Happy Thanksgiving
I am always very grateful to my clients for allowing me to do work that I love. But this month, I am particularly grateful that everyone has obliged my request to write in the journal I acquired one month ago. It has already become dear to my heart. Imagine the gravitas it will have years down the road, after its pages are full and it has multiple successors.
I would like to share some of the beautiful thoughts you all shared in it thus far. I may not always be able to interpret the handwriting, but each word brings me joy, whether it’s legible or not. 🙂
The very first entry was October 25th, when the prompt I gave was “Just write whatever is on your mind right now or as you were driving over here.” Later, I added “What are your goals for today’s session”
“How much work is enough? Am I taking care of myself? How best can I spend my time? What am I on a path to?
“I’m looking forward to the escape that happens when I’m here. I achieved true peace last time. It was amazing.”
“Sharp pain, when walking, hits in my back like a sharp knife. Constant feel of pressure lives in my lower back and my shoulders. Heavy stuff.”
“I, like many Americans, am eagerly awaiting our political situation. Feel like my brain has been on overdrive and have spent too much time in front of screens this week. I’m excited for some time away from everything and a chance to relax.”
“Stress, anxiety, and hurt have become normalcy. Why can’t everything be like it used to.”
“This weekend has been one of great relief and release of tension. Now I feel unwound. There is so much to do in my life and in the world. I am ready to face it. I know that I am not by myself. The bright connections with the other people in my life are energized and I am ready to follow their pulls.
I’m excited about this journey. Onward through the mystery!”
“Here today because of the stress of election week. I feel confident in our country to move forward in the right direction but being —– of those who would see a tyrant installed brings so much anxiety.”
“I left work early. I am going out of town to my grandparents Mountain House. I want to be relaxed so I can stay calm all weekend. I came here because I wanted a different approach to therapy. I’m excited! :Drawing of mountains: The mountains grant me peace”
“I stopped journaling when I was a child and my elder sisters teased me with what I wrote, so this is an interesting experience. If we’re dealing with my hopes then they are to leave here feeling relaxed and tranquil. Possibly with further techniques gleaned. I think we’re all seeking connection, especially now. With ourselves and with others.”
“Looking forward to trying something new and checking out Erin’s re-made studio. And to relaxing into the weekend!”
Adding Prompts
The first 3 prompts I added were:
“Where do you live? In a house, in a town, in a dream? Be literal or not. The photographer Dorothea Lange once gave her students an assignment to photograph where they lived. They asked her to do it too. She brought in a picture of her foot (she’d had polio as a child). Go with your first thought”
“Write what your five senses are picking up right now. Keep it simple. No thoughts or feelings, just the details of what your body is sensing.”
“Write about a time you went into cold water – a lake, pool, shower, or rain. Write about how your body reacted. Was it delicious relief from the heat, or a shock that caused goosebumps and turned your lips blue? Or write about the cold water as a metaphor.”
Responses to prompts
“I live in my head. That’s where my comfort is. It’s where I retreat to when I’m stressed or worried or scared. It’s been a long term project to — make space. Seems like now, it’s time to clean, organize, and get things in order.”
“The feeling of cool water in my throat going down to my stomach. The cool air blowing in the room and almost moving with the rhythmic music. The earth tones around me. The relaxed mood of the ambiance. The old leather of this book with old style binding of the leaves of each page. The wagging dog happy at the simple things.”
“The first memory that comes to mind is a morning at swim practice in December. We swam in an outdoor pool and the heater had just broken, so while the temperature of the water was falling my coach made us get in to at least get a warmup. Jumping in when the water was 64 degrees was literally breathtaking. My entire body simultaneously froze and went into overdrive. I could feel every hair on my body as I fruitlessly tried to warm up. Because it was barely above freezing I never did, but it — the best try and a visceral experience.”
Post-massage thoughts
“Calm. Happy. Clear.
Thankful for this time.
Centered. Open to listening to what my stressed body is trying to tell me.”
“My brain feels centered now and calm. My body feels less stressed and on edge — finally don’t feel like I’m in my constant fight/flight state.”
“Sometimes all we need is a second or two in our own thoughts. Although things seem out of control sometimes, I need to remind myself that those feelings are temporary”
“My body feel more alive. It’s like I can sense my blood flowing, my nerves tingling and myself just being awake. I’m smiling on the inside and the outside!”
“I feel so much better already. There were times when I caught myself imagining the worst for our country but I have found comfort in knowing that evil triumphs only when good people do nothing”
“Afterwards, I feel more relaxed. Knots I didn’t know I had are gone. I definitely feel more tranquil. I am looking forward to the rest of my evening.”
“What a lovely ceremony. I feel like a whole person. Thank you! This is the feeling I want to take with me out into the world.”
“I imagined I was a warrior after a battle. A warrior in mind and body. I hope to keep that mentality with me going forward.”
“Music is persistent from beginning to end. Skin is soft from massage and coarse gloves. Muscles are much relaxed and not tight. Mind wanders. Sleeping dog. 🙂 Feeling uplifted! Thanks so much! You’re awesome Erin!”