Cool Down

I conclude each class with a meditation similar to the warm up . This is an opportunity to synthesize all that we have done over the 2 hours of class, to process, and to reflect. I guide everyone through a mindful meditation, and then we write for a few minutes.

Sample 1

There’s much I should let go – not sure if I ever will.  I feel like I might benefit from writing negative things about someone, but I don’t know if that’s true.  It’s almost like I might be able to write that person out of my life, release a hold that is on me.  I think about it but don’t do it.  Perhaps I’ll choose a time and do it.  More likely a time will choose itself, or maybe I’ll just never do it.  This is the closest I’ve ever come to the subject.  There’s a deep journaling topic for me.  It’s probably not a good idea, anyway.  The potential upside might not exist and then I’ll simply feel bad about focusing on and blowing out of proportion someone’s foibles.  Indeed, shouldn’t we accept people warts and all?  I’m now considering a bashing session that would make a person seem like only warts, and really bad warts at that.

Sample 2

And so I said to my friend who is an amateur gardener, “I’ve got this azalea bush and it didn’t bloom last year.” 

“Did you fertilize it?”

“No.”

She turned on her heels and went to her potting shed, returning with a ziploc baggie of something dark and moist looking.

“Now did down around the azalea bush and put this fertilizer in the soil and water.”  Never realizing that to me that means—on your way by the azalea bush, throw this stuff at it and pray for rain, which is exactly what I did.  And, lo and behold, two blooms!  So for me that justifies my approach.

We killed the plum tree, the peach tree and the other pear tree.  The grapevine, trust me, no one can kill. The first year we were there it grew to the point that on one side it completely took over the patio and starting climbing up the side of the garage onto the roof.  On the other side, it grew up and into the neighbor’s trees.

Every year I try to plant one new perennial or maybe an area of perennials.  It’s a constant battle.  My initial enthusiasm at the start of the growing season, slowly turning to resentment and then active neglect.

- Deb L