Painting-the Eagle Soars

Dealing With Change: By: Christine McFarlane

Change brings about many feelings that can often have you feeling like you are riding on a rollercoaster of emotions. One minute you can feel like you are on top of the world, and the next you can feel scared of what is ahead for you. When this happens it can be easy for you to think about those old thoughts and behaviors that you used to resort to, to help you feel safe.

Entertaining these old thoughts and behaviors are not an option if you want to continue on the path of healing you have embarked upon. If you find yourself slipping back into your old ways, this is where you need to stop yourself and take inventory of what it is that is really scaring you and note what tools you can use to continue on your healing journey.

These tools can include getting physical, like riding a bike or doing some type of sport, emotional support- talking to someone you trust, spiritual-whatever you find healing- for me it is smudging with one of the four medicines, and mentally- writing, reading or drawing. Whatever you find works for you, do it and stay with it. It may even help if you enlist someone in your support system to help you stay on track.

Change brings about many feelings and it can be scary, but change is also good. It is okay to be afraid, and it is okay to feel that fear. You have to ride with the fear and know that you can get through it without resorting back to old ways. Ultimately it is up to you to not let that fear deter you from what you are working towards.

For me, taking note of how change affects my thoughts and actions and being proactive about the tools I need to use to stay healthy is key to my continued successes.

Painting-June 2010 by Me

Writing Prompts

Writing Prompts

A close friend has a life-altering decision to make and asks you for advice. What advice do you give? Write the conversation between you and your friend.You can post your response (750 words or fewer) here.

The love of your life is getting married to someone else. In a last-ditch attempt to win the love of your life back, you bust into the wedding and profess your love mid-ceremony. Start your story with the line, "Don't say yes!"You can post your response (750 words or fewer) here.

You're out to eat a nice birthday dinner with your family when the waiting staff marches out from the back room with a cake. With everyone around singing happy birthday, you decide this is the moment to make that life-changing announcement you've been considering.   
You can post your response (750 words or fewer) here.

Write a story about two brothers who are competing for the affection of the same woman.You can post your response (750 words or fewer) here.

Write a haiku (first line 5 syllables, second line 7 syllables, third line 5 syllables) about your first day of high school.You can post your response (750 words or fewer) here.

A knock at the door catches you off-guard. Upon answering it, you're greeted by a man who says he's from the future—and he can prove it. More important, he says he has information that will save your life.Post your response (750 words or fewer) here.

You are given the opportunity to talk to one dead person and tell him one thing that you didn't get to before he passed away. Who would you pick and what would you tell him (or her, of course)?You can post your response (750 words or fewer) here.

You and two friends are out to dinner when a woman walks up to you and says, "My husband and I have a disagreement and we'd like you to decide who is right." She explains the issue. Both of your friends chime in, giving completely opposite opinions. The decision, though, rests in your hands. What do you decide?
You can post your response (750 words or fewer) here.

You arrive at work to find all the items in your cube packed up in a box. There's no note and you have no idea what is going on. Write this scene.You can post your response (750 words or fewer) here.

You're riding an elevator when the power goes out. The situation take a turn when the pregnant woman next to you goes into labor.You can post your response (750 words or fewer) here.

Inuit Throat Singing @ Aboriginal History Month Kickoff Event