Daily writing prompt

List five things you do for fun.

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I guess not ironically, the things I enjoy doing for fun now are the same things I enjoyed as a kid – with one exception – I used to love watching TV. Favorite movies from the 80s – The Color Purple, The Breakfast Club, Lean On Me… Favorite TV shows – Laverne and Shirley, Little House on the Prairie, What’s Happening, I Dream of Genie – and I could go on. Nowadays, I can go six months or longer without so much as turning the TV on.

Fun things from my childhood that are still fun now:

1. Drawing – Before I knew how to read and write, I was an oral storyteller. My mother will tell you about the time my kindergarten class had story time around Thanksgiving. I drew a turkey on a tan sheet of construction paper and when my teacher, Miss Hollander, asked me about my drawing, I told her “the turkey is doo-doo’ing in the road.” The teacher called my mother and they both fell out laughing.
2. Storytelling – See number one. I was born a storyteller and I’ve use this blog for that purpose over the years. One thing I can do, is tell a good story.
3. Writing – Once I did learn to write, I wrote books made of looseleaf paper stapled together. I was the author and illustrator, although I have no recollection of what those stories were about. My guess would be young people and their relationships with family.
4. Reading – There was a long time during my childhood where I would much rather read than go outside and play with kids. I had the nicknames “brainiac” and “hermit.” My father bought me all the books I wanted from the “Scholastic” and “Lucky Stripes” book sales. (At least, I think it was called Lucky Stripes. I could be wrong.)
5. Acting – I never became the professional actor that I wanted to be. I was forever rehearsing my lines and making up characters who talked to each other. This one shouldn’t really be on the list, I guess.
6. Gardening/ Playing in dirt – Since number five isn’t really true these days, I’m adding gardening as a bonus. I have a modest garden now – but back then, it was just “playing in the dirt.” Pulling weeds is cathartic for me (I love it) and I enjoy planting seeds and watching things grow. I enjoy nature. This isn’t exactly making mud pies with my cousins, but it’s play.

Hmm, this list spells out that I have been an artist forever. In 2023, I started taking art classes, learning to draw (for real), use pastels, watercolor pencils, acrylic paint, etc. So, there is always time! And I’ve also been teaching myself digital art programs.

Share in the comments something you did for fun as a kid that you still do today. How do you nurture your inner child?

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Tags: art, dailyprompt, dailyprompt-1826, Inner child, Inspiration, reading, Reflections, Writing