Day: May 7, 2019

writing exercise

Creative Writing Workshop 3 – Healing Yourself, Help With Self Esteem

carolyncordon

Write Yourself Well workshop

If you follow what I did at this workshop, using the eight ways, below, I hope you may gain some understanding of yourself, and remember good times, in the hope more may come again

 

Eight Quick & Easy Ways to Raise Self-Esteem

  • Tell yourself this: I am a good person, and believe your words.
  • Write a list of the things you are good at.
  • Write a list of good things you have done in the past week.
  • Spend 5 minutes when you wake up, to remind yourself that you are a good person.
  • Spend 5 minutes when you go to bed, reminding yourself that you are a good person.
  • Write a list of the best things about yourself.
  • Remember your childhood years, and write down the things you used to do that were fun.
  • Think about your greatest achievement, and sit there, thinking about it. Feel the happiness at your work, and just sit with your happy memories.

 

I, Carolyn Mary Cordon, honestly believe I am a good person.

  • I am good at creative writing, talking in public, saying positive things in almost all circumstances, being kind to family, friends, and others.
  • This week, I have given hugs to people who wanted and deserved them, I have attended a function and given love and friendship to friends, I have helped around the home as best I could (feeding and cleaning up after dog etc), watering our plants, running a group meeting, being involved in running a Poetry Reading,
  • Best things about myself? I make others feel good about themselves. I am a caring family member. I am a good community member.
  • I remember riding my bike, with my best friend Wendy. One particular day, we rode from our homes in Klemzig all of the way to the Adelaide Zoo. We got in for free, using the zoo tickets my dad had, and spent ages sitting with the two dingoes that lived at the zoo. These dingoes, and male and a female, were very tame and loved being scratched behind their ears, just like any other dog likes. I was such a fun time, and we both felt almost blessed to have these dingoes feel so secure with us.
    Going to the Torrens River as a kid, with my brothers and their friends was always fun too, catching creatures and either keeping them or setting them free again. Yabbies were the main creature we didn’t release back to the wild, they came home with us, for dad to cook and eat.
  • Now I’m thinking about the book launches I’ve had, sharing my own words with others. Remembering, remembering. Lovely times indeed.

 

20190505_114825

poetry, writing exercise

Creative Writing Workshop 2 – Writing an Ode

carolyncordon

An Ode is a celebration, a lyrical poem praising something. It can be something wondrous, or it may be something so-so that the poet can make wondrous through their words in praise of it. John Keats has a well known Ode – Ode to a Grecian Urn, and another titled Ode to a Nightingale. They are both fine Odes, but today we are going to look to more contemporary times with the odes we will write. When writing a ode, you have permission to go overboard with the imagery and metaphor!

 

 

And that’s it. With an Ode, you can rhyme or not, as you choose, you can be as silly or serious as you wish, it’s all up to you and your thoughts. The most important thing is to go beyond the obvious, and take your love of your chosen thing as far as you can, lauding it all the way to the sky and stars!

Ode to the Op Shop

Oh wondrous home to much –

glorious treasure trove  

Of love and possibility

Staffed by precious volunteers

Those whose freely-given time benefits many –

Small-time hoarders like me,

Or those in the know who buy much

Then onsell to many

But a delight for those searching

Looking for their next fashionable fancy

And when finding such, our joy

Is met with smiles.

Named junk shops by some

Those who think a label

Rather than a look, is the fashionable thing

But limited new ‘range’ to choose from

Is just the so-called latest thing

Ignoring the clothes of yesteryear –

The best of their time, made best again,

At a bargain price, when payment gives back

To those who have little.

My wardrobe & drawers

Are filled with many found treasures

from within your worthy walls

And walls of other stores like you,

Clothes that have lived a life

Before they came to me,

That could tell such stories!

Each item willingly given up

To be worn again with pride and thanks

Is testament to the love shared

In one of these slices of community

And humanity, wonderful Op Shops,

Shared spaces, filled with memories of the past

And hopes for the future.

Op Shops, oh how I love you, Op Shops

Fine resting places for my unwanted items,

That I bring to an Op Shop such as you,

Knowing that when my need for them is over,

They will be with those who understand

The Op Shop’s fine and long tradition

And who realise the wonders to be found

In the taking up of clothes, both pre-worn and pre-loved,

Knowing the impermanence of such clothes

And relishing it. What has been with one,

Can be again with another, and once lived with

For a while, can move on again, via an Op Shop

And so it goes on, treasure donated by one

Found by another, one who in time,

May donate again, and so it goes,

Op Shops building community,

Community loving Op Shops,

All sharing the love, and the clothes.

We are many, those who share the love

of these wonderful Op Shops –

Treat them well, care for the treasures

found within, and share them with others

at an Op Shop when the proper time comes …

                                                         © 2017 Carolyn Cordon

 

 

You could choose to write an ode to your football team, your pet, a flower, anything, just as long as it’s something you love and have many thoughts about!

 

So think of the subject of your Ode, and start writing down thoughts about why you love it so much, then get working!

 

Carolyn
Carolyn Cordon, kittycordo@gmail.com