6-6:10pm: Narration, greetings, update on how you’re doing.
6:10-6:25pm: What was the point of that, Lawson’s book. What was her intended lesson, and what she wants us to do now?
6:25-6:40pm: Proposals … What are you going to write, and why? And by “why” I mean what’s the idea behind your idea, YOUR intention in writing it. Remember, this is an opinion paper!! A supported opinion….
6:40-7pm: Ideas for developing your writing, your idea…. What will take you to page 5?
7:7:07pm: BREAK
7:07-7:30pm: Open mic…. Our writing. Just excerpts if you want, but if you have something typed and want to post it below, feel free!
7:30-7-50pm: Define quarantine… how you have used quarantine. And if you’re working during all this, what’s that like. But even still, what is this ‘shelter-in-place’ reality, in your words?
7:50-8pm: Close up …. The night’s page.
HW: Rough Draft of Sedaris/Lawson/Both paper
#professormikey 
Hello YOU LOVELY PEOPLE!!
I’m doing fairly well! I’ve caught up with almost all my work. This past week has consisted of nothing but movement and action! MY internet has been very slow, however, so it has been a real pain trying to access literally ANYTHING!!! Lawson’s writing is a way to show people that she is not afraid of letting everyone know who she is and what she struggles with. She welcomes and accepts the humanity within her. The self-deprecating humor is her own therapeutic way of releasing tension caused by her past. She wants her audience to mow that its okay to be human sometimes.
For this reason, my essay is going to focus on the fact that Sedaris and Lawson are performers. They live to entertain themselves and those willing to endure their humor. Finding humor in life is essential!
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I chose my topic of her fearlessness when talking about her life and mental health because it is something that speaks to me. I struggle with anxiety and depression myself and reading about an author who struggles with that too makes me feel heard and understood. She makes it easy to be seen.
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Fearlessness… Insanity…. GENIUS.
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To develop my writing I want to incorporate some ideas about how they actually differ in approach, but remain unchanged in their general want for the reader. I think Lawson is in a sense is more optimistic, and less likely to go after another person before thoroughly inspecting herself for any traces of potential comedy in any given moment. Sedaris on the other hand is a bit more accusatory, and maybe a little less direct in his writing. He wants you to have to think about why is making fun of something so mundane, or why he is impersonating someone, and so on. Both are valid approaches, and both can help people by inspiring thought about themselves. The examples I provide should take me to five pages.
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Interesting. Definitely think you have enough here to build a strong and supported idea!
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I’m going to write about how contagious Jenny Lawson’s writing style is and her ability to hook any reader. Her effortless ability to write whatever comes to mind, no matter how sad, depressing or messed up they seem to be because Lawson has one secret ingredient and that is her humor. Her insane ability to come up with over the top hilarious titles for each of the chapters that are sure to grab the attention of any reader. Jenny is able to make her readers laugh even before they start reading the chapter! But what makes her writing style stand out from the rest, is her ability to not only make every chapter hilarious but her outstanding talent to captivate just about anyone who reads her book.
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I think what will take me to five pages for this paper is how much I can relate to Jenny Lawson’s personality in her writing. I plan to stick to my theme by intertwining what I have learned from her and compare them to some of my own life stories.
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You have more than enough to get to page 5.
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Agreed. Looking forward to this paper.
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🙂
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Something I believe will take me to page 5 is my own life and experiences with using this method. I have gotten over quite a lot of hardships through the use of humor and oh boy do I have stories to tell. As humans, we tend to think that some of the smallest inconveniences will bring upon the end of the world and what better way to learn from those experiences than using humor?
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For tonight’s page….. Remember creative approaches to the critical nature of your ideas in this or any essay.
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To get me to page five I need to pin point exact moments that Jenny made me laugh, made me feel trusted, and maybe some where she made me feel a little grossed out? I think something my writing can lack sometimes is detail so that is somethingI am focusing on with this essay.
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Focus on that connection!!!
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One idea for developing your paper, incorporating the writer and what impression he/she made on you. Remember, REACTION!!!
