Prompt: Write about something you refuse to compromise.
Okay, the prompt for today is: Write about something you refuse to compromise. Oh, today’s July 4th, 2026. Well, I’m all backwards and turned around, aren’t I?
Something I refuse to compromise.
I don’t think that there’s anything that I am 100% committed to. You know, it depends on the scenario, the context, and things like that.
One thing I’m thinking about is that I do protect my own time—the time that I need for myself. Whether it be mostly really for my morning pages, and it used to be for journaling at night, and then actually doing something at night to sort of unwind. I do, at the end of the day, like to be by myself before going to bed. So whether that means I’m crocheting, or I’m watching TV, or I’m reading, or, I don’t know, probably eating popcorn as well.
But, you know, in the current climate of things, I can’t always do that in the order that I would like.
Now, I do, on most days—nearly every day—find some time to do my morning pages, if nothing else. And I won’t fall asleep until I’ve had time to sort of unwind. So I guess, in some ways, that time is carved out, but it’s not without compromise.
I also… I mean, at school even, when it comes to student grades and things like that, I used to think that it mattered. But the more I’m into it, the longer I’m in it, and the more I’m involved with students, and especially at the level that I’m teaching, I think that grades should be disbanded.
And that’s not to say I don’t assess my students fairly or that I don’t give them valuable feedback or anything like that. It’s more that I think some parents and some students think that their grades are more valuable than they actually are.
And if they want to argue with me about something, I’m more than inclined to… if they can provide enough evidence, then yeah, okay, you win.
But there was a time when I would hold fast to what I had decided, and… I don’t know if that’s worthwhile anymore.
What else?
What else?
There’s… I don’t know.
I think one of the big things that I would like to learn how to refuse to compromise is presence.
I want to go through the world knowing that I have a right to take up space, that I have a right to be in a place, and that others, whether they like it or not, shouldn’t—or cannot—sort of move me out of my place or take away that right simply because it’s an inconvenience or they don’t like it.
Yeah.
I think I go through the world, and I somewhat envy people who take up space, and they’re okay with taking up space. That’s something I aspire to because, when I do it, I feel very self-conscious, and I feel very… what’s the word?… artificially confident. And so it’s quick to crumble, you know, like a poorly baked cookie.
Yeah.
So I think that’s one thing I would like to work on. And I think that everybody should have—and nobody should compromise—this right to exist, your right to be in space, your right to be in time, your right to be who you are, wherever you are, whenever you are.
And I think that’s important.
Yeah, but having said that, I think that other people have that same right.
And then… yeah. Now you get two.
How can… I guess, how do two people exist in the same place and time?
I don’t know.
Right now, you can find this prompt and more at Letters Lounge, www.letterslounge.com. Of course, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, so please do leave a comment or a link to a blog or audio journal of yours, and I will be sure to give it a read or a listen.
All right, folks. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
This transcript was lightly cleaned up with the help of AI to improve readability while preserving the original voice and intent of the recording.
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