This week, my writing prompt has three parts.
1. Make a quick list of some things you love. Not people, but non-people things. Today I might list:
- my hammock
- good coffee
- my old dog Twyla
- and my Birkenstocks
2. Choose one, and list some attributes of it.
My hammock is…
- comfortable
- inviting
- fraying
- promotes napping, etc.
The third part needs this quick diversion:
This week on August 20th, Catholics and some other denominations celebrate the feast day of Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153.) While I’m not Catholic, I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of remembering saints of the church on different days.
Bernard lived in France during a time of great change for the church. He gave up a life of wealth for a simpler monastic existence, and eventually became a celebrated abbot and preacher. While not without complexity, having rallied support for violent Crusades, and insisting on elements of theology I don’t embrace, he left behind some beautiful writing. One attributed quote gives us the third part of our prompt.
3. Bernard said, “What we love, we grow to resemble.”
Take the item you love, and write about how you are growing to resemble it.
A little writing advice
Remember, there is no wrong way to respond to a writing prompt. Begin with whatever comes to mind, and just keep your pen moving. You might start and stop with a line of thinking a few times before something catches your memory or imagination. Just keep going.
