Slut shaming, it gets under my skin!

Who created the criteria that determines what a slut does and who a slut is?

A woman who owns her sexuality and who is open to new experiences, is threatening to other women and men.

Most women want to be her & most men wish they could have her.

However, the woman who can’t muster up the same confidence, starts to shame her.

Then here comes the man who can’t have her, so quick to cast stones out of anger.

To me these judgements are so juvenile! We are adults, it’s time to get in touch with yourself.

The man who sleeps with a different woman everyday, is seen as some king.

If a woman does that, the world determines she’ll never be worthy of a wedding ring!

It’s our body to use how we like without our actions being deemed as sins.

What I did was neither right

Nor wrong,

What I did was awful,

What I did was majestic.

Some said I was wrong,

Others said I was right,

To get here I fought,

I fought till I could not breathe.

What I did was cruel,

But what I did was necessary,

They didn't knew it then,

But they do now.

I tried to save them,

I tried to bring balance,

To life and to the Universe,

But they resisted me,

They fought me till the end.

Everything should be balanced,

As balanced as it should be,

A tip over either side,

Will bring forth great catastrophe.

Now they say that I was right,

Now they say that I was their savior,

But what difference does that make,

I'm nothing but dust now.

"Men rape and brutalize each other. Equal treatment is not much of an advance."

I have dipped my toes in the cool water that is Prose. But with this comment on my post about rape, someone peed in the pool.

I imagine this person signing into their account, writing that comment, and going back out into the world feeling safe in the dark.

In the dark, I wake up. This was a fever dream. But in the light of my bedside table lamp, I look down and see my hands. They are made of stars.

I can cast over everyone what I truly believe.

I can finally say my piece.

At the end of time, all stars will die out, one by one. Ultimately, one last star will remain. It will shine the only light that is left, into the universe.

Perhaps this is my chance.

In the darkness, I sit up and grab pencil and paper. I start to write.

There are typos, edits that need to be made. I wipe away the pencil with the tears that accompanied my waking up.

I want their to be equality.

I have done it. With my pencil, I have written what the person had said in my comments, except I fixed it. I made it so we have equal treatment.

But let's go back to what they actually said.

"Equal treatment is not much of an advance."

What did this person want? Did they want anything at all to change?

I try to think. The pencil dangles in my hands. Finally, I write something down, no edits needed.

"I want there to be no more ignorance."

Maybe we can all be stars, illuminating, and not peeing, in a pool of someone else's tears.

Greetings fellow Writers,

A few quick updates for you this afternoon. We apologize for the extended delay in addressing some bugs and feedback pointed out to us. But at long last, we've finally surfaced to address some nasty little splinters.

Bug Fixes

- Challenge entries in challenges that are part of a portal will now be displayed in the proper portal. This has been fixed retroactively as well - any such posts are now displayed in the appropriate portal.

- There was a bug that prevented tagged users in comments from being notified if they were tagged alongside a non-existent user (for instance if a username was misspelled). Valid users will now receive comment tag notifications regardless of who they are tagged alongside.

- Profile pictures and profile banners can now be properly updated. YIKES.

- Issues with our newsletter email system have been resolved. As such, regularly scheduled Challenges of the Week and Challenges of the Month will resume.

We apologize once again for the delay in addressing some of these issues and are eternally grateful for your patience and your words.

If there are any features, bugs, or suggestions you have, please let us know in the comments below!

Happy Writing.

National Chocolate Chip Day

U.S. Coast Guard Day

Single Working Women’s Day

I don’t see any connections here. Oh well.

U.S. Coast Guard Day

U.S. Coast Guard Day honors the military branch that protects our waters and shorelines. The U.S. Defense Department suggests that this day is largely an internal celebration for all Coast Guard personnel and their families, past and present. But, we'd like to encourage everyone to honor the brave members of this important branch of the military.

Celebrate U.S. Coast Guard Day by learning more about the responsibilities and functions of the U.S. Coast Guard. They are now playing an even more extensive role in Homeland Security to protect our country.

On August 4, 1790, the Revenue Cutter Service was created by the U.S. Congress. Congress authorized the construction of ten cutters. These ships were built to enforce U.S. tariff laws. The Revenue Cutter Service was the predecessor the U.S. Coast Guard. The name "Coast Guard" was first used in 1915.

I salute Coast Guard personnel today and every day. I hope you do, as well.

"Life is hard. It's harder if you're stupid."—John Wayne (The Duke)

National Chocolate Chip Day

It may be blisteringly hot outdoors. Time to put on your apron and fire up the oven, for this is a good day to bake dozens and dozens of chocolate chip cookies. And, then eat them, of course.

It's real easy to celebrate this sweet day. Eat lots and lots of Chocolate chip cookies. Store bought or homemade chocolate chip cookies are all okay. If you are a baker, celebrate this day, by pulling out your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipes and bake as many cookies as you can. If this day falls on a workday, it is perfectly fine to bake the cookies the night before, as long as you bring some in to work for your fellow workers.

