like the full moon for werewolves – turns ordinary kind humans into berserkers.