My sister is preparing for a move and has been going through her things. She has been busy donating, throwing away, and reminiscing. Yesterday, she showed me some of her personal archeology.
It was fun to read her report cards from Gompers elementary school. I loved the fun in her eyes as she showed me her Girl Scout purse and badges. I could almost smell the ice when I touched the blue and white pompoms from her childhood ice skates.
Each of these things triggered memories that had dwelled unthought-of for many years. They brought back our childhood stories. We touched them with reverence. They made us laugh. They made me jealous.
I have none of that, and I don’t know why. I wished I had a box of similar treasures. I loved being transported by the things in that box.
Things are memory triggers, but they are not the only ones. Mental images are triggers too, and they can be called upon, even if they are not unearthed in a long forgotten box. We all hold story boxes in our memories. They are often buried and dusty, but once called upon, they come running towards us like enthusiastic puppies.
Here is an easy example: What was your first phone number? I bet you can rattle it off without thinking about it. Mine was TR8-2141. I don’t remember my last phone number, but I will always have the first one on my internal speed dial. I bet you do too.
I invite people to play with these things in my writing workshop Painting With Words. We use prompts to call stories to us like those puppies. During the full-day retreats, we also focus on mindfulness in the midst of the smells, sounds, sights and textures of nature, and we try our hand at short fiction. Please visit the Painting With Words page to learn about upcoming events.
I am in the process of developing an online version of Painting With Words, and I work with people individually via Skype. Unearthing my own stories, and leading others to theirs, are two of my greatest joys.
Do you want to write with me?
It was fun to read her report cards from Gompers elementary school. I loved the fun in her eyes as she showed me her Girl Scout purse and badges. I could almost smell the ice when I touched the blue and white pompoms from her childhood ice skates.
Each of these things triggered memories that had dwelled unthought-of for many years. They brought back our childhood stories. We touched them with reverence. They made us laugh. They made me jealous.
I have none of that, and I don’t know why. I wished I had a box of similar treasures. I loved being transported by the things in that box.
Things are memory triggers, but they are not the only ones. Mental images are triggers too, and they can be called upon, even if they are not unearthed in a long forgotten box. We all hold story boxes in our memories. They are often buried and dusty, but once called upon, they come running towards us like enthusiastic puppies.
Here is an easy example: What was your first phone number? I bet you can rattle it off without thinking about it. Mine was TR8-2141. I don’t remember my last phone number, but I will always have the first one on my internal speed dial. I bet you do too.
I invite people to play with these things in my writing workshop Painting With Words. We use prompts to call stories to us like those puppies. During the full-day retreats, we also focus on mindfulness in the midst of the smells, sounds, sights and textures of nature, and we try our hand at short fiction. Please visit the Painting With Words page to learn about upcoming events.
I am in the process of developing an online version of Painting With Words, and I work with people individually via Skype. Unearthing my own stories, and leading others to theirs, are two of my greatest joys.
Do you want to write with me?