To celebrate this day, bakeries and grocery stores often offer a free chocolate chip cookie to patrons. Some offer discounts on purchase of the cookies.

Americans eat on average 18,928 cookies (all kinds) in their lifetimes.

The chocolate chip cookie was invented by Ruth Graves Wakefield from Massachusetts, in 1938. Her husband ran the Tool House Inn, resulting in her cookies being call "Toll House "cookies. Nestlé's bought the rights to the name, and the rest is history.

"Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level,

and then beat you with experience."—Mark Twain

Single Working Women’s Day

The importance of single women to our economic and social growth cannot be understated. Every year millions of single women work in industries all over the world, doing the work for themselves and living for themselves. Single Working Women’s Day reminds us how important each and every one of them is, and that it’s not just men that make the world go round.

Single Working Women’s Day was created by Barbara Payne with the intent of recognizing the importance of these women and raising awareness of this fact in the public eye. Their role has grown ever more important as being a single woman is no longer a stigma in many countries, and instead, is often encouraged or respected as these individuals work their way through life on their own. In spite of this, theirs is not a life free of the challenges brought on by generations of stigma.

Singlism is a present problem in society, being the idea that being single precludes your ability to live a whole and happy life, especially if you’re a woman. The opposite can, in fact, be true, given that single people tend to be far more social than those in relationships, and have more free time to pursue their passions. In relationships where it’s relevant, the addition of children obviously causes even more hardship in the area of socialization and can become the proverbial albatross around an individual’s neck in trying to pursue their dreams.

“Single is no longer a lack of options—but a choice. A choice to refuse to let your life be defined by your relationship status but to live every day Happily and let your Ever After work itself out.”—Mandy Hale, The Single Woman: Life, Love, and a Dash of Sass

More Strange Holidays Coming!

Manila teeth, sticky skin

powerlines all tangled and dense

the sun hangs low behind Buendia billboards

all tattered from past typhoons that are named like Saints

basketball jerseys and shorts, beehived bleached shirt

too big for her but her smile mirrors the Mickey embossed

all the while flip-flops slap against pavement and against feet too small

snaps firecrackers during New Year’s and cracks Quezon City gunshots as the night nears

moro, jack en poy, squeezed on a sidewalk next to narrow roads holding jeeps that held

prisoners of war, running on the gallons of blood we’ve forgotten, hidden underneath pillows, now soaked up by the mattress, dried by a dusty fan whose neck is broken with its swivel seized as the blade cuts wildly at nothing for someone sewn to the straws, eyes burning a thousand yard stare into its eyelids

National Girlfriends Day

National Mahjong Day

National Mountain Climbers Day

Sisters Day

Well, looks like the girls have the advantage today, cool. Well, not really all that cool since August can be a very hot month heat wise.

Sisters Day

Today celebrates being or having a sister. Today is a day to celebrate your love for you sister(s). That means a lot of us will celebrate this special day. Sisters are truly special and unique. Sure, we may argue and fight. But, when it comes right down to it, sisters are the best, the very best. Make sure you let her know. After all, she may tell you “My sister has the best sister!”.

Who qualifies as a “Sister”? In the spirit of sisterhood and inclusiveness, this can include biological sisters, blended family sisters, sister-in-law, sorority sisters, and of course religious nuns, Sometimes friends refer to each other as sisters. This relationship counts and is celebrated today, too.

Today does not have to be a gift giving event. Just being close sisters is gift enough. How about celebrating Sister’s Day by spending time together!? Go to lunch or dinner, go shopping or take a trip to the beach. Any activity that the two (or three, or four...) of you enjoy doing together, is the perfect way to spend the day.

For all of you guys reading this, you can celebrate it , too. If you have a sister, let her know how much she is loved by you, and how much she means to you.

Celebrate Sister’s Day by spending time with your sister. Make it a special day in some way for you, and for her.

On May 2nd, there is National Brother and Sister Day

April 10th there is National Siblings Day

Did you ever feel like you’ve had too much wine? Me neither.

National Girlfriends Day

This is a special day, indeed! It is her special day, a time to celebrate, spoil and pamper her. You might begin, by celebrating the fact that you have an awesome girl, as wonderful and special as her, to call your girlfriend. After all, look what she has to put up with.

Some people may say this special day is not needed, as a girlfriend should be treated nicely, and in a special way, every day of the year. This day is an opportunity to go beyond nice... all the way to spoiled and pampered.

There are so many ways to celebrate National Girlfriends Day. Are you drawing a blank? Typical guy. Here are just a few ideas:

Take her to see a “chick flick”.

Simply tell her you appreciate all the things she does. Give her some specific examples.

