avatarEva MacInnes

Summary

Eva MacInnes reflects on a writing prompt that leads her to list 10 things she loves and hates, revealing insights into her personality and prompting her to consider a New Year's resolution focused on positivity.

Abstract

In response to a writing prompt from Ruby Noir's "Deep Thought December Prompts," Eva MacInnes crafts two lists: one of things she loves, such as the beach and British accents, and another of things she hates, including arrogance and crowded places. She finds it surprisingly easier to identify things she hates, contrary to her initial belief that hate is a harsh word she rarely feels. The exercise leads her to introspect about her preferences and personality, realizing that despite her dislikes, she is not a bitter person. Instead, she sees this as knowing her own dislikes clearly. The difficulty in listing things she loves, excluding people and pets, prompts her to consider embracing more of what she loves as a potential New Year's resolution, suggesting a shift towards a more positive focus in her life.

Opinions

  • Eva initially believed that listing things she hates would be difficult, but she found the opposite to be true.
  • She was surprised by the ease with which she could identify things she dislikes, to the point where she felt she could continue the list beyond ten items.
  • The act of creating these lists made Eva reflect on her tendency to focus on dislikes and inspired her to consciously concentrate on positive aspects of her life.
  • Eva does not consider herself a bitter person, despite the length of her "hate" list, indicating a self-awareness about her emotions and reactions.
  • She views the exercise as revealing, particularly in how it might shape her goals, such as a New Year's resolution to focus more on the things she loves.
  • Eva's reflections suggest that she values personal growth and self-awareness, as evidenced by her willingness to share her insights and consider changes based on this introspective activity.

READ OR DIE | PROMPTS | LOVE | HATE | NONFICTION

10 Things I Love and Hate

Which list was easier?

Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash

This fabulous prompt Deep Thought December Prompts (Day 1) is from Ruby Noir at Read or Die.

Make a list of 10 things you absolutely love (you may not include people or pets). Then make a list of 10 things you absolutely hate (still may not include people but this one also can not include phobias).

Which list was harder to think of? Why do you think it was harder? What made it harder? What do you think the lists say about who you are?

10 Things I absolutely love: #1 The Beach #2 Going to Drive-In Movies #3 The Beatles #4 Reading Shakespeare Out Loud #5 Writing #6 Creating Art #7 Sunsets #8 Road Trips #9 British Accents #10 The Sound of Laughter

10 Things I absolutely hate: #1 Listening to Death Metal #2 Arrogance #3 Elitism #4 Cruelty #5 Dismissiveness #6 Doing Drugs #7 Crowded Places #8 Having Agoraphobia #9 Having Migraines #10 Having Fibromyalgia

Thinking of things I love was definitely harder. Not being able to put people or pets on the list made it extremely difficult. And before this exercise I thought that making a “hate” list would be really tough.

I always thought that hate was such a harsh word, and that I didn’t really hate anything. But I found that it came surprisingly easy. I could have kept going.

I’m not sure what it says about me, other than I must hate a lot of things. I’m not a bitter person, as I feel that it implies. I guess I just know what I don’t like.

After doing this, I also feel like I need to focus more on the things that I love in this world. Maybe that would even make a good New Year’s resolution. It would certainly make a better one than “exercise more,” which gets ignored every year.

Thank you for reading my story. I’d love to hear your responses.

You can check out some more of my writing and follow me here. (She, Her) I am a writer, an artist and a freelance editor. I edit all genres, and I specialize in Romance. I write a little bit of everything, whatever is on my mind at the moment. Get an email when I publish a new story.

Prompt
Love
Hate
Read Or Die
Nonfiction
Recommended from ReadMedium