Category: Randomness – Poems, Haiku, and Other Stuff

In an alternate timeline I’d like to think I will still have the loved ones and friends I have now but I am more successful creatively. I am the published author I have always wanted to be. The Podcast and YouTube Channels are massive success stories. All my creative efforts have paid off and I can share the benefits with those I know and love.

Creativity.

I am addicted to creating anything. Podcasting. YouTube. Blogs. Short Stories. Novels. Poetry.

Anything to feed the addiction.

My brain is a constant creative factory.

Me:

Dad. Husband. YouTuber. Podcaster. Writer.

Sums me up best.

Weird thing, my dad calls me Tony. Nobody else around me seems to do that. My friends call me Fro – which is a shorter version of my last name.

I would like to see better regulations on social media and artificial intelligence. Both of which are having negative impacts on our society. It’s not all bad because there are benefits to them too. Just wish we could keep the creators behind either of them in check and hold them more accountable.

Another change, in my country, America, political donations. I am tired of the few controlling the many. There should only be so much a person can donate to a campaign. Plus, rein in campaign spending. Ridiculous how much people spend to get elected.

One more – better education on climate change and how it will affect us. Social media has spread a lot of misinformation.

I stay home with the kids so while I run errands, sit in carpool, cook, clean, fold laundry, etc. I usually listen to music or podcasts and sometimes when the TV is near YouTube is an option.

Hiking – getting lost in nature is a great way to pass the time. Easily lose hours on a trail.

Reading – nothing like a great page turner to help soak up some time.

Movies – a few hours spent on a film is time well spent.

Writing – when the creativity is flowing time just evaporates.

Adventure. When you reach a certain age – currently 52 – you start to seek out things that keep that youthful spirit alive inside of you. Like learning to hike and running a YouTube channel based on those adventures. It’s the little things that keep you young.

First thing that popped into my mind: patience and understanding. More open to more things as you age, and as you live longer you learn not to constantly make a mole hill into a mountain. You learn better about what’s worth fighting for and what’s not.

Immediate Future: Spending the summer with my kids since I don’t see them much when they are in school.

In about a month: Annual mountain trip for an entire week. Cooler weather, great places to hike, and walk. Look forward to it more and more as the summers continue to get hotter and hotter. Going to be in the upper nineties today with heat indexes in the triple digits. Hard to be active in that kind of heat.

In the fall: Getting back to day hiking when the weather cools and fall settles in.

As for the future, beyond the next few months: I truly don’t know. News and social media are forecasting bleak times ahead but as a person who tries to stay positive I cling to positivity. Maybe if we work to change the negative narrative we can fix the problems that lay before us. We don’t always have to agree but maybe we can find some common ground when it involves things that affect us all.

What many will probably say – their phone. It’s a constant time waster with apps and notifications all vying for your attention. I have only select notifications turned on because I don’t want to constantly have stuff asking for my time. I have found walking away from your tiny “always needy” companion leads to much more harmony in this world. Things don’t seem as dark. Time passes more slowly and easily too. That’s my goal this week. Less phone more time for other things.

Being in the moment and totally committed to the person you love. No phones or computers or distractions. Just you and your significant other hanging out and being together. For me personally. I love watching a movie with my wife and sharing that experience or getting out on a long walk and exploring the world around us.

Trying to be kind and pleasant to those I encounter each day. A simple good morning or how’s it going to a stranger can make a huge difference.

The climate. I don’t think we are taking it seriously enough. Too much misinformation in social media and the news. It’s political now and it shouldn’t be. I can walk outside in July and know it’s hotter now than ten years ago. If that’s not climate change then what is it? I want to leave my kids with a better future. Here’s hoping I can.

Beach. If I can find a nice quiet spot away from people.

Good and energetic. Feeling the new school routine slowly slipping into my day.

Morning.

Fresh ideas. Fresh thoughts.

First cup of coffee.

Sunrise and birds singing.

Love being up early before everyone else.

The weather. Doesn’t get really cold too often in Raleigh North Carolina. Would prefer a warmer climate but I do enjoy most of the seasons.

Easy drive to the beach or mountains.

Great places to walk. Good schools for my kids. Plenty of things to do when I go out.