Essay

What It Was. What It Is.

By: Pat LaPointe,

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As many of you know, I am the current President of Story Circle Network, www.storycircle.org. I am also facilitator for two of the Circle’s internet writing groups. In this role I am responsible for providing monthly writing prompts. The prompt I chose for December and would like to share with you, is based on the quote: “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” The idea here was for the women to review the past twelve months in terms of what was good and what was bad or maybe not so good. I think this is something worthwhile for any of us to take the time to pursue.
Many of us are, have been or know of someone that has lost his/her job this year and is dealing with the stress and worry. Maybe the good has come or will come when he/she discovers a new talent or interest.
Many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one this year. If so I am sorry for your loss. But for others, perhaps a new life arrived in their families. What joy has come their way!
These are the “big” events in life, but there are other things in our daily lives that, in looking back over the past year we can judge their benefits as well as difficulties they presented. We can ask ourselves: What brought me joy? What I wish hadn’t occurred? Was there a decision made that had negative effects on my life? Did I engage in activities or take on a perspective that has caused stress for me or important others?
This month let’s dwell on our “good” and keep up whatever part of it was created by you. This is the easy part of the year review.
But, it is also just as important to review the bad, to take an honest look and question if there was anything you could have done differently. This includes checking our reactions/responses to the negative events. Once we engage in this process we can prepare ourselves to make the necessary changes in the upcoming year.
I wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and a positive, gratifying New Year.
Chelsea Resnick , in her essay “Moving In, Out and On” demonstrates how one belief can have both positive and negative effects.

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