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my proposal idea is small and simple and who knows I can always add more to it. though for now my idea I want to talk about is that I find Jenny Lawson isn’t just an author but also a friend to her readers. to why I chose this is because I have never read an author who made me feel like Lawson does. when I’m reading her writing I feel warm and like I’m getting a big hug the whole time. her writing comes off like she is an old-time friend telling you her stories connecting and bonding together through her stories. yes, Thompson was also somewhat like this he was able to make us feel the high and transport us to his world. though Lawson connects more emotionally since she wants us to better ourselves and not to judge others. everyone has had crazy lives and she wants us to just accept people as they are they can’t help it. I know it seems like not such a good topic but for me, I felt something with it as I sat at my desk going through the question over and over in my head what is Jenny Lawson and the only word that ever came to my mind is a Friend. because most people wouldn’t try this hard to make someone feel better or try to make them see yourself and everyone around more positively she does this by being a friend so we trust her and actually listen to the meaning in her words. I just know this is something I want to write about because I know I can be the only one who felt this way after reading her book.
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All good ideas!!
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When I was reading Lawson’s book I felt as though I was having a late-night conversation with a friend. Lawson also includes all those side comments most writers wouldn’t include. While reading her book it reminded me of Thompsom. Like Thompson her words transported me to the moment she was writing about, not only that. I felt as though I was sitting down while she’s writing the book. Her book made me appreciate my life and then sometimes it had me questioning if I live a dull life. Overall I enjoyed reading Lawson’s book especially since we’ve been quarantined.
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She does have that transporting power, I agree.
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oh my god yes! it literally feels like she is next to you while reading and her writing is so relatable at some point someone can relate and also even if you haven’t experienced her writing also makes me kind of feel like I’m walking hand and hand with her through all her memories kind of thing.
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Yes, and it also has this entrapping quality to it as well, I think…
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Her writing felt more frantic, similar to Thompson
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For my proposal I’m writing about Lawson’s honestly, realness, and how relatable she is. I talked about how her writing affects her readers, at least me, and how unique her writing is.
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Maybe I meant extroverted, I think Lawson is extroverted in her writing, in the sense that she will put what she wants on the page, without fear of judgment, ruthless. After she had given birth she speaks to the reader very openly about her vaginal surgery to close up. I thought it was funny and outspoken when she had mentioned the doctor told her it’s best to just let it tear, she goes off to a self thought and is like “there is no other surgery where your doctor prefers to just let you get torn apart rather than cut you, I assume because the gynecologists are just lazy” and then continues with smart ass remarks like you wouldn’t do that for a gallbladder/ appendix removal
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Exactly she is kind of like Sedaris in writing exactly how they feel but with Lawson, it feels like its in way more detail and I enjoy that and how sometimes she will stop her story to go on a tangent like the couple times in the book when she misspelled a word or used a word that did not exist she just went with it and said her honest opinion about it. also her writing feels lighter then Sedaris’s as well.
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I think adding Lawson to the free writer list and elaborating the free styles, and comparing and contrasting the two writers will bring me to page 5
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Agreed.
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Opinion is not just opinion. And not everyone has one worth reading. Ensure that yours IS. Put your heart and breath, skin and senses into your sentences!!!
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To take me to page 5 I plan on incorporating how effective Sedaris and Lawson were for me. They have both influenced the way in which I write in my journal. I find myself writing things that are less than just narration, but rather describing moments and being human about them. I also find myself describing the people in my life because of heavy influence from Sedaris. The way which he invests himself in the people around him fascinated me beyond words. One word to describe him: genuine.
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Agreed!!
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Don’t stray that far from your proposal!!! Trust yourself and your initial idea, reaction, thoughts.
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TAKE A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get some Zen, collect, and have some creative pieces to post when we get back!!! Enjoy….
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Open mic: When I was younger I used to think a lot about what heaven would be like. My imagination would usually reject the typical depiction of basic pleasure and satisfaction in the afterlife. I would want to believe in something more creative like a system where you’d be able to clearly reflect on every single thing that you desired including your memories or if you wanted to explore history if you wanted to travel in places and times. It would be boundless, would be really fun and it would be so incredibly interesting. For example, I could hang out with Cleopatra and solve a bunch of murder cases and chill at the Library of Alexandria. I wish I could go into whatever little machine there would be that would allow this and I would go through my entire life and reflect on every little memory with a clear head. And obviously it’s impossible but just thinking about it and thinking about the ability would give me to understand myself more and understand how I’ve changed and realize and truly feel that I did not lose anything but I simply gained things. but since it’s impossible I still remain feeling helpless until I gain a possible ability and that being on the opposite spectrum being able to reflect and analyze what I see and what I do in terms of the future.
