write-your-own friday : ancestors

November 13, 2009 in Uncategorized

My friend and creative partner, David Robinson, told me about a story prompt that he teaches. It is a simple prompt from which much can emerge.

Partner that with a recent email and photograph about her parents from an amazing woman, Celeste Rast, who is part of our Life is a Verb telecoaching class (her photo graces this post).

And so, take a look at the directions for "write-your-own friday" and focus on this question this week:

My ancestors were people who _________________.

And from them I learned __________________.

Write every day for a week on this. You might be interested by what emerges.

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

3 comments to " write-your-own friday : ancestors "


Maureen

November 13, 2009 AT 8:37PM

I participated recently in an online poetry party at The Abbey of the Arts that invited contributions about ancestors. You might take a look. Some quite lovely writing resulted.

Davielle Huffman

November 14, 2009 AT 12:07PM

Patti and David and Celeste, this is fantastic. Just this week, I’ve spent a lot of hours scanning vintage photos of the family, and sending to my cousin in Italy. It got me thinking (and thinking & thinking) about all sorts of things. YOUR TIMING, all, is perfect. Thank you for the “prompt”, Patti. I’m adding this to my TELECOACHING notebook as an exercise that I can’t wait to do – and I’m not waiting! xoxo – Davielle

shannon

November 14, 2009 AT 11:35PM

This is a really interesting writing exercise. I’m going to give it a try this week. Today I just received a letter from my 92 year old grandmother. She hasn’t been able to write in years. I send her letters every few weeks and just recently I sent some new photos of my son. She took the time to write me a thank you and it was so precious. Reminds me of all the letters she used to write me. It reminds me of her, my connection to her, and my connection to those who came before her. This writing prompt comes at the “write” time.
Thank you!