Notes: Still sick. It’s the flu. I composed a few opening lines for a few different strangers, but nothing made it to the page. Dear kind pharmacist… Dear kind woman who answers the phone at my doctor’s office… Dear kind delivery person who carried in a huge box for me when I went the door in pajamas, feverish and apologizing for being so sick. You took your boots off and left them on the porch.

Notes: I imagined myself dancing the night away at my birthday dance party … but instead I am sick in bed, too sick to write or draw … or dance. A friend from Argentina tells me that it’s considered bad luck to celebrate one’s birthday early, so maybe that’s a small silver lining?

Notes: I am sick in bed. I wanted to do this prompt, so I grabbed my notebook and scribbled down what I was hearing in the moment, which was voices of teenagers in the attic, laughing, horsing around. I was glad I took the time to do something creative, even for a few minutes.

Notes: I am in office and it’s not even dark yet. But almost; twilight. I am feeling like a zombie, not enough sleep, days over-stacked, hurtling toward the “holidays.” I wonder: will I be able to slow down and rest? Why is my engine calibrated so high? Why do I crave a spin class when my brain is this tired? I wonder how to apply the new skills I’ve been learning. What is my next big thing? Big project? Big career shift? Or even small thing? Small project? Small shift? I’m not afraid of changing. I’m afraid of standing still.

Notes: I’m underwater — that was the phrase that came to mind when I saw this prompt. But I knew that I wasn’t drowning. Instead, I drew myself swimming down, going deeper, no oxygen mask needed. I’d hoped to add  words to the page, but the day escaped me, gliding and dancing and circling and twirling (or was that me?). It was a delight-filled day. I felt filled with radiant delight. I am diving down down down, deeper and deeper, exploring this great big sea that once I feared.

Notes: Oo, this one sparked a nice little fire. But of course I couldn’t stop at one role! Funny thing is, I actually did role-playing exercises this morning in the mediation workshop I’m taking. I played a mediator, and I played a perfectionist boss. And in and around all that, I played so many roles that I love and enjoy and am honoured to step into. And all along I was myself. Fully.