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Think we’ve all had this thought!!
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I like the rhythm of the sentences, and how innocent yet assertive it is. Colleagues?
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I had to take a double-take but it adds nice flow to it since its more subtle at least to me but I love it!
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I feel like I’ve had this thought before, but you just put everything into words perfectly.
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Yes!!
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Quarantine is a lot of getting to know myself and find peace in solitude and find peace in purely being myself. I have a lot if time in my hands but not a lot of time to figure how to use it.
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True… and in many ways solitude is not solitude when you have this attitude.
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my screen keeps closing… just testing my comment
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See it!!! 🙂
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To take me to page 5 I’m gonna elaborate more in-depth how her writing can make us feel comfort and warmth. and other people here tonight proved my internal doubts which are gone because i know from some of the other post here tonight that I am not the only who thinks of Lawson as a friend and how her unique way of transporting us emotionally and making us feel with her more since we think of her as friend and ill talk about maybe the weird reasons to why that is.
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Don’t try to master your narration. Hope to understand it, intimately.
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An Excerpt From Today’s writing:
“Well.. today has been a day. My daughter seems to be challenging everything I say. It’s like she knows that she is smarter than me. God Damn it I am going to win. This four year old doesn’t get to have the last word. And John… does he not get that we don’t do flips off the couch. Geez kid. Now really isn’t a good time for the ER. Drinking every night just seems so much more appealing. AA is probably going to be filled with non working parents when this is done. Wilson sure is making out like a bandit with our wine orders though. Crap, hopefully Justin doesn’t notice I added a few bottles this month. Okay, chill Ashlyn. If you said this out loud you’d feel stupid. In better news, it’s been awesome having Justin work from home. More family time is great. Plus, he’s safe… which isn’t something I get to say that often. Safe until TODAY. He had to run to NAPA PD to retrieve the work phone for his co worker who just passed, and HE GET’S INTO AN ARREST WITH A NAKED HOMELESS MAN ADDICTED TO DRUGS. Fucking awesome. Lets hope this guy doesn’t test positive for COVID-19. This world is weird. will we ever be normal again?”
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This is great… love the harshness and holistic nature of your tone. You make the reader more eased in this time. And, you make me want to open a bottle.
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Cheers.
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I always enjoy reading your journals, your writing style makes me jealous! Even back when we had face to face classes, I noticed how fast the words seem to come to you. Me on the other hand, I tend to be hesitant and triple think how I want to word my sentences. I love how you write what comes to mind and lay everything out on the paper.
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Wow! That’s really kind. I am very self conscious. Sederis and Lawson honestly gave me the courage to stop trying to be a writer that I am not and just be myself. It makes me enjoy writing more. I look forward to growing as a writer and a student.
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You already are.
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I am inspired by you as well! We got this girl!!! It’s time for us mamas to shine. LOL!
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You already do.
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(I randomly remembered my camping experience last year at like 4am and I decided to write it down!!!)
