Word for 2011

Yeah, I'm probably a bit slow when it comes to beginning things others do all the time. But perhaps I haven't been ready for choosing a word for my year until this year. I've been reading Christine Kane's blog. Whilst reading the list provided in Resolution Revolution the word presence leapt out at me. I finished reading the list, in case another word did the same, but, no, presence let me know I needed to chose that word for this year.

I downloaded the Word-of-the-Year Discovery Tool and plan on having a journal session about the word presence, hopefully this afternoon. But right off the top of my head I feel perhaps the word is appropriate for me because I haven't exactly been present in recent years. There's been a lot happening and one of my coping mechanisms is to withdraw and retreat. While this isn't a bad thing, I feel perhaps it's time I came back out and allowed my presence to do what I know is in my heart.

By nature I am an encourager. I love nothing more than to help people discover things I have also found to inspire and help my own artistic endeavours; be that writing, art, jewellery design, or whatever it is I'm currently creating. I know that I need to bring my presence back to where it will be felt. Look for more on this in the next couple of days.

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Freaky Friday #16

Today is Friday and that means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1.

Think about a time you've received less than great service for something. You made a purchase for goods or services and you were treated poorly, in your view, by the staff or contractor. I know just about every one of us has some story about slack customer service, so this shouldn't be too difficult.

Once you have your moment think about the person who failed to deliver adequate service. Try to think of a reason they failed to do so. Today, I want you to slip inside their shoes and write a journal entry from their perspective of the transaction. This is a great opportunity to tune into what makes other people tick, but also to see yourself in a new light. Try to avoid being too nice about yourself. This is their view, their story, and you may look bad to them.

I hope you enjoy this journal writing prompt. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo used with permission from stock.xchng

Freaky Friday #15

Today is Friday and that means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1.

Today I was thinking about pioneer diaries. I'm sure you've read at least one, possibly more, journals from people making a start in just about any country, new or old. If you haven't, try these links and read a few for yourself.


Historical Pioneer Journals
Pioneer Journals
Emigrant Narratives & Biographies

The challenge today is to write as if you are a pioneer. Write a journal entry as if you are there making a new life with your partner, or family. Try to leave out any references and knowledge of the day you now live in. Write down all the things you would love a future generation to know. Answer the questions you've had on reading pioneer journals. What will you include in your journal that you never read in previous journals?

If you come across some good websites with pioneer journals, diaries and letters for readers to view please let me know. I'd love to add to my list. I didn't seem to come up with too many results tonight.

Heather
Photo used with permission from stock.xchng

Freaky Friday #14

Today is Friday. That means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1.

With the popularity of TV series featuring cartoon characters I felt it might be good to slip into the shoes of one of them for today's challenge. Check out the character bios for The Simpsons, Futurama and The Family Guy. I'm sure there are others, but you will need to do your own research as I'm just sticking with the ones I can think of right now.

Pick a character and write a journal entry in the voice of that character. You might like to write specifically about a problem you're dealing with. Have that character let you know what they think about the problem and how you're handling it. If you watch the TV programme the characters are from you should find this easy.

I hope you gain insight into an area of your life by allowing these cartoon characters to help you gain a fresh perspective. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Image used with permission from stock.xchng

Freaky Friday #12

Today is Friday and that means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1.

This week I have another unusual journal writing prompt idea. Those familiar with the popular TV series The X-Files will understand what I'm asking you to do today much quicker. For those who need the information, read a description of the TV series here.

The two main characters represent different two extreme perspectives when it comes to the supernatural. One is a firm believer in supernatural activity. The other character is a true skeptic and needs further explanation, a logical way to answer the problems they encounter in the course of their investigations.

Today try to identify which character you are more like. Once you've decided this write a journal entry about your reaction to a specific supernatural event from the other character's point of view. You may choose one of the topics covered in the TV series or some other in the news lately.

I hope you have fun with this one. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo used with permission from stock.xchng

Freaky Friday #10

It's Friday and that means it's Freaky Friday. Please read Freaky Friday #1 to learn more about this journal writing challenge.

Today I want to challenge you to think about your ego. I heard the news*, or perhaps rumour, that Oprah and David Letterman were interested in interviewing the rescued miners from Beaconsfield, Tasmania. It made me think how it would feel to be in that place; the one being interviewed on TV.

Today write as if you have done some noteworthy activity and you are on either the Late Show or Oprah. You may decide to be a known author, movie star/director or singer/performer for this journal writing exercise, but perhaps you'd prefer to be yourself for this one. The only difference is that you have achieved your dream, whatever that might be. You are there in the spotlight answering questions. What do you discuss? How does this make you feel? Go into detail. Describe everything. It matters little if you don't know what it's really like. Use your imagination. Have fun with this one.

Heather
*This is an older entry from my other blog
Photo used with permission from stock.xchng

Freaky Friday #9

Today is Friday which means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1. I thought of this journal writing challenge for today* when I heard the news that one of Australia's leading climbers, Lincoln Hall, had died on Everest and felt a pang of sorrow for his family. Just how would you feel to hear your loved one had died on Mt Everest, of all places? That treacherous mountain many have died trying to conquer. How tragic; to lose a loved one doing the one thing they were driven to achieve. My interest sparked, though, this afternoon when I heard that he was supposedly alive.

Write in your journal as if someone you have loved and is no longer living is somehow now alive. What would you tell them? Would you treat them differently? Write it all down in your journal. There are no rules to this challenge. This is a chance to take a different perspective on your life.

