Recovery Writers Prompt January 2022
As we move into a new year, (and the sixth year of Recovery Writers!)I offer a writing prompt designed to acknowledge the blessings in our lives, which helps us transform into our Authentic Selves. One “story” I’ve told myself is that I never had a mentor, a teacher or guide who helped me plan future. I blamed Jehovah’s Witnesses for a lot of that, as they discouraged careers or worldly pursuits. But the truth is more complex: as an adult child, I had never developed trust and I didn’t know how to ask for help. So even in college, I didn’t seek out teachers who might have helped me.
Today, I can see there were many blessings in my life, including people who might have helped me if I had known to ask. Today, I can connect with a Higher Power by writing about the gifts of the spirit that I hope to gain in recovery. By reminding myself that these gifts are freely available to me, I can see a Higher Power working in my life.
Why Am I Here?
To receive a blessing, like Jacob wrestling with the angel.
a blessing for my elder years, these years of letting go.
To receive the wisdom of the teachers, those teachers
that I didn’t recognize, hiding in the corner, silent,
the ones who didn’t seem to have too much to say.
To let go of my ideas of how it should be done.
To let it go exactly the way it will unfold.
To remember those who came before.
To honor those before me, to accept their gifts.
To find my deepest self, the self that gives
the perfect fried egg to her child and takes
the broken one herself.
To give the power of writing full rein,
let it take off through the meadow, trust
I won’t fall off or be thrown.
To let my writing be an offering to me,
then to see if it is wanted, needed, and offer
freely to those in need.
To create from plenty. To put down praise,
knowing there will never be enough, a sip of praise
setting off a thirst that leads me to the addict’s
sick romance.
To believe: there’s nowhere else I need to be.
There’s nothing else I need to be doing.
Connection to Recovery:
Gratitude is a key concept of recovery. By focusing on the gifts of the spirit, I can see my growth in program. The final couplet in this poem echoes a statement made by a retreat leader years ago. When I can be present to the gifts of the day rather than thinking about all the projects I want to do, I can be truly available to others. I can experience the blessing of connection.
Prompt:
1. Think about the gifts of the spirit, such as love, compassion, slowing down, listening deeply, and write about how these gifts are present in your life or how you would like them to manifest.
2. Write about any teacher in your life, particularly one you may not have recognized as important at the time.
3. Think about any of your laundry list traits and write about how releasing one of them will bring you peace and authenticity.
4. Honor any gift you have received from a family member and how that gift manifests in your life today.
5. Write your personal manifesto of how you would like to live your life today.