Last summer, I went camping at Shasta Lake for about a week. The first day there was given to setting up our tents, gathering firewood, and securing our food in large containers. The days that followed were loaded with volleyball matches, swimming in the lake for hours, bonding, and sharing old memories. When we returned to the camping area, on the fourth night, we sat by the fire and enjoyed a cup of warm tea. My father had been so distracted and tired from hiking and swimming all day that he forgot to lock our cooler full of food. So, around 2 AM I woke up to the sound of animalistic breathing and grunting. Shocked and terrified, I gradually shifted my body towards the exit and peaked out of the tent only to find a giant black bear stuffing its face with our precious food. Stunned by the entity in front of me, I subconsciously laid back down and listened to the bear munch away. I was well aware of how deadly black bears could be so I tried my best not to draw attention towards my tent. I was the only one awake at the time so I had no other option but to wait anxiously for the bear to satisfy its hunger. My heart almost burst out of my chest! After a while, everything seemed to be at peace once again. I dared to poke my head out of my tent once again only to find the cooler empty and bear free. I waited a couple more minutes to make sure that the bear was nowhere near the camp, before gingerly walking over to my parent’s tent in order to wake them up and show them the aftermath of the world’s hungriest bear. They were just as shocked as I was to see that the bear had eaten the giant watermelon my father was so excited to try. Surprisingly, none of us seem enraged or upset that the bear had eaten all of our food. We treated this occurrence as another peculiar memory and made jokes all throughout the rest of our trip. Honestly, I’ll never be able to erase the image of the Black bear munching on the watermelon my Father had been saving for our last day at the camp. This confrontation made me realize how incredible nature truly is! I had seen a beautiful healthy black bear and lived to tell the story, and truly nothing could ever top that!
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Like a storm!! Lots of voice and lots of sound in this!!
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Woah! What an amazing story to write down and share.
I was goingto commend you just for camping because I am a huge wuss and hate camping… but now I just commend you for staying calm! Wow! What a story.
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I remember this happening to me! Except it was a raccoon. HAHA. But I totally felt the paralysis from fear all over again reading your story!
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what does she want
well who fucking knows
overworked overwhelmed well that’s how it goes
a million requests from two different sides
and no such luck of a compromise
there is no doubt she knows what she needs,
but time is a word she knows she can’t read
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I really love this ❤
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Yes. Mysterious and profuse with emotion and color…
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This is a little bit of my page from the other night (context caffeine makes me extremely sick and anxious!): You know caffeine does this to you! So why do you keep reaching for that yerba mate? Why do you do this to yourself!? No. Don’t focus on blaming yourself for the choices you made. You made the choices that you made. Just be mindful and focus on not making that same mistake in the future. Learn from the pain that lingers so you can take care of yourself and feel good. You know how they say mothers forget the pain of giving birth so they can do it again? Well that is how I feel about me drinking a yerba mate. But I hope that maybe one day I’ll learn…
I find that writing to myself helps to feel better and I hope to look back at this next time I think about drinking caffeine!!
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Inward jots are invaluable!! Glad this helps!!
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This is a prompt from my journal about someone I saw outside of my window:
Dear man with a beanie,
I look out my window and there you are. Put together and walking fast. I noticed your beanie first and your beard second are you a hipster? You sure look like one. You are walking alone, no other person or dog. Your outfit consists only of black and it is 80 degrees out. Where are you going? I am growing crazy day by day, are you? I feel alone, do you? Are you walking to exercise or to escape? If only I could escape my wandering mind. It oftentimes feels like there is no off button. Sleep is impossible. is it impossible for you too? Well, one day this will be over and these thoughts will be long gone. Oh no, now I can’t see you. You have seemed to have turned the corner. I hope that you are safe and healthy and maybe one day our paths will cross.
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The idea in this approach is awesome!! Removed and connected… interesting.
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I love how kind and optimistic you are! I would have questioned him like “who’s Amazon packages are you stealing?”
I like this observation of someone you don’t know. A cool way to incorporate the monotony of life right now with what you see.
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Agreed… kind, curious, and the admiration to put it to page.
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This is my second blog post. I’m going to post it later tonight.
March 30th
One year. It’s been one year since my son, my first born, the man that was first to teach me unconditional love, lost his grandfather. His papa was his pal, buddy and best friend. Even when my son’s father went MIA, his papa was there to be his role model. The bond they shared even when he was nestled safely in my womb was palpable. “It’s gonna be a boy and I’m gonna take him fishing”, he would tell me with certainty even though we did not find out the gender. He took me out to dinner the night before my son’s arrival and told me, “You’re going in to labor at 3:15 in the morning”. (I was 2 days over due and just assumed he was just as anxious as I was.) I woke up in a sweat, nauseous, cursing my father in law, thinking I had food poisoning. I looked at the clock after I got back from the bathroom to see it said 3:18 am. Chills. From the sickness? In that moment, I thought yes. We rushed to the hospital and after 3 shorts hours, I was holding my baby boy. I could feel his papa outside my room, pacing, anxiously waiting to hear a cry. I told my ex to tell his dad “It’s a boy, It’s a boy!” The bond was as instant as I knew it would be. That man you would have guessed was mean and hard as stone, melted when he held his first born grandchild.
