MY BODY IS NOT A BATTERY is written in bloc caps on the flipchart in front of us. This time, at Hinterland’s monthly Journaling Club, there’s no gong to signify the start of the session, but the metal bowl and hammer have the required effect. Organiser Fi establishes a few basic rules for the group, remaining confidentiality and speaking from ‘I’ – writing of our own experiences, etc. before we dive into the first writing prompt. We have a choice of 2.
I’VE COME HERE BECAUSE / RIGHT NOW MY ENERGY IS
Right now my energy is high. I’ve just come from a pump class and have eaten very little. I welcome a moment of calm, and this vegan burger is going down a treat. Christmas presents are all bought early, for once, with 1 or 2 still to pick up. My recent challenge, The Saddleworth Santa Dash, is done and dusted. I’m now projectless, spiralling into junk food and knock-off Aldi alcohol. -- I’ve come here because I’m looking for other things to do socially, not just bars and clubs. Yet I’ve found myself on my own table. I’ve ran a Manc Mates meetup to this with about 8 attendees. Are any of them here?
Gong.
The next prompt: we can choose from 2.
MY ENERGY IS SHAPED BY / A TIME I WAS SURPRISED BY MY ENERGY CHANGING WAS
My energy is shaped by food. I’ve just dieted for 2 months for the aforementioned race; I’ve eaten mountains of veg and meat. The race went well, and I’ve felt strong in gym classes. I’ve focussed in work, no major issues as far as I know, and meetup groups have gone well. All of this is through cutting out chocolate, takeaways, alcohol etc. Now I’m mixing them back in I’m noticing the sluggishness again, the slight dip in mood. The sleep disruption. My plan was basically to be a pisscan for the month of December, but I don’t think I can tolerate abusing my body in this way. Maybe during Christmas I should try to change my energy back again.
Gong.
Next prompt on the flipchart:
MY BODY IS NOT A BATTERY
I decided to go into rhyme for this.
A third alarm awakes me from slumber
The light and the music, and I am still under
I hear the radio as if from a distance
My body is offering major resistance
A shattering loudness, the mobile phone
Completes the trinity and brings my mind home
Hard to stand up and engage my cranium
I feel like I’ve just drank depleted uranium
-
The gong sounded and Fi invited me to read this out, so I did.
Fi reminded us that Hinterland have lots of events lined up in January. The next journaling group is 7th January. Other events will revolve around community, art and play.
We end with a reminder of the acronym
FAST:
Forgive
Accept
Surrender
Time to move forward
This, the presenter explains, is the best way to get over negative thoughts.
Thankfully throughout the evening all my thoughts, aside ranting in rhyme about insomnia, have been positive.
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