This quote speaks to the purpose of my writing prompt posts. There are so many buried experiences that form our beliefs and behaviors. Writing is one way to begin to unearth those orphaned parts within ourselves.
When I was a trainer back in the 80s and 90’s, I often used a video by Morris Massey called “What you Are, Is Where You Were When.” He showed how our childhood experiences formed unconscious biases and behaviors. One of the things he said that has always stuck with me is, “What you didn’t have as a ten-year-old, becomes extremely important to you as an adult.”
What I missed and needed the most as a ten-year-old was to be seen and heard by my parents. One of the gifts of writing my memoir, Listening to My Life, was the clarity I gained about the threads that run through my life. A major thread is my wanting to listen to others and let them know they are heard and seen. This followed me through my career as a teacher, counselor, administrator, facilitator/trainer, and to my current vocation as a spiritual director.
My prompt this week is to reflect back to your ten-year- old self and think about what you wanted/needed that you didn’t receive. Write about it and then write about how it has impacted your adult life.
Remember no editing or critiquing. Enjoy exploring your inner world and write, write, write.
“The secret to finding the deeper level in the other is finding the deeper level in yourself. Without finding it in ourself, you cannot see it in the other.” Eckhart Tolle
Ardine Martinelli 