In January my son turned 13. The first birthday without his papa, his pal, his buddy and best friend. My heart hurts. I have cleaned and bandaged the boo-boos, I’ve been able to hug away the heart break from his first love, but this. This I can’t heal. This pain I can’t bandage, this pain I can only temporarily hug away. I can see he feels empty and lost and broken. As a parent, I’d shoulder all the pain if I was able, shelter him from having to personally know loss.
But, on the flip-side, in order to feel that intense amount of loss, you have to know an equally intense amount of love. And so is the feeling of loss worth it? Would you go through the heartache, the emptiness or the despair of losing someone if you knew you would never feel that kind of love? He got 12 good years with his grandfather. Even though it was not nearly long enough for my boy, he will cherish those years and know in certainty, that he was loved. Unconditionally. It’s been one year.
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Wow… love it.
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Thank you ❤
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I love your writing Samone, I’m sorry about you and your son’s loss, that’s really a hard thing to go through ❤
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Thank you ❤
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Wow Samone. I love this so much. You are so lucky he got those 12 years. His Papa for sure shaped him into the man he will become. I am teary eyed. My Dad died 3 weeks before my son was born. my daughter was only 16 months old. My kids call him “Papa in the Stars.” I am so glad your son got that time. I’d literally give anything.
I also commend you for writing about this. I have not been able to yet. It’s honestly one of my biggest fears. You inspire me.
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Wow. Thank you so much for your kind words! I am absolutely flattered.
It took a few weeks, lots of tears and revisions to write this. I’m sorry about your Dad. I know for me, my kids have been the greatest blessings and it hurts so much when they hurt.
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You both are such wonderful humans. I am honored to know you.
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I really appreciate you and this class giving me the confidence and nudges to write and keep going. My spouse is “obligated” to tell me my writing is good because he falls asleep first every night. HAHA. I appreciate the feedback to help boost my confidence more than you and this class will ever know. I may come off as confident and self assured, but I’m petrified to share my writings.
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Cheers, Samone….
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I loved this response!!! Loss is so hard, especially when it’s family, and when they were a huge figure in your life. Losing someone at a young age is hard, through puberty, I can tell that you care so much, and love hard. I think it is worth it. To love hard is something special, and I think it is definitely worth the sacrifice of the pain after a loved one has passed away.
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❤
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I’ve always enjoyed your writing, I do miss hearing it in your own tone tho. But once again, appreciate it!
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❤
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Right?! We all need a Samone bedtime story to make us laugh! I love the tone
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open mic: During this quarantine, I can’t help but to sit and think about the future for me and what it holds. In a couple of months I will be moving out of my parents house for the first time to further my education across the country in Maine. I’ve signed to go play for their soccer team, preseason starts mid August. These girls are national champions in their league, rings and all. As the time gets closer and closer I get more nervous. To be away from family, the fear of not being good enough to hold a starting position, being on my own, having to be vulnerable and make all new friends. Although I am nervous, I can’t help to also be filled with excitement. To get to play competitively again, and to start anew chapter in my life.
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That is so exciting Ryan! Congrats!
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Agreed… a journey new has been written. By YOU.
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Wow! That is amazing! Congrats!
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Wow! What an amazing move! Life changing! Excited for you!
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wow thats so exciting! congrats
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So awesome! you will be great!
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Open Mic: I’ve been stressed out over my chemistry class! Having it online is just not the same as being there. I also just had a test and I found it challenging because most of the material we got tested on was taught before spring break and I totally forgot. I had to reteach myself most of it. Youtube has been very helpful. What is keeping me motivated is the fact that we only have one more test since he took off the cumulative test because of time. I just keep telling myself one more month one more month. I feel like I have to study double or triple to grasp the concept. I have a new respect for chemist. This subject by far has been the most challenging. Not even bio or physiology has tested me this much. We are also doing worksheets instead of labs which is lame, I liked doing the labs and experimenting with chemicals. This is my last chemistry class I have to take thankfully. Just have to push through!
