M.J. Compton's Blog, page 31

Getting Rid of Make-Up

Many years ago, I let a couple of friends talk me into wearing makeup on a regular basis. So I had a couple of professional consultations. Bought reams of the stuff.  Way too much of it. It took time in the morning to apply. It took time at night to remove. I could never rub […]

#UpbeatAuthors: Tolerance & Stereotypes

My children attended an “inner city” high school I don’t think they ever thought of it in that light, though, unless the media made a big deal about school performance. They’re both proud alumni. They were active in band, chorus, drama, National Art Honor Society. Both got into good colleges with no problems. There were […]

What I Need to Write

There are certain things I need around me when I’m writing. I’m not talking about scented candles or mood music. I’m talking about other things that I must have when I’m seriously at work. I need an insulated cup for my cold drink. This one is the one I use on writing retreats. I need […]

#UpbeatAuthors:Happy Constitution Day

Preamble: We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence* promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America. (*yes, the […]

The Secret About The Secret

Several years ago, this book took the US by storm. Someone gifted me a copy, but I have not read it. A friend did read it, and subscribed to the theories. She explained to me how it works, which sounded a lot like Abraham and the Law of Attraction: if you believe something wholly and […]

#UpbeatAuthors: Tolerance

I recently had a chance to speak to a person I see only once a year. Spence* is a great guy. He always asks after my son, whom he’d met years ago when Y-Chromo was a child. Spence got married since I’d last seen him. He’s been with Ronald* for ten years, and they finally […]

#CrackpotTheory: Color, Food, & the Weather

I love bright  colors. I hate “tasteful” décor: ecru, beige, eggshell, and other shades of brown and white;  deep greens; dark reds. Who gets to decide what’s tasteful? Please! One thing I’ve noticed is cultures that indulge in bright colors also tend to eat spicier foods. Foods with flavor. Full of taste. Yes, I know curry […]

#UpbeatAuthors: Tolerance–The Definition

According to the Oxford English dictionary, tolerance is ‘the ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with.’ We don’t see a lot of tolerance  in today’s world. There’s too much “my way or no way.” I don’t understand why some folks can’t see the difference between, […]

Texture: It’s the Details

My brain has always focused on the details of a scene. The minutia. I remember the wallpaper of my bedroom when I was two. It was tan with cowboys and lassos on it. My grandmother wore my favorite apron the day my parents brought my baby sister home from the hospital: white, with blue tea […]

#UpbeatAuthors: Earning Respect

Earning respect mustn’t be confused with demanding respect. Respect that is demanded usually isn’t truly respect; it’s either fear or obedience. Anyone who thinks respect can be ordered–“Show me the respect I deserve or else!”–is a bully. Bullies deserve only contempt. Be sincere. Be genuine. Listen and learn. Compliment others. Be kind. Accept differences. This […]