WordSisters

  • My First Attempt at AI-Powered Writing

    bevbachel's avatar

    bevbachel

    Artificial intelligence is all the rage, so I decided to use it to generate my February Word Sisters post.

    My request: write a rhyming poem for women 50+ about the joys of aging (though I also briefly considered “the realities of aging”).

    First I tried anyword.com, but didn’t love what it generated, so I turned to chatGPT. In less than 30 seconds, here’s what I received.

    As we age, we gain wisdom and grace

    Our wrinkles are lines that tell our life’s pace

    We’ve lived through hardships and moments so sweet

    And we’ve learned that life is a journey, not a defeat

    We no longer chase fleeting trends

    Instead, we embrace our truest friends

    Our bodies may change, but our spirits stay strong

    And we continue to sing life’s sweetest song

    We relish in the simple things

    Like watching the sun set, and what the day brings

    We find joy in a book or a warm cup of tea

    And appreciate the beauty in things we see

    We know that time is fleeting and precious

    So we take moments to pause and reflect, never reckless

    We find beauty in the moments we share

    And embrace every opportunity to show we care

    So let’s embrace this new chapter with pride

    And enjoy the joys of aging with every stride

    For we know that with each passing day

    We become wiser, kinder, and better in every way

    As a career writer, I’m still pondering how I might use AI-powered writing, but there is one thing I do know: I couldn’t have written a poem so quickly. And while I don’t think it’s a great or even a good poem, I do believe there’s value in not having to start with a blank page.

    Have you experimented with AI-powered writing? If so, what tools have you used and what’s been your experience?

    , , , ,

    7 responses to “My First Attempt at AI-Powered Writing”

    1. Ann Coleman Avatar
      Ann Coleman

      You’re right, the poem has some good points, but isn’t anything that really gets our attention. And personally, I like that. I want writing that reflects the individual point of view and quirks of the writer. AI kind of defeats that, in my opinion. But it’s an interesting experiment for sure!

      1. Bev Bachel Avatar
        Bev Bachel

        So much of it depends on the quality of the prompt you write and the input you provide. As I’ve learned from some of my colleagues, that makes a huge difference in what one gets back.

    2. Bev Bachel Avatar
      Bev Bachel

      Like you, I am biased but also keeping an open mind as I have already seen one colleague use ChatGPT to draft some pretty impressive essays. Of course, that takes more time and effort on the front end, something I haven’t yet done.

    3. Ellen ShrinerEllen Avatar
      Ellen ShrinerEllen

      What an interesting experiment! I’m reminded that even in clichés about being an older woman there are truths. Our bodies may change but our spirits stay strong and we embrace our truest friends.

    4. Eliza Waters Avatar
      Eliza Waters

      Pretty amazing that AI just generated that so quickly. I wondered who wrote the program and how it was done!

      1. Bev Bachel Avatar
        Bev Bachel

        It’s amazing. One key to success is the quality of the prompt you write. One of my friends have been experimenting and I’ve been amazed at what AI has delivered.

    5. WritingfromtheheartwithBrian Avatar
      WritingfromtheheartwithBrian

      Thanks for the review Bev. I’m trying to keep a positive attitude about ChatGPT. I think you’ve hit on a big plus with AI. I think the benefit will be for trained professionals who can use the technology to give them a head start and know where and how to edit and tinker and make a piece read more human like. Saying all that, I still believe in the power of a human writer to find ways to reach and touch the reader. And yes, I’m sure I’m biased there!

  • Die With Zero

    Elizabeth di Grazia's avatar

    Elizabeth di Grazia

    Our family skipped Christmas this year. I first realized that when I returned from Hawaii on January 6. White twinkle and icicle lights strung from guttering sparkled in the chilly evening air. Multi-colored mini bulbs wrapped around shrubs and trees glowed in snow covered yards.

    Except at our home. Our flight had departed from Minneapolis on December 16th. Jody and I had decided to not put up any holiday lights. Not even an artificial Christmas tree. Decorations stayed stored in the garage rafters.

    In Whalers Village on Maui, we had our picture taken in front of the Christmas tree and noticed the island-style holiday decorations adorning hotel fronts.

    On Christmas day there weren’t any presents. Instead, each person was to buy a $20 gift in Hawaii for the steal, switch, gift exchange dice game.

