Right now, four months into this pandemic, what would your refrigerator say about you? Write in the voice of your refrigerator, speaking directly to you. Consider starting with the line, “Now look, Laura (insert your name), let’s get a few things straight….” You can share your response to this prompt below. ... [Continue Reading]

Perhaps the World Ends Here By Joy Harjo The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live. The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on. We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it. It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women. At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers. Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table. This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the ... [Continue Reading]

Go back to your list of things you’re waiting for. Choose one thing on your list that you long for or truly want to know. Imagine the moment you no longer have to wait for that experience. When the thing you have been waiting for happens. Imagine that moment. Feel it. Sense it. Smell it. Hear it. Taste it. See it in three dimensions. Feel fully into that moment. Now put it on the page. You can share your response to this prompt below. ... [Continue Reading]

What am I waiting for? You can share your response to this prompt below. ... [Continue Reading]

“If now isn’t a good time for the truth, I don’t see when we’ll get to it.” ~ Nikki Giovanni

Write about a time that you saw an injustice and shrank away. When you witnessed bigotry or bias or hate and participated—with your actions, your words or through your silence. A time when you were part of cruelty, unfairness, violence or bullying or when you let it happen without objecting or making your voice heard. A time you used your privilege. A time you had the opportunity to speak out and remained silent. When you “took it,” witnessed it, or let it happen. When you couldn’t find the courage. Take us inside the moment when you failed to find the strength or muster the courage. When you failed to raise your voice. Try to get past whatever shame or regret you have about that time in your life and step inside it. Step inside the skin of the person you were. What got in your way? What ... [Continue Reading]

Think back over the course of your whole life. Tell me about a time you spoke out against injustice. A time you took action or helped change an unfair policy. A time you stood up on your own behalf or on behalf of someone else, regardless of the personal price you had to pay. A time you were an ally to someone, or someone was a true ally to you. Think back. It may have been a big moment or a small one. A quiet one or a very public one. Tell me the story of a time you stood up to the status quo, confronted a bully or an abuser, broke a barrier, a glass ceiling, a closed club, or were part of changing history. Write about a time of courage from your personal history. You can share your response to this prompt below. ... [Continue Reading]

Write to your brokenness, your broken heart, your exhaustion, your grief, any sense of confusion, overwhelm or loss that you’re carrying. Write to yourself with all the tenderness you’d use if you were writing to your own child or to a child in your family that you love more than life itself. Begin with the words, “Dear One, I just want you to know…..”

Tell me about the maze you’re in.

“I’m caught in a maze of….” I’m caught in a maze of confusion…” I’m caught in a maze of rage and anger….” I’m trapped in a maze of loneliness…” “I’m in a maze of too many obligations….” “I’m in a maze of grief….” “’I’m stuck in quarantine….” Or simply start with the words, “I’m standing inside...” Or, “I’m caught inside…” Or, “I’m stuck….” Or try this one, “In order to get out…” Or, “In order to free myself….”

In the light of everything that is happening now, how do I want to show up and what kind of person do I want to be? You can share your response to this prompt below. ... [Continue Reading]