Warm Up

Every class begins with a meditation that focuses on "mindfulness", which is the art of being in the present moment. I guide students to become aware of what is going on inside their bodies: breath, thoughts, feelings, and sensations.  Then, they write freely for 10 minutes. This is a way to transition from the regular world of obligations and responsibilities to the writing world of just you. 

Sample 1

I sit in the chair with my feet flat and firm on the floor. Planted. As soon as my feet were on the floor they connected and in my mind's eye I saw several strands and different widths of roots running from the bottom of my feet and they were growing and breaking ground and rushing and rushing until they broke all the way through...to a cave. The roots...all of them...were dangling from the top of the cave...swaying ever so slightly...not knowing...where do we go? what do we do? If the roots stay exposed they will die. Die with just air. They need nutrients, water and a place to seed and take root and grow. One of the roots...a larger one, started to sway back and forth and noticed an ice blue current of water below. As the root grew straight down the other roots took notice and they too stretched and grew faster and faster to reach the water. The roots hit the water, the water stilled so the roots could reach the bottom of the current and take hold. Stillness. Silent. The cave was covered with a gazillion roots...straight down from the ground above to the water bed of the current. As if a light switch was thrown, the vines began to swirl slightly as if in a dance and small sprouts of green began to grow. And grow and grow. Pretty soon all that could be seen was a sea of shiny green leaves. The feet planted on the ground set the roots in motion to find the current of crystal clear water that ran underneath the surface and new growth sprang forth.
 
My breathing relaxed. My body swayed slightly. I liked the sensation of a new life...a new growth. I liked the warmth when I placed my hand on my belly. I may not have a little Vivian inside of me but a re-birth of Shakay is imminent.
 
This is the best time of my life. I am so happy.
 
-Shakay
Passionate Writer

Sample 2 

That was pretty cool before when T- from across the hall pulled me out of the room and asked me to be his writing coach.  Then he poured out his story about losing his Kitty and his friend with cancer and all this stuff and he said to me something a lot of my clients wind up telling me, I have been getting your emails for a year and it’s taken my that long to finally contact you.  I feel really blessed and honored to be part of people’s self discovery process.  He’s also ripe to write and wants it and that’s the best kind of client.

I just am in such a good place with my work and it’s funny I just don’t want to stop and the thought having to stop makes me feel sad.  I mean I know I will have to stop for a break when I have the baby but really this work is like brushing my teeth or working out I absolutely HAVE to DO IT. I feel like I have been on a mission or calling that there’s people out there that need me and need the community support of my classes and I need it and it cannot will not stop.  Amazing to be in love with my work.  It’s really my fuel and my stabilizer.

Anyway, I want to turn inward for a moment and check in with myself.  Where am I right now, today?  I feel pretty good.  There are parts of this whole being pregnant that I don’t really like and I don’t have control over but whatever.  It’s not forever.  I just wonder what I will look and feel like after I have this baby.  Will it deplete me?  Will it leave me baggy, saggy, and depressed?  

Sample 3

Discomfort.  Congestion like vomit in my head…filling my entire head with crap…stuff that should not be there.  Like the scraps and garbage left behind after mowing the grass.  Congestion so thick, but still able to drip downward.  Coating my throat with such pain it’s hard to swallow.  Hard to sleep.  Unable to breath and unable to swallow.  Congestion moving further downward into my gut where it settles and makes me feel so full I’m unable to eat.  Unable to sleep.  Unable to swallow.  Unable to eat.  Pain.  Tired.  Aches. Sadness. Defeat.  Tired…unable to keep my eyes open, but yet unable to stay asleep.  Restless.  Uncomfortable.  Discomfort. 

And after re-reading this – utterly depressed.  But still hopeful – this, too, shall pass.

Sample 4

Since last night I have been struggling with those old feelings. Part of the scars left from all the spiritual abuse. Too worried about offending, not pleasing, not fitting in. I long to get to that place where I can say, “Fuck it. Say what you want. It doesn’t matter to me.”
Lyndon gets so personally offended when I swear in frustration. I wasn’t angry with him. So I called him while I was driving here to talk about it. I don’t need him to stand in judgment of my behavior. I was venting in my car for Pete’s sake, frustrated I had allowed Melissa to make Kalani’s car seat my problem.
No matter how old your kids get you still have to parent them. I bet Joanne will understand that. I love that they live with me but I can’t wait when it is no longer necessary for me to share my car with Melissa. In the meantime I will have to tell – It is her responsibility to remove the car seat and any other baby things from my car if she thinks she is going to need them. And she will have to do it before it is time for me to leave. I’m not going to stand around waiting for her to do something she should have done last night.

- Maggie Jones
 
 Sample 4

The bumps and sounds of footsteps above.  Vibrations-voices.  To be- To be just me.  Strong body-strong mind.  To be.  To live.  To laugh.  To love.  To me in the moment, the now moment.  Not to look back.  Not to look ahead.  No worries about could be’s, should be’s, may-be’s.  To simply just be.  Be happy.  Be sad.  Be quiet.  Be loud.  Be still.  Feel the air wrap itself around my body.  Cool brisk air, quietly blowing through my hair.  To be.  To breath in the soft smell of lilac as the wind blows and the smell tickles my nose.  To be.  Just be.  To laugh.  To sing.  To cry.  To shout.  To scream.  To be silent.  The wind blows again.  I stop.  I listen.  A bird sings in the distance.  A squirrel runs from the bird feeder.  The kids giggle on the swings.  To be.

- Kimberly Ward Storch