Mostly Sunny with a Chance of Connection: {The View from Here}

When we launched The Prompt Mag a few summers ago, we didn’t really know what we were getting into. Kelaine and Josh missed writing and thought for sure I would look for a new outlet to publish my thoughts too. My writing has taken a backseat as I have endeavored to grow The Prompt’s social media following; recently on Instagram and on Twitter from the very beginning. And while it’s always our goal to increase our readership, the most gratifying thing has been connecting one-on-one with fellow writers. Some of these individuals have joined The Prompt’s creative conspiracy and become regular contributors. Others have their own online publications, with a unique focus, vibe, and voice.

Mr. Joe Walker of THIS. Entertainment struck up a conversation earlier in this hellscape known as 2020. I was pleasantly disarmed by his positive spirit and so we began a peer-to-peer relationship; one publication rooting on the other from afar. Inspired by our current prompt, The View from Here, Joe, his colleague Alex, and I decided to collaborate and become more-than-strangers.

Jillian Conochan

Where am I? Well, aren’t we all on the same spaceship cruising at a rate of 67,000 miles per hour through the galaxy? And—side note—we should probably make best efforts to get along and to preserve our eco-system?

Now that that’s out of the way, I’ll zoom in a little more. The view from here is a laptop, on top of a table, in front of a hutch built in 1927 along with the rest of this old house on the Jersey Shore. The view from here includes a busy road, followed by green acres, and finally the bayside of the Atlantic Ocean. If you can see past the traffic and far enough into the future to overcome the damaging effects of climate change, it’s a great view.

What about you? What’s your view?

Alex Malone, @GrandKaiGaming1

Well, being 6’4″ naturally my view is typically clearer than others. In the midst of a pandemic though, it seems even my height is at a disadvantage from the curveballs this year has thrown at us. The view from here is filled with the smiles of kids as they adapt to being at home more. The view from here includes days filled with online meetings to figure out how to help my community and business grow. Though my view may not be what I expected, it sure is an honor to be able to see these things from up here.

Mr. Joe Walker, @mrjoewalker

My head and my Michigan State ball cap make a hairless sandwich. Its meat is overflowing thoughts of article ideas, interview questions, podcast topics, and social issues that, every day, become increasingly hairier.

The view from here is my computer screen, the blinding pale glow of a wordless Word doc waiting for me to add toppings. I so wish the choice of Miracle Whip or mayo was our only tough decision.

The view from here allows me to stare into the sky when I need a momentary break, but I find myself worrying about storms even when the sky is beautiful and cloudless.

I’m thankful when the sun glows into my brown eyes and on my brown skin, but that doesn’t stop me from being blue from time to time.

People in my community, and in communities I may never visit, are hurting or being hurt.

The view from here is me trying to use my blessing for word use to brighten days, ease some pain, and maybe encourage another’s eyes to look from beneath their own caps to see and understand were others’ views are coming from.

It’s easy to be bogged down by your view, whether that means feeling stuck looking at a blinking cursor on an empty page, or prisoner to long-held belief that’s past its expiration date. What lies beyond your personal middle-distance?

We want to challenge you to gaze outside the views in your immediate proximity. Maybe connect with someone who was previously a stranger. Who knows… they just may help expand your view.

For support pep talk materials, check out Mr. Joe Walker and Grand Kai’s podcast commemorating the one year anniversary of THIS. Entertainment. Congratulations, guys!

THIS Podcast 20: THISENT.com 1 Year Anniversary [Hosted by Mr. Joe Walker, Grand Kai, and AOG2012]