It's May 5th, Cinco de Mayo and well, the good number five happens to be one of my favorite numbers. Through my stream of consciousness on twitter, I realized I needed to do something leading up to my birthday. I'm still figuring out what post I want to write about turning 40. If you happen to have suggestions for something you'd like to read, let me know. I'm open. It's a community. I'm considering a post featuring 10 memorable moments and then the 30 I'm looking forward to experiencing. Believe it or not, I have more to do on my bucket list than I've actually accomplished.
It's a "get busy living or get busy dying kind of year." A year that has me in reflection about the people and the moments that mean the most to me - and how to get more of those moments. How do I spend more time with them? How do I spend, create, invite more moments that leave me feeling thankful to be alive? What are the components of those? Real talk, I've worked some of it out but if there's anything else I've learned it's that I have fewer answers and more gray areas.
In celebration of the coming day, I decided I would create a series of eight (8) blog posts with five (5) life + writing prompts. I added the life prompts because while it's cute to talk about writing and actually write, it's also cute to do things - actual things that make you pull away from the computer or the phone and live. In other words, creating memories and actually living life in real time and not just tweeting, texting and watching what others are doing in real time.
Some of these prompts may not be things you want to share on social media or anywhere publicly. Maybe these are answers, thoughts, mind maps for your journal and that's great. The main thing is to take the time and at least think about a few things, jot some notes down. Although I rely on my phone to take notes, I've been crazy productive sitting down and writing long hand these days. It means I can draw, I don't have to do things in a straight line if I don't want to, I can circle things and insert "yassssssssssssss" on the corners of the words I didn't know I could write that bless me later. My suggestion is to write whenever you feel most connected to your creativity. Whether it's morning, evening or somewhere in between.
Life + Writing Prompts Vol. I
1. I've long considered my legacy. Legacy doesn't mean you have to change the lives of millions (immediately). Sometimes it's just helping the people who are closest to you and being an inspiration. What you do for one has the power to influence the world. Let's think about your position as it relates to the here and now. What is your desired legacy? In other words, what mark would you like to leave on the world? How would you like to bless the world? How will you leave it better?
2. Are you still dreaming or have you put them away? Are there dreams you hoped to accomplish that you've tucked away? Is it that you no longer want to do them or is it you think you can't do them? Is there something else that replaced it?
3. Choose a photo you've taken (via phone or camera) and write why it means so much to you. Is it the time and place? Is it the people? The sentiment?
4. Life prompt: print out two (2) photos you've taken that inspire you. If you've not taken any, this is your chance to find something positive, beautiful and encouraging and post it somewhere visible to inspire you. You can print your photos through Walgreens. Even if you'd prefer to use your instagram account, you can do that too and upload to Walgreens or order prints through printstagr.am. You can even choose to post these photos in a small journal you're working through and write and mindmap around them.
5. Life prompt: Write one letter or send a card to someone you love dearly. Did you realize you don't know their mailing address? Here's your moment to ask them and send something good to them. If you're feeling frisky include stationary with a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope) to encourage them to reply back. Even if the person is someone you speak to often if not daily, it's always nice to receive something special in the mail. If you'd like to turn it into a gift package with a journal, candle, etc then by all means do that too - just be sure to mail it.
This is the first volume of the prompts. You're welcome to stack and store them as something for inspiration later. We can all use more of that right? Also, don't forget to sign up via the homepage for updates from me. Just click on the link here and click *mailing list. Keep me posted on how things are working out as you're working on the prompts.
xoxox