Weekends for me tend to be busier than weekdays and during these days of quarantine, it is not different. I stay where I am and I have the meetings I would have had out and about. I leave my home to write haiku and I come home and I have more meetings.
Earlier today I was so tired I really wanted to opt out of my later-in-the-day meeting but I didn’t. I was actually energized afterwards. Yay me for showing up anyway?
I did some decluttering and purposeful television watching (Little Fires Everywhere) and now, I give myself the gift of a touch of writing before I either make a video or do some decluttering or both.
I look back up and see the graphic I made earlier in the week,a quote. “A word after a word after a word is power,” and I think “She’s right. Margaret Atwood is right.”
What I was feeling before I sat down to write was anger.
I saw a writing prompt and it made me mad.
But I pushed that mad away and pretended it hadn’t existed and allowed the distraction to take center court and then again, “A word after a word after a word is power” so here I am.
I am angry. This unknown is stretching out in front of us with no end in sight is starting to get on my nerves. I can pretend it doesn’t bother me and get all into spiritual mode, but I am afraid to go into grocery stores and I am out of cranberry juice and that makes me feel angry, which highlights my privilege and makes me feel ashamed for getting upset about something like not having cranberry juice when lives are being lost.
Someone is texting me as I write and my phone buzzes. I more than likely don’t want to talk to them (or text with them.) Right now I would like chocolate. I am angry that my default is still chocolate. I am angry I have had a chocolate addiction for almost my entire.
My spiritual better half is whispering in my ear to practice self-forgiveness but my mad as hell and I’m not taking it anymore side is escalating. Clackety clackety clackety up the roller coaster mountain my anger goes…no relief in sight. No relief in sight.
I put my head against the back of the chair and watched videos of my trip to the river this morning. I allowed myself to feel whatever was gurgling up. I stopped feeling angry and remembered I am in control of what I do with my anger.
There may not be the relief I would like to have and there is relief in knowing I have tools like writing, meditation, daily virtual Coffee Date Conversations, music, 27 fling boogies, art journaling, all of it will get me closer to feeling better even if these circumstances continue longer than I might want or like.
“A Word after a word after a word is power,” says Margaret Atwood.
My words, “I have the ability to process. I gain strength daily. I have the resources I need to get through this just like I’ve gotten through many other setbacks along the way.”
Grace flows because my heart knows – a word after a word after a word is power.
AFFIRMATION TO USE:
“Grace flows because my heart knows “A word after a word after a word is power.”
Writing prompt:
Right now I feel…… (write without editing or judgement. End your writing with 5 gratitudes and the affirmation, “Grace flows because my heart knows – a word after a word after a word is power.”
Julie JordanScott is the Creative Life Midwife. She inspires people to live their life as an artform and then take action towards their best results. Her specialty is writing – her easiest way to express what she does is this: She Coaches. You Write. Your Readers Win! During the 2020 Pandemic she is also leading daily Virtual Coffee Dates, Facilitating Intentional Conversation so people will feel less isolated during this time of social and physical distancing.
Your writing today helped me to word some things I’ve been thinking about. Actually, it’s the first prompt writing I’ve done for quite a while. Even when we are sheltering in place, I don’t always use my time in the best ways. I signed on to your coffee time. Now let’s see if I can stick with it.
I’m really glad I came across your post. Normally, I am a very positive thinking guy but when I awoke this morning I felt sad at the lack of human contact. I eventually let myself have those feelings, did Pilates, had a cup of herbal tea and I eventually felt better.
I don’t know how to feel. I’m ok one moment and the next I am not. I have learned via a podcast yesterday and an article today that we are collectively feeling ‘grief’. Imagine! Makes sense though. But not at all sure how to get through it. One day at a time I suppose.
None of us know the how-to’s because none of us have lived through it before. We have scientific experts working on the “front lines” but…. we have overlooked to a certain extent the everyday feelings… one of the reasons I created the Coffee Conversations. It helps people feel better… just through connecting when we are all separated.