Assignment: CONVERSATIONS

You've all gotten those "tell us about yourself" emails more times than you can count. For some reason, we all love to answer simple questions about ourselves. It helps us get to know ourselves, it helps us remember past events and feelings, and it helps us get to know other people as we share with them. This month, do a similar exercise in your journal. Doing this in a group is best, because the conversation is as fun as the page.

My group did this with a little box of cards with questions on them. We each wrote and answered the question in our journals (in little cartoon quote bubbles), then shared them with the group. If you don't have a box of cards, or book of questions, you can each think of a few questions to ask the group and take turns being the interrogator. Lastly, you could always find one of those emails, and just copy the questions right on in your journal!

If you need a little help, here are the questions our group drew from the cards we used:

1. If your parents were to descibe you in one sentence, they would say . . .
2. Your husband met his ex while out with the boys last night and she hung out with them for the rest of the night. How do you respond?
3. Absolutely, or absolute not: Fireworks? Arguing through email?
4. I have butterflies in my stomach when . . .
5. During an exam, your doctor weighs you and says, "Wow! You don't look like you weigh that much." How do you respond?
6. If a scientist could make a magic pill, what would you like it to be?
7. If you could stop your daily routine for one day, what would you do? A day at the Spa? A day at the mall? A day in bed?
8. When looking back, what is your fondest childhood memory?
9. If you could change one bad habit, what would it be?
10. Absolutely or absolutely not: Diet soda? Trick Candles? Weekend picnics?
11. I do not like to talk about . . .
12. I am most irritated by people who . . .
    
13. Absolutely or absolutely not: Wearing matching shirts with spouse?
14. What causes the most stress for you? No sleep? No exercise? A messy house? Money? A dispute?
15. If you had one free hour, how would you most like to spend it? Reading, exercising, shopping, watching TV, or talking on the phone?

These were great fun to record in our journals and also to share and talk about. It made for a great journaling night! Give it a try.

Creative Challenge: TIMED WRITING

This month, try writing for 5 minutes. Never pick up your pen. Don't think about what to write. Just write, write, write, whatever comes into your head. It doesn't have to make sense, it can be rambling or coherent. It can even be a list. Whatever is in your head, get it out onto paper. This is a great exercise to warm up your brain and figure out what is on your mind today.