I will admit...I have drastically fallen behind my writing...we will just see how long this challenge takes me :-)
9:20 pm-9:35 pm. Prompt: reflection on an experience
I had an amazing opportunity to take part in Project Unbreakable (http://projectunbreakable.tumblr.com/) last weekend in Asbury Park, NJ. My photo was posted today and rather than the apprehension that I thought I would have...I am so happy. I am happy because I took this step, it allowed me to realize that I am at the point in my journey and that I am looking to the future instead of looking back.
I am not saying that I am forgetting what happened to me. I am always going to use it as a fire under my butt but I will not use it to define me all of who I am.
I am so much more than a survivor.
I am a daughter, sister, girlfriend, friend, mentor, supervisor, colleague, writer (when I want to be), photographer, nerd, dork...so much more than JUST a survivor. I have many people in my life who remind me of that...and I consider myself so blessed to have them.
I am still waiting to see what more I am going to be adding to who I am.
Project Unbreakable Website:
http://projectunbreakable.tumblr.com
Project Unbreakable Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/projectunbreakable
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Day twelve
"birthday wish come true"
Time: 11:10-11:24. Prompt: iPhone application.
When I blew the candle out on my drink I felt different. I couldn't describe the feeling but I did.
Going home that night was a blurr...that was probably the alcohol in my body.
The next morning I woke up and immediately knew what I felt the night before...I was 25...a quarter century. I still have a lot to live...25 is still a big number.
Checking my voicemail I had the typical well wishers. The last one was from my mom reaching out for our traditional conversation.
"hey baby, happy birthday. Remember that you are allowed to tell one person in the world your wish."
I chuckled and paused for a moment trying to remember my wish.
"oh yea," I said to my cat Josie, "something interesting to happen." that had been my wish for a few years because while my job could be exciting,..it had stopped keeping me interested a while ago. And as a write in my free time...I craved interesting.
I glanced up at the sunflower retro clock in my living room and realized I was going to be late for work.
But little did I know what I was in for this year.
Checking
Time: 11:10-11:24. Prompt: iPhone application.
When I blew the candle out on my drink I felt different. I couldn't describe the feeling but I did.
Going home that night was a blurr...that was probably the alcohol in my body.
The next morning I woke up and immediately knew what I felt the night before...I was 25...a quarter century. I still have a lot to live...25 is still a big number.
Checking my voicemail I had the typical well wishers. The last one was from my mom reaching out for our traditional conversation.
"hey baby, happy birthday. Remember that you are allowed to tell one person in the world your wish."
I chuckled and paused for a moment trying to remember my wish.
"oh yea," I said to my cat Josie, "something interesting to happen." that had been my wish for a few years because while my job could be exciting,..it had stopped keeping me interested a while ago. And as a write in my free time...I craved interesting.
I glanced up at the sunflower retro clock in my living room and realized I was going to be late for work.
But little did I know what I was in for this year.
Checking
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Day eleven
"I like you crazy" he said
Time: 12:45 pm-12:30 pm. Prompt: from iPhone application
"I don't get you," I replied feeling the fury start to build up in my chest. I hate being called crazy. It's so demeaning and it's something that just isn't true!
"What's not to get?"
"You flirt with me, lead me to think that you like me, and then call me crazy"
"but I like crazy"
"I HATE," pausing to emphasize the word "crazy as a descriptor for a woman. It's so demeaning."
"I see it as exciting, but if that's what you want...than that's what you'll get."
"Thank you. Good bye" and I went back to my book.
I thought that he was gone but a minute passed and I heard him whisper
"I like her." And I heard him walk away.
Time: 12:45 pm-12:30 pm. Prompt: from iPhone application
"I don't get you," I replied feeling the fury start to build up in my chest. I hate being called crazy. It's so demeaning and it's something that just isn't true!
"What's not to get?"
"You flirt with me, lead me to think that you like me, and then call me crazy"
"but I like crazy"
"I HATE," pausing to emphasize the word "crazy as a descriptor for a woman. It's so demeaning."
"I see it as exciting, but if that's what you want...than that's what you'll get."
"Thank you. Good bye" and I went back to my book.
I thought that he was gone but a minute passed and I heard him whisper
"I like her." And I heard him walk away.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Day ten
You find a dry branch in the snow that turns into a magic wand in your hands.
Time 12:01-12:06 a (a little late for today I know) prompt: from iPhone application
The snow had been surprisingly light that whole winter. The most snow we got in New Jersey was 2 inches in October and a few more inches here and there from November to March.
"global warming" they said..."it's 2012...more proof that the world is going to end in December."
It didn't stop when we had the freak blizzard that dumped 14 inches on campus 2 days after Easter.
