Have you ever taken a creative writing class? I remember mine; it was one of the only electives in high school. It wasn’t a “necessity”; nor was it a sure-fire resume builder. But it was my favorite, perhaps because of my temporary lack of concern for productivity.
The creative writing teacher, Mr. Hackbarth, used prompts to ignite sparks in our still-budding brains. This was all in the hope of instilling some promptly unedited writings. And just to see what would happen when we (I) let the words go. Such prompts led to one of my favorite writings, a short horror story I still dig up from time to time. (Shall I add or rework this website to include more writings? Add to my portfolio? Let me know with a comment!)
Prompts allow letting go. Usually, it’s letting go of ego and instead letting the words fall. Hence, somehow paradoxically, prompts can amplify abundance. And that’s one definition:
Prompt, noun: An act of assisting, to encourage expression. Like my high school teacher, above.
This month, prompts have inspired release. Sometimes, those prompts were completely unexpected: A post-breakfast conversation with my partner led to some much-needed forgiveness to those who have hurt me in the past. As I forgave them, my entire body shook, laughter somersaulted, and I needed to sit down. This unexpected prompt pulled me out of myself, and my heart cleansed. I felt reborn. Therefore, “prompt” has another meaning. An action.
Prompt, verb: Cause expression; bring about feeling.
I let my violators go. And the breadcrumbs of that pain? Surrendering them, too, day by day.
And such incredible, life-changing forgiveness prompted this very post.
Sometimes, prompts are from others: I am working 1:1 in support of letting my old life go. And her prompt? I send her 3 things I’m grateful for every single day. It’s a consistent prompt, and she expects it, so I send them regularly. Right before bed.
This daily prompt has changed how I look at gratitude:
- What can I give?
- How can I show up for my spirit?
- Where has my higher power shown up for me?
- Who am I now?
Such a prompt has shown me it is not what I have but what I can give. As me. And that leads to one more prompt, coming full circle from that creative writing class: How can I give my skills without giving myself fully away?
Enter: Writing prompts. I am not saying to always have a publication or person to reach out to. That’s exhausting (introvert here!). But I recommend refinement of self.
As I continue in my spiritual, creative, professional, personal journey, I have refined my “why” of memory work via information organization/promotion of story and archives. It is somehow easy to find prompts related to my goals, and how the work I’m doing (and did, such as supporting my Grandma through Alzheimer’s, and my previous career in marketing/digital storytelling) relates and helps others. And express myself through those channels.
It is much easier to write goals, poems, and articles (such as this latest one, from The Rocky Mountain Archivist) – and actually express and work to achieve them – when I know who and what I am about. Life is giving me me. And ways to channel me!
I see abundance, because it is using my experiences, beliefs, strengths, values, and skills for others. And also for me. It’s incredible how letting go (of my marketing career, of my violators, and of my past vices) has released me to completely new chapters. And yet I am still me.
My “why” was prompted by and through many channels of my life, and maybe I’ll write about that elsewhere. But seeing the patterns, like how both caregiving and memory organizing run in my family, has shaped this pursuit. So, seeing the patterns, of God working in my life, is part of my system.
How do I make a system of prompts to allow letting go, expression, and/or sharing gratitude? This 5-step process works for me, right here, right now (and might be part of my #WIP LLC on community and family archival consultancy):
- Expose – New points of view come from daily reading of different perspectives and oft-weekly or bi-weekly meetings, hangouts, or check-ins
- Document moments – I don’t “just” take pictures anymore, I organize them and similarly, I find or create spaces for my writing
- Find patterns – Clearing seeing how I document helps me see previously unstructured pieces of my life and begin appreciating both the novelty and routine
- Appreciate the time taken… and the time documented… and the time to organize it all, too!
- Express this new-found gratitude (or release or expression) in some vehicle, even as simple as a text!
This work combines self, service to others, and spirit. And my system is simply one way to express gratitude, release, and/or process. How can you be here, now? Looking forward to your thoughts. See you for my next post on September 10th!