Search Results for: trauma

Sleep

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So, you had trouble falling asleep. Again. Or, you woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep. Or both. Why does this happen and what to do about it? The following is excepted from “Up at 4 A.M.?” by Amy Spencer, in the magazine, Dr. Oz The Good Life, Jan-Feb 2015 (an oldie, and hopefully a goodie). What happens If we’re not sure how something will play out, our primitive mind prepares us for the worst possible outcome. Survival Back in our cave days, our ancestors needed to be prepared to fight or flee to survive. Key The primitive part of the brain—the amygdala—thinks our idle ruminations are urgent matters that need to be dealt with right away, as if they are real emergencies. Wide Awake And there we are, wide awake, ready and alert, to battle the catastrophe that we have imagined. What To Do Take some deep, relaxing…

I am not That Girl

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Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. When I heard “I am not That Girl” by Ariel LaChelle, I knew I wanted it on the Sparks page of my blog. It’s longer that what is usually posted here. It’s so amazing, I could not resist. You can read it and watch Ariel perform “I am not That Girl” in her own strong and melodic voice. I am not That Girl By Ariel LaChelle Even though the term “That Girl” Was created by black girls, I don’t fit the requirements Automatically, Because I am a Fat Girl. And ‘cause I have tight curls That become more angry If I dip my scalp in the water, Then let my hair air dry And don’t try To keep it in order. No styling, No stretching, No products, No dye, But I feel like I might If…

A Pantoum for Constance Demby

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Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. A Pantoum for Constance Demby By Leigh Anne Caryl They said she died almost without notice Thank God her music lingers Beautiful transcendent videos Visuals of stained glass gothic cathedrals   Thank God her music lingers An unapologetic exploration of meditative melodies Lifting me above the Ethos Grand Visuals of stained glass gothic cathedrals   An unapologetic exploration of meditative melodies Beautiful transcendent videos Visuals of stained glass gothic cathedrals They said she died almost without notice ______________________________________ Tribute to a Marin County Friend I will never forget Leigh Anne Caryl is a pen name. This is her poetic inner child and muse that has been a lifelong writer and constant internal friend, who feels safe to reveal the emotions, and deepest secrets within her soul. Her first published poem was in 1989. She was printed…

Memory Lane . . . Prompt #635

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Today’s Writing Prompt has four parts. Part 1 Imagine you are going on a trip. Cost is no object. You can go anywhere and take anything you want. Spend a few minutes writing what you would take.                               ************************ Part 2 Mentally add safety items to your suitcase, or duffle bag, or backpack. You might have already packed some of these things. Medical supplies, bandages, antiseptic. Flares, flashlight. Things to protect you: sunscreen, a soft pillow for a cushioned landing in case you fall, a safety net to catch you. ************************ Part 3 Go on a trip down Memory Lane. Choose a time in your life when something deeply affected you or was troubling. Write about a difficult time, a pivotal moment, when something happened and you were not the same after. If you experience a strong reaction while you are writing, stop writing. Shake out your hands, or look…

What energizes you?

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Memorable writing that sparks imagination. Lean in. Hear the writer’s voice on the page. What Energizes You? By Bonnie Koagedal Energy is everywhere. We are made of life energy. A person can influence their life, health and others by sending energy through thought. I call these thoughts: prayers without movement. Still mindfulness is a prayer. Thoughts are energy similar to words. They carry power and pain. These teachings came to me recently as the pandemic shutdown escorted me into quiet times in one place called home. These teachings were told to me years and years ago. I did not grasp the fullness or capacity of energy through thought until the shutdown. This time was my vision quest. When we can become no thing, no place, no thought as Joe Dispenza teaches we can affect our energy above and beyond our bodies. I was fascinated and obsessed for several months about…

Healing. Prompt #565

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Write about a time you experienced a healing—physically, spiritually, or emotionally. Or, if you are in the process of pursuing healing . . . write about what you are doing. Or, what healing methods do you want to pursue? Let me count the ways . . . Aromatherapy, autogenic relaxation, art, biofeedback, deep breathing, exercise, Feldenkrais, guided imagery, hydrotherapy massage, meditation, music, prayer, progressive muscle relaxation, qi gong, tai chi, tapping, visualization, yoga. There are a number of resources listed in The Write Spot: Writing as a Path to Healing, especially ideas about how to write about difficult events without adding trauma. Available at Amazon, print ($15) and ebook ($3.49).

Writing as a Path to Healing

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In reference to The Write Spot:  Writing as a Path to Healing, author Elizabeth Beechwood said, “The contributing writers delve into the pain of their past, reveal their vulnerabilities, and share the lessons they’ve learned with all of us. Their courage is written on every page of this collection.”  After reading my contributor’s copy of editor, Marlene Cullen’s newest anthology, I am in full agreement with Ms. Beechwood. Especially the last sentence regarding courage written on every page. It is not easy to write about traumatic events, but twenty-one people have done so and were willing to share stories and poems with readers. The writers come from various walks of life and offer readers a look into difficult times they experienced at some point. These writers all used writing as a step on their path to healing and to offer support to others. Some who write about troubled parts of their…

Storytelling: Family Secrets

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Today’s Guest Blogger, Kate Farrell, author of Story Power, with her unique experience as a storyteller, shares methods to unlock family secrets, There’s nothing louder than a family secret—it pesters and pokes until someone speaks up. Secrets have a way of hiding in plain sight. There are always the whispered rumors, missing pieces of a puzzle, stories that keep changing. But just as shared family folklore can develop strength and identity, keeping family secrets can destroy trust. Secrets that persist, unspoken and misunderstood, can erode the very foundation of a family. Family members who are perceptive, who sense hidden truths, may become fearful or internalize guilt and shame. At the very least, family secrets isolate—family members from one another and the entire family from their community. Some family secrets are more harmful to keep than others. Those that were traumatic, that violated some taboo, or were life-changing are vital to…