Anyone looking for some really good writing prompts to close out the year 2010 should check out
Especially if you enjoy looking back and reflecting on the year past as a way to transition into the new one, you will really like this site. Reverb 10 is “an annual event and online initiative to reflect on your year and manifest what’s next. Use the end of your year as an opportunity to reflect on what's happened, and to send out reverberations for the year ahead. With Reverb 10 - and the 31 prompts our authors have created for you - you'll have support on your journey” (from the Reverb10 website).
There is a daily prompt (but you aren’t too late to get in on this) to help you reflect, process, and evaluate your 2010, each one written by a different author. For example, the prompt for December 15 (by Patti Digh) is called “5 Minutes” and reads like this:
Imagine you will completely lose your memory of 2010 in five minutes. Set an alarm for five minutes and capture the things you most want to remember about 2010.
Did anyone see 60 Minutes this week? There was a piece about memory. Dr. James McGaugh is doing a study on what he calls “Super Autobiographical Memory”. This is a condition in which the people who have this are able to remember everything about every day of their lives. Leslie Stahl who did the interview could pick any random day from even decades ago and the people could tell the day of the week and recall what they did as if it was only yesterday.
Can you imagine?
To date, Dr. McGaugh only has 6 subjects. It is no surprise that “Super Autobiographical Memory” is rare: most of us have to think really hard to recall most things, and even then, we can’t possibly remember everything.
I like this prompt because the act of going back in time to find the events that were most significant, and then recording them, is what helps to seal them in our memories. By doing this, not only do we capture and record meaningful moments to add to our legacy, we also place them more securely in our minds for future pleasure. I find such memories are like a treasure trove of defense tools when negative emotions rise up and threaten to dominate my interpretation of my life.
Anyway, check out Reverb 10 for this and 30 other great writing prompts!
Sounds quite interesting; I'll probably go there in the next day or two. Thanks for the link.
ReplyDeleteOver the holidays I went to Best Buy to try to purchase a coveted game my son suddenly had to have for Christmas. I pawed through all the titles - each and every one - remembering only that the game series was K U F - Kingdom under - - something.
The clerk was most helpful - he didn't recognize the game series, but was confident that if they had it, he could locate it. After about 10 minutes of diligence and several pointed questions later, I apologized to him and said, "I'm getting old, my memory isn't what it should be."
He laughed, and responded, "Lady, its not your age that affects your memory, its the season. Honestly, I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning."
It was only about 10a. He's maybe all of 24.
I laughed and said, "but you remember you ate because you're not hungry now, right?"
"Exactly," he replied in all seriousness.
Do you think going back in time 30 minutes is a good excercise for me?
LOL. Thanks for the promps Dear. I really enjoy the exercise.
........dhole
Thanks, Donna, and how true! Maybe we should do memory checks every couple of hours or so daily... LOL - well, sounds like you had fun out in all the shopping chaos anyway. I did more online shopping this year than ever before and think I'll do even more next year; it was really simple.
ReplyDeletetalk to you soon,
Riv