How to generate ideas

Everyday I try to sit down and write10 random ideas and a 400 word essay.  Generally I write about whatever is on mind that day, but when I get stuck for ideas I try to choose a theme. I had a counselor once who would ask why when we were talking about a subject. Every time I would finish a thought she would ask why I thought that.  The whys would go on until I had exhausted the topic. It forced me to really dig deep and thoroughly investigate an idea or plan or even just a feeling.

Therefore when I am facing, what I call idea block, I stop and work through the same process as if Leah were continually asking me why.

Other ways to generate ideas is to ask question and try to answer the question. For example, why does it take a year to lose 40 pounds but only a month or two to regain the weight. If you start searching the internet, and you stay on topic, you can find hundreds of great sources and write a summary of them.

Naturally you can always write an opinion piece based on something going on in the news, the world, or simply your neighbor or life.  These are frequently the most interesting because what you find interesting and then commit to writing are often ideas or issues others are grappling with and want to explore. The mere act of writing things down makes you think more clearly and helps you sort out your thoughts on whatever topic comes to mind.  Our opinions can just be the cumulation of our experiences or they can be based on extensive research and then synthesized to make the most sense to ourselves.

Writing can be random or a way to solve a problem. The act of making myself write everyday requires a certain amount of discipline and adds some structure to a fairly structureless life. I think anything that makes me force myself to think is a good thing.

Rural Transportation

I’m on a semi-vacation, which is great, but with limited transportation options, which isn’t.  I don’t need a rental car the whole time i’m here just once in awhile. Now UBER would be perfect, but there are no UBER drivers.  It is a minimum of $575 to rent a car for 20 days, when basically I need the car for 5 days.

What to do….

Naturally start with Google, there were a few car dealerships but they are about leasing, so no luck there.  Then I moved on to UBER and Lyft, no one here drives for them.  Now there is always my mom and dad, but the idea is to visit them and not cause hardship for them and having to get us to the airport by 6 a.m. comes under my definition of hardship.

So I think our best bet is to take a ride into the airport early August and rent a car for a week before we have to leave.  Take the folks car, maybe John will go on to Grand Rapids from there and I'll bring their car home.  He can then do the Carlson thing, bring the rental back here and have it for the airport run on the 12th.  The other option is to go to the airport with our son when he leaves and just get the 20 day rental and eat the cost.  So few choices so much money...

We have also tried to keep a car here but you still have the airport problem. How do you get to and from the cottage from the airport.  Maybe $575 is not that expensive for the convenience.  I really don't know, it gives us the most flexibility so I bet it is the way to go.