This week's 99 word flash fiction was to write a lifespan. The prompt reminded me of a metaphor often used in therapy to explain the relationship between a therapist and client. Instead of imagining the therapist has more wisdom or knows more answers, a client is asked to imagine the therapist is climbing their own mountain, but because they have a different perspective, they can see the obstacles on the client's mountain a little more clearly. Writing a lifespan means taking a step back, seeing the forest and the trees, having a long view. Maybe one day, I'll have that too.
Check out the contributions from the other Rough Writers.
*****
She started and ended the same way.
Fragile, dependent, full of curiosity and wonder. In between her first and last
breath, she learned to love, to hate, to be brave, to forgive. She learned that
grief made her life more meaningful and taking risks is what kept her alive. She
became stronger than she thought she’d ever be, and softer too. Able to soothe
the glorious, savage beast her body brought into the world. She watched the
tiny boy grow into a man she loved as much as the one she had lost. She had
lived. She was proud.
What a profound thought on perspective. I also like the pacing on your mountain. A mountain well-climbed.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Charli. I think this was the toughest prompt yet!
ReplyDeleteGeorgia that was a great all of life. I really like the idea of the therapist (but I would like to expand that to anyone giving advice or their point of view) that they don't know more that the other, that they have their own hurdles to jump but they can see it from a different angle. I love that thought. It sounds like your flash she had had a few hurdles along the way also.
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