Today happens to be Trivia Day and Can Do Day, and I loved the idea of letting the two talk to each other. Trivia reminds us that learning is full of small, fascinating facts. Can Do Day nudges us toward action: often the quiet, everyday action. Put them together, and we get something rather lovely: knowledge that encourages rather than intimidates.

Even small facts aren’t just fun: they shape our brains and our days. Learning new trivia sparks curiosity, strengthens neural connections, and boosts self-efficacy, helping us take tiny “I can” steps in life.

Trivia also fuels conversations, giving us hooks to connect with others, share ideas, and spark laughter or reflection in groups and gatherings. One fact can lead to new insights, shared stories, or a moment of wonder.

So knowing trivia isn’t just about remembering: it’s about thinking, feeling, and connecting differently.

And today’s Poetic Sunday prompt turns simple, true facts into gentle motivation.

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Poetic Sunday: Did You Know? You Can!

Did you know? You can… write a poem, try again, take one small step, even climb mountains—one quiet fact at a time.

Sometimes Sunday trivia isn’t about knowing more: it’s about discovering what you can do, feeling differently, and trying again. A small fact can open a door: to memory, courage, or one tiny action.

This week’s Poetic Sunday invites you to write a message in verse – to yourself or a student – blending trivia, emotion, and tiny I can moments.

So, What Is a “Did You Know? You Can!” Poem?

It’s a short poem that begins with a true fact about growth, learning, or effort—think neuroplasticity, habit-building, or practice – and pivots into a small “so you can…” action or feeling.

Part trivia spark.
Part pep talk.
A gentle nudge toward reinvention

How to Write a Poem with this Prompt?

Write 8–12 lines across 2–4 short stanzas. Or just a couplet too.

In each stanza:

• You can begin with a “Did you know…?” line (a true, simple fact about the brain, habits, growth, or just about anything else).
• Let the poem turn toward either:
  • a feeling, image, or memory,
  • a quiet “so you can…” encouragement
  • or like with the “did you know” line, anything you wish

You don’t need to explain the science or give details about the fact: let the fact brush up against emotion and see what happens.

🧠 Some Tips and More

• Your “Did you know…” lines don’t need to sound scientific: clarity matters more than terminology.
• For the “can-dos,” think tiny wins: reading one more page, trying again, offering a kind word.
• The magic lives in the turn from fact to feeling or action.
• If you’re stuck, start with something you already believe about learning or effort; and write from there.
• One example to start it off:
  • Did you know your brain grows every time you practice?
    So you can try again; even if it feels a little tricky

My Attempt

Pathways in Every Word
Did you know learning one new word each day can grow your brain’s pathways?
So find that word, know it well, use it here, there, in countless ways!
That word can be cool, quirky, or serious through and through,
It can be English, Japanese, Spanish, or even Jeru too!

Did you know mixing words is how many new ones are made?
So mash them, mold them, blend them in ways not yet displayed.
If they come out crooked or funny or oddly shod,
That’s all right; try again (or not) and give yourself a nod!
~ Vidya Tiru @ LadyInReadWrites

Recently

On My Blog And At Home

My recent posts since and including my last Sunday Scribblings:

• Walking With Wonderful Words and Wandering Through Wondrous Worlds
• Reading With Intention: Five Thoughtful Ways to Choose Books
• 26 Things to Do in the Year 2026
• Words That Shaped 2025 — A Look Back
• 10 Books I Recently Got (and Already Love)
• Sunday Scribblings #241: Voicemails for Friends and More

We welcomed the New Year with family and great food (thanks to our cousin who comes up with cool menus each time we go over to their place). And that marked a great start to the year for all of us.

Upcoming

On My Blog and Home Front

I hope to get at least a couple of posts out here though likely they will be shorter than usual (do I hear a few phews!:))

And very weirdly/coincidentally, last year’s home front update was “that rebuilding of self I mentioned earlier,” which is exactly what I will be working on over the year (reinventing myself slowly into my new roles professionally and also

This Week’s Celebrations

Literary Celebrations (close-to-it also)

• Literary birthdays this week include: Stella Gibbons, W.D. Snodgrass, and Umberto Eco on the 5th; January 6th celebrates Carl Sandburg, Elizabeth Strout; the 7th of January is for Zora Neale Hurston, Gerald Durrell, and Shobhaa De; the 9th celebrates Anne Rivers Siddons, Philippa Gregory, Simone de Beauvoir; Philip Levine on the 10th of January; Diana Gabaldon and Jasper Fforde on Jan 11th
• Jan 5th is National Screenwriters Day
• Followed by National Take a Poet to Lunch Day on the 6th 😉
• The 9th is National Word Nerd Day
• January 11th is National Learn Your Name In Morse Code Day as well as World Sketchnote Day

Foodie Celebrations

• January 5th starts off this week with National Whipped Cream Day
• Followed by National Bean Day and National Shortbread Day on Jan 6th
• Next up, it is National Tempura Day is on the 7th of January
• January 8th celebrates National English Toffee Day
• While the 9th observes National Apricot Day
• National Bittersweet Chocolate Day is on the 10th of January
• Then it is National Milk Day and National Hot Toddy Day on the 11th

Other Celebrations

• The 5th of Jan is National Bird Day and National Day of Dialogue, and also National Thank God Its Monday Day!!
• Followed by National Technology Day  and National Cuddle Up Day on the 6th of January
• Then the 7th observes National Bobblehead Day and Distaff Day
• Next up, January 8th observes Coming of Age Day as well as National Clean Your Desk Day
• Jan 9th is International Choreographers Day
• It is National Save the Eagles Day on the 10th of January and also National Take the Stairs Day
• January 11th is Heritage Treasures Day(UK) and National Step In A Puddle And Splash Your Friends Day, as well as International Thank-You Day and No Longer New Year’s Day (so the unofficial deadline for saying Happy New Year to people!)

Wrapping up my Sunday Scribblings

So dear reader, you have reached the end of this Sunday Scribblings! As always, I welcome your thoughts, comments, and suggestions about this post. And do let me know if you plan to celebrate any of these mentioned celebrations this coming week/month? Regarding the poetic prompt, I can’t wait to read what you write.What “did you know” fact will fuel your can-do this Sunday?

Linking this to the Sunday Post over at the Caffeinated Reviewer and the Sunday Salon