Author: latahrecoverycenter

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by Nancy Casey

Many different types of habits and rituals come and go from our lives, but the one habit that we have kept since the day we were born is the habit of sleeping.

Most of us sleep for at least a quarter of the day. Maybe a third. Maybe more. Every day.

Today, write about some of the things that you do that have to do with sleeping.

How do you know it’s time to sleep? Do you sleep at the same time every day? How do you get ready? What do you wear? Do you have favorite pillows and positions? Do you dread it or look forward to it? Do you take naps?

When we are asleep we lose most of our awareness of the world around us. But not all. Sometimes we have to roll over and adjust the pillow or the covers. All sorts of discomforts can intrude—from aches and pains to having to use the bathroom. Sometimes our sleeping selves listen for sounds made by others in the household. What kinds of things are you aware of, even when you are asleep?

Some people talk in their sleep. Others get out of bed and do things without waking up. Does that ever happen to you?

What is waking up like for you? Do you bolt out of bed at the first sign or wakefulness, or do you emerge in slow stages? If you use an alarm, how do you react to it? Do you have any habits or rituals about the way you transition from being asleep to being fully awake? What happens when they are disrupted?

What do you do when you go to bed and sleep doesn’t come? Some people get up and do something else until they are tired. Some people lay there and fret. Some people have restful and sleep-inducing practices that they do in their beds, such as breathing, counting, or reciting poems and prayers. Perhaps what you do when you can’t sleep depends on what you know you need to do the next day.

What do you do when your whole body wants to be asleep, but the situation says you can’t? Situations like driving, taking care of children, or being at work, for example. Are there situations that always make you want to sleep? What are you like when you don’t get enough sleep?

Even though everyone sleeps, sleeping patterns are personal and often unique. Pick one aspect of your sleeping life and describe it. Maybe you’ll fill a whole page writing about that one thing. Perhaps your page will look more like a list with many different details about your sleeping patterns. Maybe you will write about a dream you’ve had.

Whatever you end up writing, when you have finished, give your work a title. Make sure the date is on it somewhere, too. Add decoration and color to the page as needed. Here is an example of what a person could write.

You can share what you have written by posting it as a comment below. You can type in your work. Or post a picture of it.

Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. Sometimes she teaches writing classes at the Recovery Center. You can find more of her work here. She offers (free!) writing help to anyone in recovery. This can be for any kind of writing project—resumes, letters, stories novels—email latahrecoverycenter@gmail.com for more information.

by Nancy Casey

Today, you are going to write questions, lots of questions. Questions you do not know the answer to. To think up questions, you will begin with your surroundings.

Look at something in front of you—whatever your glance happens to land on—and ask a question about it. Any question at all, as long as you don’t know the answer. If at first it seems like you can’t think up a question, give yourself time, a question will come to mind.

For example, if your glance happened to fall on a book, you might be able to ask a question like one of these: Where was it printed? What’s the tenth word on page 56? What is the author like? When will I get a chance to read it? Should I keep it or give it away? Who got it so dirty? How many minutes has it been sitting there?

Your question doesn’t have to be profound. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but you. You aren’t obliged to find out the answer. Any old question will do.

You can ask a question that begins with: What if…? How many…? When…? Do…? Will…? Can…?

You can ask a question about the past, the present or the future.

Just look at something in front of you and ask a question about it. Then look at something else and ask another question. Fill up the page that way.

Sometimes when a person starts to do this, their mind begins to wander and they think up questions about things that aren’t in front of them. If that happens to you, write down those questions, too. When you run out of questions and don’t know what to ask next, look at something in front of you and ask a question about that.

When you have filled the page with questions, read them over. If there is space, and if there is time, and if you feel like it, draw the answer to one of the questions somewhere on the page.

When you have finished, give your work a title. Make sure the date is on it somewhere, too. Add any additional decoration or color to the page as needed. Here is an example of what a person could write.

Please share what you have written. Post it as a comment below. You can type in your work. Or post a picture of it.

Nancy Casey has lived in Latah County for many years. Sometimes she teaches writing classes at the Recovery Center. You can find more of her work here. She offers (free!) writing help to anyone in recovery. This can be for any kind of writing project—resumes, letters, stories novels—email latahrecoverycenter@gmail.com for more information.