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The student experience!!
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I plan to complete 5 pages by expanding my ideas. I will also be implementing how both books bring out the most of tough situations with humor. I’m only worried to overthink my writing and erase it all because rid my overthinking. I’m planning on getting a rough draft started tonight I want to focus on finding the FIVE most important things for me about both books. Focus a entire day on each of the pages and get the most writing as possible.
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You got this Yoselyn!!!
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Get it!!!!
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What an awesome plan!
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an excerpt from this morning writing:( some background: when writing in my journals to myself sometimes I talk to myself back and forth)
” ugh, why the fuck am I having an anxiety attack and writing in my journal at 330 like a lunatic. man Skyler we are really doing this aren’t we?
the shakes the chills, even the puking man. it all sucks and this anxiety I’m feeling right now makes me wanna curl up and cry. maybe that would be better I could just cry myself to sleep. at least I have youtube playing on my t.v the voices help me sleep better at night. I could just stop this pain and succumb to temptations again. why not Skyler? its easier is it not? but every day to me feels like an achievement now. its time for me to let go a part of my life it was me and I will always remember but I held you as you held me for two fucking years its time for us to slip from each others grasp. yes you have done so much for me and who knows once near the end of my roads and finished what I need to we will, of course, find each other again old friend. you helped me love myself more, there for me thick and thin, helped gain friends and lose the ones that were bad for, helped me stand up for myself. I love you for all these things but for now, we need to part ways and go one with our lives. you were a small hero in my life and I hope you know that. heh, so this is really it huh? well I guess I’ve done my job, by the way, you grew into an amazing person never change who you are Skyler, ( then some random scribbles and lines because I fell asleep with my pen in and journal in my hands)
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This is great. Just great. So true and unfettered, strong and lovingly manic..
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Excerpt from a writing two days ago*
Life is going pretty good right now. Every night when my mom gets home from work, we plop on the couch and click the tv on, going straight to our favorite show at the moment(good doctor) and stay there for hours. We have always been close but I never got to see her as much as I wanted. But now, Ive been driving for awhile now and I can be wherever whenever. Its awesome. But every night we laugh and mess around, making up for the time I had to be in Santa Rosa(she lives an hour away) and couldn’t see her, but I couldn’t be more grateful. Perfect timing since college is around the corner!!!
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Nice little snapshot here, Shanti!!
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A thought from last night in my journal:
I feel like I should be writing about the last six days, but frankly I don’t want to. I picked up my journal because I felt inspired. I found myself daydreaming about a life in France; biking down the countryside, perhaps by a creek or a vineyard. Maybe I’d fall in love there, escape from what troubles me here. But of course that is impossible, right? It must be, everyone says it is. But fuck that. Traveling is my dream and I don’t see why the unconventional must be impossible. After all, if authors or activists or peace corpse volunteers lived a conventional life, those people wouldn’t exist at all. There would be no stories to tell about the world. So now, again, I find myself on that countryside in France, gardening, existing. I want to tell that story, and I think that is possible.
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Travel is the dream of many.
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Exactly when sometimes I find myself thinking something I want is impossible I imagine the word as a person and just give it a big middle finger and say to myself ” no! anything is possible If your heart is truly there you will find a way! “
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This is too good, and so important, thank you:)
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Oh my gosh, girl. TRAVEL! That is not a crazy dream. I waited until I was married with kids to finally travel and I wish I would have never waited! See it all! We did England, Ireland, France and Italy. England was my favorite because I met my family and Italy was my favorite culture and people wise. Spend every penny! You will love it. It’s not a crazy dream.
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Love the open mic tonight, everyone… open mic is is open to all expressions, lives, sights, and fears and loves…
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Shanti I couldn’t relate more to you! I have been spend way more quality time with my mom, i love it. Before we were both just so busy.
