Once Upon a Time: among the best single writing prompts I know to engage the storyeller inside us. Have you ever used it as a prompt?
I would love to hear your free flow writing following “Once Upon a Time” even if your once upon a time was yesterday afternoon. “Once upon a time yesterday afternoon, I discovered my daughter had once again left her new bathing suit wadded up in a bag, still wet, from a party she attended almost a week ago. No, she isn’t seven years old and no, this isn’t a first.” I could free write my way into a rant, into a moment of healing or perhaps a strategy provided by the invisible fairy godmother or witch.
This is what happened the last time I wrote a once upon a time story that was more long term.
there was a little girl named Julie who wasn’t planned by her parents, but a divine force knew her place on this planet was significant, so she was born on a dark and stormy night in January many decades ago.
She was raised in the 1960’s and 70’s when many things were covered up and ignored. For much of the time, the didn’t talk about their younger brother having down’s syndrome nor did they talk about how horrifying the kindergarten teacher was. They just lived through those things and some of us grew up to tell therapists about it.
Julie loved to read and take hikes and be in plays at her school. Like many, she stopped doing some of those things when she was working and raising her children and being a creative entrepreneur and activist and advocate, but slowly and surely, those loves came back into the forefront.
Now Julie is a full fledged multi-creative. She has been on best-seller lists, she has been in films and plays, she has won awards for telling stories and acting and making contributions to non-profit organizations.
Right now, she is fighting another medical battle amidst everything else. This February, she will be telling those stories here on this blog via short blog posts, videos and photos of the art she is making.
Her near-death experience in 2019 was something she thought would be the worst and she still holds that to be true – but you will have front row seats (front blog seats?) to what’s next.
Right on the horizon there is a writing challenge next week which you won’t want to miss! More on that tomorrow —
Please tell us in the comments one highlight from your childhood so we can get to know each other better. There is a blog challenge which we’re doing and hope to meet many of you and many others, too.
Thanks for reading – and all your prayers are appreciated.
Julie Jordan Scott is the Creator of the Radical Joy of Consistency Course which helps people practice consistency and completion daily in order to experience a more incredible life experience. She came to this conclusion after almost dying and coming back to true healing by writing 377 consecutive haiku… and a lot more along her way to building that streak! To find out more about this program, visit this link, here.
Prayers for full health, Julie.
My highlight is the large closet my sister and I turned in to the Little House in the Big Woods. So many adventures.
That sounds like so much fun! Have you been to any of the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites? There is also a terrific memoir called “The Wilder Life” I love about a woman visiting each location. Wonderful stuff!
Thanks for commenting – I love the idea of you and your sister playing “Little House” in your oversized closet!
Praying for whatever health issues you are having.
The highlight of my childhood were the cottages my grandparents built on a lake in Massachusetts. We had amazing family time there and so many memories I cherish.
Thank you, Heidi! I know I will be ok – the waiting and the process may be problematic AND I know I am bigger than this temporary roadblock.
Hi Julie! Sending you prayers and well wishes during this difficult time. One memory from my childhood is perfect for today’s snowstorm. Whenever it snowed, my sister and I would run to either side of the house and look out at the untouched snow in the backyard. We would yell out “1-2-3 Go!” and run around the entire backyard until it was covered with our footprints. This is a tradition that still holds today with our own kids.
Hoping all goes well with your health! That picture in this post’s header is absolutely beautiful!! And I loved your cute childhood pics. When I was in the first grade, I helped put together the school newspaper that the 3rd graders were making. And I started writing short stories in junior high. Sometimes, I wish I had majored in English or creative writing, instead of psychology, because hopefully, I’d be a successful writer by now. I still may aim for learning the skill.
My favorite adventure from my childhood is when my parents was late coming home. My brother and I were tired and wanted to go to bed but we didn’t want to be in each others rooms. Instead we grabbed blankets and a baseball bat incase anyone broke in and went to sleep under the Pool Table in our living room. Our parents never let us live this down.. If I could I would do it all over again only this time I would invite my son.
I love the term “multi-creative”! I can’t say that I’ve heard that before, but it may apply to me too. One memory I can share is when I was in middle school, I started a newsletter for a club my friend and I founded called “The International Club for Animals.” We were all about learning and preserving wildlife.
How wonderful your club was! Such foresight!