My husband and I began the annual task of cleaning out our garage. Despite our best efforts to minimize our accumulated possessions, we faced, yet again, stacks of used baby paraphernalia (purchased for grandchildren’s visits), old clothing, books and boxes filled with odd collections of items transferred from household shelves to the garage. I have [...]
Archive for the ‘life writing’ Category
For the Week of January 29, 2012: “How It Felt to be Me”
Posted in art and writing, expressive writing, life writing, writing as a way of healing, writing for wellness, writing prompts for cancer survivors on January 29, 2012 | 4 Comments »
For the Week of December 26, 2011: Firsts
Posted in expressive writing, life writing, writing as a way of healing, writing for wellness, writing prompts for cancer survivors on December 26, 2011 | 2 Comments »
It’s been a week of firsts: my granddaughter’s first visit to California, her first encounter with a dog, first taste of solid food, and first sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Yesterday we celebrated her first Christmas, although at only six months of age, it’s unlikely she’ll have any memories of the day, but we–her parents [...]
For the Week of December 18, 2011: Winter Lights
Posted in expressive writing, life writing, writing as a way of healing, writing for wellness, writing prompts for cancer survivors, writing to heal on December 18, 2011 | 1 Comment »
We put up our Christmas tree last night, waiting until our five month old granddaughter, Flora, arrived with her parents so that they could share in our annual holiday tradition. Long after everyone went to bed, I sat alone in the dark, staring at the colored lights and remembering dozens of Christmases past. Finally, exhausted [...]
For the Week of December 11, 2011: The Cycle of Life
Posted in expressive writing, life writing, writing as a way of healing, writing for wellness, writing prompts for cancer survivors, writing to heal on December 11, 2011 | 3 Comments »
I live in a place where the advent of winter is less noticeable than in other places I used to call “home.” The succulents that dot the slopes of our property, the silk oak and palm tree standing in our backyard, are green and unchanged in this winter season. There are buds on my bird [...]
For the Week of December 4, 2011: Forgiveness
Posted in expressive writing, healing arts, life writing, writing as a way of healing, writing for wellness, writing prompts for cancer survivors on December 4, 2011 | 9 Comments »
My parents died several years ago, and in the aftermath of their loss, the dynamics between the siblings in my family were turbulent and hurtful. Grief, which all of us experience, is complex. It sometimes emerges as anger or resentment directed at others, and in the death of a parent, with one family member striking [...]
For the Week of November 27, 2011: The Gifts of Life
Posted in expressive writing, life writing, writing as a way of healing, writing for wellness, writing prompts for cancer survivors on November 27, 2011 | 4 Comments »
This past week, I’ve been enjoying the company of my daughter and her family, exploring the island of Okinawa, where they now make their home. So much is new and unfamiliar, and I marvel as my daughter, mother of a two small children, navigates about the island, eagerly embracing its culture, language and cuisine. Yet [...]
For the Week of November 12, 2011: If You Could Turn Back Time
Posted in expressive writing, life writing, writing as a way of healing, writing for wellness, writing prompts for cancer survivors on November 13, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Daylight saving time ended last Saturday night, but for the entire week, I’ve been consumed with time, anticipating the fifteen hour difference between San Diego and Okinawa, where I’m headed for a visit with my daughter and her family. My husband, a seasoned global traveler, offered his advice for easing jet lag. “Just get up [...]
For the Week of October 9, 2011: When Night Stretches into Forever
Posted in expressive writing, healing arts, life writing, writing as a way of healing, writing for wellness, writing prompts for cancer survivors, writing to heal on October 9, 2011 | 5 Comments »
Even in the cave of the night when you wake… you push with your eyes till forever comes in its twisted figure eight and lies down in your head… ( “Waking at 3 a.m.,” by William Stafford, in Waking at 3 a.m., 1972) We’ve all had them, those sleepless nights when our fears and worries [...]
For the Week of October 2, 1011: The Stories of our Scars
Posted in expressive writing, healing arts, life writing, writing as a way of healing, writing for wellness, writing prompts for cancer survivors, writing to heal on October 2, 2011 | 5 Comments »
i was leaving my fifty-eighth year when a thumb of ice stamped itself hard near my heart you have your own story you know about the fears the tears the scar of disbelief … (“1994,” by Lucille Clifton) There’s a scar on my head, behind my hairline, that runs from one ear to the other. [...]
For the Week of August 21, 2011: Remembering Gratitude
Posted in expressive writing, life writing, writing for wellness, writing prompts for cancer survivors, writing to heal on August 21, 2011 | 1 Comment »
We rose at dawn yesterday to begin the trip home from Toronto, where we’ve been visiting our newest granddaughter and her parents for the past two and a half weeks. We’re seasoned travelers, and we arrived at the airport, as advised, two hours ahead of departure to check our bags and clear U.S. Customs. It [...]