    Our Hawaii experience was the gift: surf lessons, visiting a cat sanctuary on the island of Lanai, glass blowing, ATV tour, whale watching, hang gliding, a luau, and most important, being together.

    Absent was any questioning if there were going to be Christmas presents. Absent was the stress of gift buying. Absent for me was any depression or negative feelings from past memories of the holidays.

    It was after our trip that I started reading Die With Zero, written by Bill Perkins.

    The premise of the book is to maximize your life enjoyment rather than on maximizing your wealth. Focus on generating memorable life experiences. Live life to the fullest. Don’t wait until you’re too old to be able to enjoy doing things.

    Jody and I have taken many vacation trips with Juan and Crystel. I’ve included activities that we haven’t done before. We invite their friends. We generate memories.

    I was so taken by this book that I purchased one for Jody, Juan, and Crystel. This summer we are planning on returning to Guatemala. Crystel and I will do a month-long homestay and attend Spanish school. Jody, Juan and his girlfriend will join us for the 5th week. We will visit with both birth families. Juan will introduce his girlfriend to his birth mom. All of us will revisit the best of Guatemala. (We’ve vacationed in Guatemala five times).

    Juan’s 21st birthday is in July. Crystel’s 21st birthday in September. Their gift will be our Guatemala experience.

    Jody and I are planning to hike across Spain in the spring of 2024 (before I forget any Spanish). We’ll check in with the kids from time to time. We wouldn’t want them to worry. I view my age from 65-75 as being the healthiest for hiking, traveling, and seeing the country. If we don’t have the kid’s inheritance spent (the book says that optimal age for receiving inheritance is between ages 26-35) – Juan and Crystel will be at the prime age for receiving our inheritance when we finally start to slow down.

    There are a lot of holidays to skip between now and then. Many adventures, experiences, and memories to generate.

    ,

  • Days of Belgian Pie

    cmkraack's avatar

    cmkraack

    John, my last living uncle, passed away January 25, on his 90th birthday. One aunt remains and I hope she will be able to be there to say good-by to the last of her siblings. 

    It is cold in Wisconsin and my uncle’s beloved parish church may be chilly as his family gathers for his funeral this week. The cold would not have bothered him during his working years on the railroad or hunting with friends and family. When he was a kid hunting was not so much a sport, but a way to keep meat, canned or frozen, on hand to feed seven or eight people. Railroad workers, both my grandfather and uncle, never made a lot of money. My aunt cooked and sewed and gardened while working part-time to help support their family. Raised on a farm, she knew how to work as well as have fun. They both had big hearts.

    When my ninety-four-year-old grandfather passed away, he was buried out of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Luxemburg, Wisconsin. It was the first time I spoke at a funeral and shared with my eleven-year-old daughter the traditions of grieving in a small town where families are often intertwined, and most people have a public reputation. 

    Women from the parish made the food for my grandfather’s funeral luncheon. One of his cousins, who was also in her nineties, started baking when she heard he had passed. She made dozens of Belgian pies, enough so an entire six-foot table could be filled multiple times with slices of the sweet dough pie with soft cheese topping covering prune, apple, cherry, apricot, raisin, rice or poppyseed filling. It is an acquired taste.

    Noise filled St. Mary’s School cafeteria from lunch until we were asked to leave. There were a few photos, but the tradition of picture boards or videos at funerals had not come to Luxemburg. Instead conversations about my grandfather’s life were shared which often triggered laughter. Lots of laughter. For a relatively small man, Uncle John had a large and distinctive voice. His laughter may have been one of loudest in the crowded space. With our parents still alive and doing the job of representing the family, the cousins gathered our children to do introductions and talk about growing up with our grandfather. 

    My Uncle John looked a lot like his father. He was fiercely protective of his family, and they reciprocated. Hopefully my cousins, their children, and grandchildren will fill another room with stories of his life and laughter. Traditions like baking Belgian pies for a funeral may have faded away, but the love of family at a time of loss holds.

    4 responses to “Days of Belgian Pie”

    1. Eliza Waters Avatar
      Eliza Waters

      My condolences, it sounds like your uncle had a rich, long life.

      1. cmkraack Avatar
        cmkraack

        He was a positive force and generous person.

    2. Carole Duff Avatar
      Carole Duff

      Lovely post, a loving tribute to family. Thank you for sharing.

      1. cmkraack Avatar
        cmkraack

        Thank you, Carole.

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