We finished our first week of class by writing eulogies. On one side of the handout was an example of a eulogy, to help with the format. On the other side, there was an explanation. (It was similar to this: "This class is life-changing. The other instructor and I were transformed when we took the class. We're hoping it's just as transforming for you. Hopefully something will die while we're together. Perhaps your inner critic needs to expire? Maybe your lack of self-confidence needs to be smothered?")
The expectation: write a eulogy to what has died or will die.
What I did not expect: A couple of the teachers who shared shed some tears as they read their letter aloud.
Feelings of rejection. Feelings of inadequacy. They run deep... and those horrible feelings that are buried way below the surface prove how necessary writing is.
How is writing a vent for you? Sometimes angry minds want to know.
This is oh so true for all professions but especially writers and teachers who give their all and sometimes their best isn't enough...which results in feelings of inadequacies. Your eulogy exercise sounds wonderfully freeing, and yes, venting does lessen anger.
ReplyDeleteLinda--You're right. Teachers are on a mission, as are writers.
DeleteAs Stephen King has noted, writing is a way to stay sane for some of us. I have worked out so very many things by writing about them. There's something glorious about turning lead into gold by writing something beautiful about a bad experience or difficult emotion.
ReplyDeleteShay--That's a great analogy.
DeleteOf course writing is a vent for me. That's about all it is! I don't write pretty prose. I write petty protests.
ReplyDeletePetty protests? I think you might denigrate too much...
DeleteI'm with Val. I may write funny, but it's all a vent. :-)
ReplyDeleteCathy--You write funny, but you also write serious stuff.
DeleteSurprisingly, I rarely vent. Odd . . .
ReplyDeleteAnd, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteMama Zen--Riiiight. ;)
DeleteAnd thanks.
I'm not a witty person who can come up with the perfect quip on the spot. But, oh, how I can labor over each word choice and every point I want to make when writing. That's one of the reasons I love it!
ReplyDeletewww.patwahler.com