Don’t hesitate to shower her with a card, flowers, perfume or other gifts.

Don’t let her lift a single pretty finger to work today. Today, she is a woman of leisure.

Give her the TV Remote. This, in and of itself, is a huge gesture.

Take her out to dinner.

Give her a back massage. It just might result in instant gratification.

Guys, whatever your plans for today are, make sure to do it up in a big way. Your girlfriend has a long memory. She will certainly remember what you did when National Boyfriends Day comes along which is October 3rd.

“Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”—Abraham Lincoln

National Mountain Climbers Day

Climb every mountain

Search high and low

Follow every highway

Every path you know …

These are lyrical lines from “Climb Every Mountain” from The Sound of Music. If you care to listen: https://youtu.be/RKuqySkqhHw

Everyone should climb a mountain at least once in their lives. It is an exhilarating experience, with a huge reward at the peak… a big sense of accomplishment for reaching new heights. Fresh air and magnificent scenery, only adds to the joy of climbing a mountain to the summit. You might climb just one mountain, and attain pride and bragging rights to family and friends. Or, you might find the experience so rewarding, that mountain climbing becomes a new hobby, as you seek the challenge of conquering one peak after another.

National Mountain Climbing Day was established in honor of this author’s son, Bobby Matthews, and his friend Josh Madigan, for successfully climbing the 46 High Peaks of New Your State’s Adirondack Mountains. These two young men, climbed the 46th peak, Whiteface Mountain, on August 1, 2015. They were formally inducted into the Adirondack 46’er Club in May 2016.

Mountain climbing is a challenging hike. On occasion, a difficult climb may require using both your arms and legs on a steep portion of the climb. Rappelling a mountain, like you see when adventurers. Climb Mount Everest, is not part of the climb. Depending upon the size and difficulty, your first climb on an easy mountain, will only take a couple of hours.

Can you climb a mountain? Sure you can! Young children under 10 years old, and senior citizens over eighty have climbed mountains. Josh Madigan says, “It’s more stamina and mental, than strength.” So, there’s no reason you cannot climb a mountain.

This also holds true in another way—getting past those things that seem to stand in your way. Once you have, the day becomes less filled with anxiety and strife, and your life will feel much calmer knowing you reached the top of that mountain and defied the odds.

*** The above photo was taken in August 2008, as I took a break on a trail climbing a portion of Pike’s Peak outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger, except for bears—Bear’s will kill you dead.

More Strange Holidays Coming!

I’m not sure if any of the following features exist on this site because I am still fairly new, but I have some ideas. The first thing I would like to see is a list of advisors. I would love for writers to be able to submit their work for critiquing by a list of established writers. These could either be published writers, winners of challenges posted by Prose, or perhaps English/Marketing majors or possibly graduate students (honestly anyone who would volunteer, you could afford to pay, or as part of challenge win would participate). I would love for their to be different categories such as specific editing (spelling, grammar, line structuring, etc.), overall editing (paragraph structuring, location of concepts/ideas, deletion of sections, etc.), creative editing which would give you ideas on how to come up with subjects, the general themes you want to write about, if you want to write series, etc., and then a marketer/publisher who can help market your book/stories. If you are getting volunteers or individuals with a specialization, you could always create a category just for them.

The second thing I would like to see is a cleaner transition between the site’s info/page and the writer’s info/page. I would like to see them separated more so that there is no confusion when you are clicking on items such as “Post” and “Challenge” because sometimes it does not distinguish very clearly between your posts and general posts or your challenges (both the challenges you created and the challenges you are engaged in) and the list of challenges offered. I would love for there to be a button next to “Prose” that says something to the effect of home page, maybe “Home” and a button next to the writer’s profile picture to the effect of profile page, maybe “Mine”. I would love for these buttons to be visible at all times (after the writer has created a profile) so you can easily switch back and forth.

The third thing is to add an extra tab under “Challenges” where it says “Trending” and “Newest” that would indicate challenges that are offering to pay money. Maybe call it “Payout” or something. Then you can have a subcategory indicating whether the challenge costs the participant money or not. It would also be nice to have a “Search” tab under that category for the participants to better browse a specific topic in a challenge or simply to rediscover a challenge they had previously seen (without scrolling through the whole list again). Another tab that I would like to see under “Challenges” is a tab that would separate the challenges by the time that they end, maybe labeling it “Ending Soon” or something and soon can be defined by x amount of days, perhaps 3-5 days.

The fourth thing I would like to see would be under the "My Posts" section. I think it would be helpful for writers participating in challenges if you added how much time is left on a challenge that the participant has entered next to the challenge. This would be especially helpful if the post is "unpublished" so that the participant can focus on the soonest deadlines first without having to go back to each challenge itself to get the information.

I would like to request that you do not use any of these ideas for premium members only. I would like to see these ideas (if they are to be used) benefit everyone who uses this site.