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Yes its really great, one of the reasons why quarantine isn’t so bad LOL because I get to grow closer to family 🙂
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An excerpt from Sunday evening:
I need to get my head together. I’m over wearing PJs seven days a week and feeling so bummed out. I fear that this situation will push me into a depression, I hate that feeling and never hope to fall into depression again. Anyways, I’m planning on decorating the whiteboard in the kitchen and using it make it a daily agenda. I think if Sofia and I work on out homework/work while Matt naps we will actually get it done. I’m going to attempt to get Matt to start napping at noon or 1 pm the latest. Let kick start this week with some pre-workout and a good jog, it’s almost midnight and I sure as hell won’t be going to bed anytime soon. Might as well make time for some healthy choices and not just hot Cheetos with nacho cheese. . .
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You can always shift the story!!
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I love your pep talk to your self. This is what the inside of my head looks like too. Also, I want to try hot cheetos with nacho cheese now…
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Quarantine to me is time to focus on myself, and remove myself from the rest of the world. Time to get to know myself, and grow. I have used this time to sleep a lot more than I usually do, to take my dogs on walks and enjoy the sun, and re-read the Harry Potter series, something I have been wanting to do for years. I am so thankful that I am not working right now, and I am having a needed break away from my boss! This “shelter-in-place” reality, in my words, is a good time for everyone to stop focusing on superficial things, like social media or spending money on items they don’t need to be impressive. Instead, it is a good time to focus on healing, any healing that is necessary. A lot of people are always go go go, so this is a good time to take a pause, and think, and be in the moment.
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Great thoughts on Q-Life!!! We can all learn from your perspective.
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Quarantine to me is valuable incubation… a time to collect and grow, create and more the self KNOW.
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agreed, I mean we have the time!!
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Quarantine for me is a well-deserved break from the world. I literally was feeling so overwhelmed with school and work before all this happened. I am in a way glad, also because of the positive impact this is having on the environment, however I am aware of all the negative aspects this is having as well. I try to stay positive and just try to look at the positive things. I am still working, and my organization is currently screening people that are the most vulnerable in order to help them with financial assistance. All my work is done on a computer and through the phone. We have meetings via Microsoft Teams, but I still miss some of my coworkers. Luckily, I don’t feel stressed since we have helped numerous people when the Kincade fire happened and I pretty much know the drill. I am lucky to still have a job and helping my community drives me. There is currently a list of 200+ individuals seeking our help right now and I know it is possible to help them, it’s just going to take time. During the Kincade we were able to help 500 people with financial assistance and that felt amazing. I look forward to seeing how many people we can help this time.
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So much has changed, but then much has not.
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The textbook definition for quarantine is to place in isolation. However, in this situation are we really isolated? Most of us do not live alone, I am isolated with my family. We have media platforms that give us virtual connections. I can’t help but to think, if we were in a past time, let’s say before cell phones and TV’s, what would you do during the pandemic? We would have to result in even more “old fashioned” ways to keep us entertained. What isolation right now means, under our circumstances, is six feet apart, avoid highly populated areas, curfew, and stay at home. It is not true quarantine, like others might be experiencing in other places.
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Good point on isolation..
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Quarantine: Locked up, stuck, fear. These words, for me, are the core defining words of quarantine. It has been a time filled with fear, when will life be normal, will it ever be normal again? What will my future be after this? Am I going to take the SAT? However, this fear and feeling of being locked up have given me time to reflect on myself. I have been given time to think about what I want. I have been lucky enough to have room in my house, food, and things to do and I am grateful every day.
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Interesting. Colleagues?
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Maybe life won’t be normal, whenever I go outside it feels different, I’m not sure why. I’ve been binge watching movies, and they are all outside. I might be sounding dramatic, but it feels weird.
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Not weird at all. Many of us if not all can relate to this, man. Stay strong.
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Fear from the unknown? It’s sad because Sonoma County has dealt with lots of disasters and we as a community have adapted to the “new normal”. I’m reminded that my kids will probably be learning these things in their history classes. We overcome and adapt. We will all get through this. ❤
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We will.
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Well, I have been working through this entire quartine thing, I’m not scared or anything even though I work in a Safeway Starbucks and they move me around sometimes I stock and other misc. things. The reason I’m not scared is since I do need the money but also I’m glad it is working then someone who is more at risk we need people to do the work but not everyone can, so I’m just glad since if I’m working that means another person who could be more at risk then me can stay home and it gives me a little happiness when I think about it like that. though I am taking next week off so maybe I can finally get more writing time in finally.