I hope you enjoy this journal writing challenge. Please leave any photos in the comment section.

Heather
*This is an old entry from my previous blog
Photo used with permission from stock.xchng

Freaky Friday #8

Today is Friday and that means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1.

This week I'm challenging you to write as if you could grant wishes and bestow money on others in the manner of Oprah. The TV hostess is famous for her benevolence. For this Freaky Friday you are Oprah, or someone very like her, and you grant the wishes of any or all of your friends and family. Who would you give money to? Who would you leave off your list? Make a list, include your true self (remember you are Oprah today) of those you would bless and what you would give. Write how this would alter their lives. Would this be for better or would the gift change their lives drastically? How does being able to give make you feel?

I hope you enjoy this journal writing challeng. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo used with permission from stock.xchng

Freaky Friday #7

Today is Friday and that means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1.

With Mother's Day coming very soon I'm going to challenge you to make a journal entry as if you were your mother. Now, I understand for some of you, this might be tough. I encourage you to at least try this journal writing exercise. If you simply feel too much hostility or other extreme reaction towards your mother, then please, choose someone else. Select a mother you have known, or at least seen, and write as if you are that woman.

Write about how you view the special day and what it means to you. Write about what you'd really love to receive from your child/children. It doesn't matter if you never even knew your mother. Imagine that you are her and write from her point of view the events that led to that situation.

As always the point of this exercise is to help you see another person's perspective. To help you gain greater understanding and empathy for others. I hope you enjoy this journal writing challenge. Please leave any comments in the section below.

Heather
Photo used with permission from stock.xchng

Freaky Friday #6

Today is Friday and that means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1.

Since Anzac Day, April 25, Australians have watched and waited for the fate of the men trapped in a Tasmanian mine. For the latest news on the story follow this link. For full details, click on the Multimedia link titled Trapped Underground. This will take you to a day by day slide show presentation on all that's happened and more.

This Freaky Friday write as if you are one of these men trapped underground. What are your thoughts? What words do you share with the other man? Describe your reaction to the first contact from above ground. Please share your thoughts and responses in the comments section and please pray for the safety of these two trapped men.

Heather
This story was in the news April & May 2006
Photo used with permission from Julia Freeman-Woolpert from stock.xchng

Freaky Friday #4

Today is Friday and that means it's Freaky Friday. If you need to know more about this journal writing challenge please read Freaky Friday #1.

Today I came across an interesting book; 80. In this book 80 famous people write about turning 80. It's really quite fascinating. Use this idea and write in your journal about what you will have to say when you're 80. It doesn't matter what your age is right now, you can write as if you are 80 looking back over your life. I hope you try this journal writing challenge today.



Heather
Photo used with permission from stock.xchng

A Short Road Trip

Today the little guy, hubby and I went for a short road trip up the coast to a place called Two Rocks. We had a small repair done on the car yesterday and felt like giving it a good run. Also, the radio has been off the blink ever since hubby replaced a globe in the headlight. We eventually found what the code for it was, but had to wait for the thing to stop displaying err and show code instead.

The long drive did it. Just before arriving home we were able to push in the code and could finally listen to the radio, CDs and the tape player again. So the trip wasn't too boring we did take along a portable player. I took lots of photos, but most were a little boring to show. So instead I've shown the little guy in the park at Burns Beach where we stopped for lunch.

In the afternoon I was able to sit and have a coffee and write in my journal about the trip. There's something refreshing about getting out of the regular routine of life. I had a great journal writing session. Why not try doing something like this today, too? It would've been easy to refuse to go, but I was really glad I did. I hope you try changing your routine soon. It just might be what you need to get a new perspective on your journal writing, too.

Heather
Photo is my own

Freaky Friday #1

I'm going to republish the Freaky Friday prompts I originally began at A Creative Journal here because they've proved really popular with journal writers & bloggers alike. Occasionally they may seem dated. Where possible I will update them, but may leave some as they are just to give us a slice of the past.



Today is Friday. In honour of this day I've decided to create Freaky Friday for you. I'm hoping you've seen the film Freaky Friday. If so you'll easily fall into what I intend to do here each Friday. If not, well, perhaps I'll need to explain more. Freaky Friday, either version, is the story of a mother and daughter who literally swap roles for a short time. Several films have been made with this premise. Some kind of magical intervention creates this situation for the two to swap spirits or souls and live in the body of the other for some time.

The basic moral of the film Freaky Friday is for the main characters get a chance to experience first hand how it is to live someone else's life, to discover all there is to know about them, to see things from their point of view. Of course the films always end with the characters understanding and accepting the other's differences and working out whatever problems they have in the beginning of the film. I'm not suggesting this journal writing exercise will solve all your problems in a similar way, but I am hoping you'll come to understand other people and why they think the way they do.

For the first Freaky Friday journal prompt I'm asking you to step inside the shoes of a member of Pro Hart's family, since the artist has recently died*. It doesn't matter which family member you select. Read the Broken Hill's Art & Soul news story through to the end and write a journal entry from the perspective of one of the family members involved.

I hope you enjoy this prompt and return for next week's Freaky Friday prompt. Please feel free to share your response in the comments below, or supply a link to your own blog or online journal.

Heather
*Pro Hart died March 28 2006
Photo ©2003 Walt Disney Pictures.