by Nancy Casey
A mind is such a peculiar thing. Everybody has one. Yet you are the only one who knows what yours is truly like.
In today’s writing you will take notice of some of the qualities of your own mind.
First, the page setup: Draw a line at the top where the title will go. Then make four equal-sized writing spaces on the page. You can do this by drawing a vertical line down the middle of the page, and then a horizontal line across it. Or you can draw four shapes of any type that can hold approximately the same amount of writing. The second option leaves you some space to draw or doodle while you think.
In one of the writing spaces, write the heading Remember. Head another one with Plan. In a third space use the heading Figure Out. Leave the fourth space completely blank.
Remembering, planning and figuring things out are three of the many activities that go on in people’s minds. How these activities play out in your mind is unique to you, however.
In the space about remembering, write something about how your memory works. You could relate something that you remembered and why. You could explain something about how you are “good” or “bad” at remembering things. You could tell how your power of forgetting seems to work or not work. Anything at all, as long as it has something to do with your mind remembering things–or not.
How do you use your mind to make plans? Write something about that in the space headed Plan. Do you follow your plans? Is a good day planned or unplanned? What is the difference for you between planning and worrying?
In the Figure Out space, tell something about how you use your mind to find a solution to some kind of problem. We figure out things all day long: what to eat and wear, how to get a point across to someone, where you left something you can’t find. Anytime you have a question you don’t know the answer to, you have to figure something out.
Fill the fourth space with anything that comes into your mind about your mind. You can continue a thought that you started in one of the other spaces. You could write about another activity that you mind engages in, something like longing, excitement, arguing with itself, boredom, joking, getting stuck on an ear worm song, or…? If you like, you can fill the space with doodles and drawing and try to quietly notice how your mind works when it is not trying to put your thoughts into words.
When the page is full, look it over carefully and make small changes if you like. When a title idea floats to the surface of your mind, write it at the top of the page.
Write the date on the page too, along with a signature or your initials.
Here is an example of what someone could write.
You can share your work by posting it as a comment below. You can type it in, or take a photo of it and upload the image.
Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. You can find more of her work here. If you would like some help with your writing, contact Nancy or the Latah Recovery Center. In-person Write-for You classes have been suspended for now, but in the spring, Covid permitting, they will return.
Latah Recovery Community Center, Inc. 