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Thank you for all you’re doing Skylar.
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Quarantine has been a time not only for self improvement and reflection, but for family improvement and reflection. I have mentioned before that this has made me a better mom. This has reminded me that what I need is right in front of me. My kids are healthy, my marriage is good. I work really hard these days to create a life for my family that is full and good regardless of the rules to stay home. Honestly, it doesn’t even feel like we have to. I am a little nervous about “re-socializing” only because I am already a little socially awkward. Right now though, it’s about whats in front of us. We are living day to day and enjoying what we have built thus far. I am truly grateful for every moment.
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Your view is everything. We should read this a couple times! Cheers…
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I think this is so important to realize during a time like this. I tend to create a barrier between my relationships with my mom and sister, I have never figured out why I do this, but being stuck inside with them has helped me become the person I used to be around them. I think there is something about the unknown which has brought my family closer together… I’m happy to hear you have such a positive perspective and are enjoying the time with your family as well:)
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Great response here, Harmony. Very kind. Again, welcome back. We missed you. And, glad you’re well.
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I absolutely loved this! and I feel you on the socially awkward been that since I was born myself! also, those last sentences really touched me.
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I’m grateful for this time to really slow everyone down for a bit. Makes us appreciate what is really important.
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What I had hoped quarantine to be and what quarantine has actually become are very different things. I had hoped that I could become motivated to do everything I had ever wanted to do, which has yet to happen. However I’m finding a new love for myself and my body which I think is more important than finding new hobbies. Despite recovery being a bit rough at first, I think I have finally found things that bring me genuine joy; painting in the sunshine, improving at night in my garage, falling asleep after journaling my day away. All of this has made me more comfortable being in solitude and helped me become closer to my family (whom I tend to distance myself from). So ultimately, I think that this time has been healing. I only hope to keep this perspective for a while.
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Love this…
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I love this. Especially the improving in your garage. I miss Dance. It’s the one thing missing right now.
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Dance in your house! I know what you mean, but you don’t have to forfeit that. Write a new version, friend!!
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For sure not forfeiting it. I just need to add it to the ol’ schedule.
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Maybe you can find a space to dance… I cleared out half of our garage so I could dance and honestly it has helped immensely in relieving stress:)
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Oh quarantine. I have been pretty envious of everyone being able to stay home where they can feel safe. I get up and go to work as “essential”, assisting our police and fire department as they stand on the front line. After the week or so of self-pity having to drag myself to work, I realize. “Holy shit. The impact of this pandemic is huge. I need to change my attitude and be thankful to be employed right now. Not everyone is so lucky. I know this is only a temporary schedule so I change my mind to be thankful. Thankful my family is safe and we are all healthy. Sheltering in place just gives me more time to slow down. Relax. And write.
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Yep!!! This is a cool poetic little musing here, Samone… more evidence of the strength of your voice.
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Quarantine to me is a chance to run in circles and use a bouncy ball to play catch with the wall of the house in the back yard. Got to stay active even if it means the neighbors stare! But I’ve actually been using quarantine to spend time with family as well. Work has become quite a bit easier since there’s no school, and I don’t need to rush between places anymore. Still, school is a bit more challenging, my Anthro teacher has recently told my class to view his lecture on a power-point, but didn’t bother to tell us how to get there, didn’t leave a link or anything. Haha, but it’s all good. The shelter-in-place is a little different, but I don’t mind. I know a few people who have the corona, but they are all alright and doing good, so I’m thankful for that!
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Love the attitude and playfulness in these lines, Jacob!
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For tonight’s page… Each day, individually, is a spark. Is a lit something. You can follow, study, or wait. We have the power to decide and discern all directions with our story. Realize this in your writing, and your REALLY writing.
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Sometimes, you have to collect before you compose. Just something I wrote and wanted to share with you all….
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I freaking love it! already and the other one you just posted as well it was very inspirational! Thank you for that!
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Just a thought, but you’re welcome.
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already wrote it down*
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