A Year of Writing to Uncover the Authentic Self (2022)
Lesson 6: Beginnings
Following Lesson 5: People We’ve Lost I took a significant break from this blog and this program. Significant meaning around 8 months. I’d be hard pressed to give you a precise reason why. I suppose you could say life got in the way!
I did get a new boyfriend, travel a lot for work, have a second bout of COVID (much weaker than my first COVID experience – thank goodness!) and end up in Morocco though. Therefore, I think you could say I’ve not been twiddling my thumbs in the meantime.
Ironically, given the chapter for this week is all about new beginnings, I do find starting up again after all this time quite fitting. Life does have a good sense of humour sometimes, doesn’t it? 😉
Lesson Format
This week there were around 10 prompting statements/questions to work with. Since, I like to make the most of my experiences, I made sure to journal through each one thoughtfully. This took me about 20 minutes, I would say.
Looking back, I see I’ve been writing all of my experiences in single sessions. However, right now I’m finding the idea of finishing a few questions at a time, and over the course of a week, quite interesting.
Doing it that way, could allow for spending more time focussed on each question… and perhaps even stimulate coming back to the activity with new thoughts and ideas to add too.
My Experience
My thoughts on trying to change up the format of completing the writing prompts made me realise how moods can really influence your experience. Personally, I originally found it quite monotonous to complete the standard exercise this week.
However, looking back I really don’t think it’s because of the questions. I think it’s because of the state of mind I was in when I was completing them. I was sick, tired and mostly just… spent.
Yet you know what you need to do when you’re feeling like that, don’t you?
That’s right… find a new beginning!
In my case, in the last week, I chose to go back to reading, writing, learning and planning my future. Some of my favourite pastimes that I realised I had been neglected recently.
Thinking about new beginnings this week also reminded me of how often they come into my life. As a person, I always seem to be looking for or encountering something new. A new place to travel, a new place to eat, a new way to save on my bills, a new interest to pursue etc.
It made me think about how much my life has changed in the last 4+ years since I decided to move to Barcelona. I remembered how defeated I felt at the time I moved here… and how different my life is now!
Lost in the memories
When I came to Barcelone, I remember that I was literally turning my life upside down by quitting my job and letting go of any regular income. I was landing myself in a new city I had never even visited before and learning a new language from scratch just so I could integrate and get a job.
I started remembering other times I had made decisions leading to many many new beginnings over the years.
Like when I moved to Seoul to study (because England didn’t have C1 Korean classes). Or when I accepted an internship for the summer in Amsterdam (because my search in the US was proving futile.).
Then when I decided to move from bar-backing to SEO work without any experience (because I needed the pay rise to stay at university).
Or when I adopted my cat (because I was stuck in the middle of nowhere, being a workaholic and feeling lonely). Also when I gave my new friendships and relationships a chance (because I’ll admit it… I certainly didn’t want to stay a recluse or single forever!).
Each time, the new beginnings would stir up mixed feelings of anxiety, excitement, confusion, hope and adventure.
However, looking back, I also realise that in the end I also always consistently ended up in a new (and arguably better) place physically, mentally and/or geographically.
It’s funny how the choices we make really shape our day to day life and opportunities, isn’t it? New beginnings certainly aren’t always easy. Yet, somehow, I find they are also so very much filled with opportunities for better.
And it’s precisely because of that that I love them. How about you?