TO WRITE: Freedom
I'm reading The End of America by Naomi Wolf, and it's scaring the heck out of me. Wolf's studies indicate that there are ten changes that occur in countries just before they move from a democracy to a fascist state, and that the U.S. is going through all ten right now. Sound alarmist? I thought it would too, but her evidence and her arguments seem very strong so far.
Especially after having lived for several months in the Soviet Union when I was a teen, I value my American freedoms tremendously. For example, we're allowed to say and write what we want, basically. But there are lots of other types of freedom I value too. How about the freedom of spending my life outside of the walls of a mental institution, except under extreme circumstances, when I want to be there anyway? (Granted, we have short forced hospitalizations for those deemed to be putting themselves or others at risk -- what's known as a "5150" here in California.) How about the freedom to decide on how I'll treat my depression? How about the freedom to pursue what I want to do with my time and resources?
Play with this. . .
Write continuously for 20 minutes starting with: "The freedoms I have. . ." You might describe your freedom to wear the clothes or hairstyle you want, the freedom to read what you want, or the freedom to explore the entire Internet, if you are in a country that allows those things. Or you might explain your feelings about a freedom you feel you lack.
Then consider how your freedoms affect your psychological life. Does thinking about them make your life feel a little less confined? How do your thoughts of freedom affect the emotions and thoughts you allow yourself to feel and share?
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Friday, January 26, 2007
TO READ: Writing Saves Lives
Many writers love to claim it: The act of writing not only helped my life, it saved my life. Author and teacher Louise DeSalvo begins her book Writing as a Way of Healing with this claim; poet, author, painter Natalie Goldberg describes "How Poetry Saved My Life," in Top of My Lungs; my students have made this bold statement; I use it in Chapter 1 of my book-in-progress, Illuminating Words: The Power of Writing to Ease Depression to illustrate one of the key aspects of my recovery from severe bipolar disorder.
In this week's edition of Newsweek (Jan. 22, 2007), writer Anna Quindlen's column is titled Write for Your Life. In it, she describes how the disadvantaged teens documented in the new movie Freedom Writers find connection and even pride when a young teacher gives them blank notebooks and says to write anything at all. Now I know that some writers, including Virginia Wolff, have said that a piece of writing is not truly complete until someone else has read it, but I disagree. I've seen it in my students when they report on their journaling; I've felt it myself. Even writing for oneself can be meaningful and healing.
"Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture, but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals," according to novelist Don DeLillo as quoted in Quindlen's article. I think he puts it very well. While writing intended for family, friends or publication is no doubt fulfilling and empowering, there is a place, a crucial place, for personal, private writing as well. And it even saves lives.
Many writers love to claim it: The act of writing not only helped my life, it saved my life. Author and teacher Louise DeSalvo begins her book Writing as a Way of Healing with this claim; poet, author, painter Natalie Goldberg describes "How Poetry Saved My Life," in Top of My Lungs; my students have made this bold statement; I use it in Chapter 1 of my book-in-progress, Illuminating Words: The Power of Writing to Ease Depression to illustrate one of the key aspects of my recovery from severe bipolar disorder.
In this week's edition of Newsweek (Jan. 22, 2007), writer Anna Quindlen's column is titled Write for Your Life. In it, she describes how the disadvantaged teens documented in the new movie Freedom Writers find connection and even pride when a young teacher gives them blank notebooks and says to write anything at all. Now I know that some writers, including Virginia Wolff, have said that a piece of writing is not truly complete until someone else has read it, but I disagree. I've seen it in my students when they report on their journaling; I've felt it myself. Even writing for oneself can be meaningful and healing.
"Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture, but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals," according to novelist Don DeLillo as quoted in Quindlen's article. I think he puts it very well. While writing intended for family, friends or publication is no doubt fulfilling and empowering, there is a place, a crucial place, for personal, private writing as well. And it even saves lives.
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