Right now, I’m thinking about creating absolute junk! I write, write, and write some more and only publish about 1% of all my writing.  I’m getting better at publishing “junk” or pieces that I feel could use some finesse.  I think about what will happen if the collective “we” wait until the pieces are perfect to share. We will NEVER share anything. I say all of this to bring us to the 3rd rule of the A.I.R. writing club: give yourself permission to create junk!  Because, the more we can get into the habit of journaling, the better we will become 🙂 Write something. Anything. Write the sentence, “I have nothing to write about” over and over and I guarantee that you will come up with something. 

It all starts with one thing, one phrase…everything you write doesn’t have to be perfect.

I will start by sharing some of the stories I’ve written and follow up with a journaling prompt. And if you are so inclined, I’d love to read what you’ve written. If you’ve missed the first two rules, please see the blog pages here and here.

Organized Chaos

Some people collect partners, trophies, accolades from work, vinyl or consume sweet food like chocolate. I’m not judging this last one as I’ve been known to go through a bag or two of chocolate cookies during my college days while cramming for a test. But I collect BOOKS. I probably am a borderline hoarder. When I was moving into my new house, my partner affectionately asked if maybe I’d like to donate some of these books-as we stared at the tower-like structure of books leaning against the wall alongside two heavy boxes of, you guessed it, more books. I looked at him like he lost his mind, I would never give up my books. To me, it would be the equivalent of losing a limb. 

Maybe I should start at the beginning. Where my hoarding, I mean my love affair with books began.

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love to read. In fact, growing up in a single parent household, with limited resources, reading was my refuge.  I could travel the world by opening one book. My love of reading no doubt came from my mother.  And our outings together were a mix of excitement and loathing.  Excitement because I would get a new book. And loathing because I would then have to wait for my mother to search and read and search some more. I would have my tiny hands on the latest Judy Bloom in about 5 minutes flat. My mother, well, her pursuits were of the romantic variety and perhaps picking out your new romance books for the month takes time. 

I remember the smell of the new books as you opened them-a mixture of wood and a faint earthy scent would assail my senses (and I loved it).  I remember the bookcases that went on for what seemed like miles, and 4 ft nothing me wondering with all these stories, how can I choose just one?! Patience Adina.  I remember thinking this was my own personal magic library-an escape from reality. The ink black bookcases beckoning me to slide out it’s ghost inhabitants. Reading became a way to try on new lives with carefully planned out plot lines…where the girl always gets the guy, poverty is unheard of, death and dying serve some greater purpose, time moves in heart throbs, and kindness always wins in the end.

What I remember fondly was having this ritual with my mom. And having her tell me, “five more minutes” when what she really meant was, an hour or more!  My younger self is not that much different from my present day self…constantly at the ready to move, tapping fingers or feet, longing for the next thing and then charging at it with ferocious velocity. Not satisfied with reading one book. Why you ask? Reading three or four books just sounds like much more fun. Ferocious velocity.  

I don’t remember a time when going to Barnes and Noble doesn’t remind me of my beautiful mother.

Journaling prompts: 

-I don’t remember a time when…
–What do you want to say to the person who still looks at you with the eyes of the past and doesn’t see all the changes you’ve made? 

Ready to Connect?

If you are a rebel and are ready to start your healing process, I’m glad you are here 🙂 And if you are enjoying the journaling prompts and you haven’t signed up for the A.I.R. monthly Newsletter, you can do so here: http://eepurl.com/cucdDf Writing is a great way to identify the destructive stories you tell yourself.

I provide support, help and healing in person or online throughout Virginia. I provide hypnotherapy via Zoom worldwide! You can schedule a free consultation here!