Of course I was out exploring the snow and enjoying the fact that my mid west upbringing has allowed me to be out and about while the rest of the state was in..,afraid of the snow.
I was on my way to the supermarket when in a field next to the market I saw a spot of green in the middle of the field that appeared to be untouched my the snow.
I decided to wander out to the opening and see what it was.
10 minutes of struggling through the snow got me to the clearing where I found...nothing. Nothing but a large stick that appeared to have a glint to the bark.
I picked up the branch to get a closer look. The moment my hand touched the bark it transformed into a sturdy wand.
Glancing around I could tell that no one had seen my discovery. I waived the wand...
And nothing happened
No seriously...nothing happened.
So I focused on the idea of making my friend float. I waived the wand again, focused on my floating friend.
Nothing happened.
I wanted to pitch the wand to the horizon. But there was something that made me keep it. I stick it in my purse and forget about it.
2 weeks later I was in my office going through meeting after meeting of conduct. This wasn't new...but it was a new change. It was nice...but something felt off about every single one of my conduct meetings taking responsibility for their actions.
The next day the same thing happened. I couldn't figure out why. Two days later I forgot my purse and the mysterious wand at home. That was the day from hell...no one wanted to listen. Staff misbehaved, residents went crazy, and even professional staff went a little nuts.
I just didn't get it. And then it hit me...the wand wasn't really a wand...it was more like social Prozac. When it was in my office people became less crazy, residents took responsibility for their actions, and when parents call they were more helpfully that demanding.
Time 12:01-12:06 a (a little late for today I know) prompt: from iPhone application
The snow had been surprisingly light that whole winter. The most snow we got in New Jersey was 2 inches in October and a few more inches here and there from November to March.
"global warming" they said..."it's 2012...more proof that the world is going to end in December."
It didn't stop when we had the freak blizzard that dumped 14 inches on campus 2 days after Easter.
Of course I was out exploring the snow and enjoying the fact that my mid west upbringing has allowed me to be out and about while the rest of the state was in..,afraid of the snow.
I was on my way to the supermarket when in a field next to the market I saw a spot of green in the middle of the field that appeared to be untouched my the snow.
I decided to wander out to the opening and see what it was.
10 minutes of struggling through the snow got me to the clearing where I found...nothing. Nothing but a large stick that appeared to have a glint to the bark.
I picked up the branch to get a closer look. The moment my hand touched the bark it transformed into a sturdy wand.
Glancing around I could tell that no one had seen my discovery. I waived the wand...
And nothing happened
No seriously...nothing happened.
So I focused on the idea of making my friend float. I waived the wand again, focused on my floating friend.
Nothing happened.
I wanted to pitch the wand to the horizon. But there was something that made me keep it. I stick it in my purse and forget about it.
2 weeks later I was in my office going through meeting after meeting of conduct. This wasn't new...but it was a new change. It was nice...but something felt off about every single one of my conduct meetings taking responsibility for their actions.
The next day the same thing happened. I couldn't figure out why. Two days later I forgot my purse and the mysterious wand at home. That was the day from hell...no one wanted to listen. Staff misbehaved, residents went crazy, and even professional staff went a little nuts.
I just didn't get it. And then it hit me...the wand wasn't really a wand...it was more like social Prozac. When it was in my office people became less crazy, residents took responsibility for their actions, and when parents call they were more helpfully that demanding.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Day nine
Yes i know its been a week...im back and it will get better.
Write about geography. Pick a random place on a map and write about it. If you haven't been there, imagine what it would be like.
Time: 9:20 pm-9:32 pm, prompt from iPhone application
Palatine hill is just minute or so from the magnificent colosseum in Rome. It is a quiet space in bustling Rome. Even though tourists go there (I mean when you pay for entry to the colosseum, the forum, and Palatine hill of course people go...it's just the quiet of the site seems to be impervious to the sounds around
Quiet, peaceful, and someplace that I will always remember as a place where I started my journey towards being a survivor...yes it had been 3 years since my assault...It was that trip that showed me that I didn't have to dwell on the past. That looking toward the future would be the best.
The picture that I posted with this post is one of my favorite from the trip. It didn't quite capture the moment...but it gets really close.
Day eight
Write about three things that really bother you.
Time 10:25. Prompt from an iPhone ap.
I know I swore this wouldn't be a writing blog that turns into a "how I feel today" blog...so I decided to do this on a day that I felt really good about life in general.
1.) people who do not take responsibility for their own actions.
Time 10:25. Prompt from an iPhone ap.
I know I swore this wouldn't be a writing blog that turns into a "how I feel today" blog...so I decided to do this on a day that I felt really good about life in general.
1.) people who do not take responsibility for their own actions.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)