My daughter shared this prompt from @risingwoman, and I thought I’d give it a try.
Remember what brought you joy and made time disappear when you were a child–a time when your creative innocence was fully alive. Those memories are a compass, guiding you back home to your most authentic self. @risingwoman
When I was playing Barbies, or trolls with our homemade clothes with my friend Mary Ann, or riding our bikes. When playing in the field by our house. We would play for hours, and there was a rogue apple tree.
When I was a child, I would visit my Grandma’s house in Magrath, Alberta, Canada, to play with my cousins and pick vegetables in her garden. We would go there almost every summer in July, shelling peas on her porch and watching the 24th of July parade.
When I rode my bike to the library, I would spend two hours deciding which books to check out.
When my neighbor, Kathleen and I, would make poetry books, we would punch holes in the paper and use yarn to bind them together.
When my brother and I would make believe in the backseat of our car on trips, pretending we were bank tellers, with fake coins and dollars, and using the ashtray as a place to put the money. My dad bought us some fake money. (That dates us!)
When we would body surf for hours in the ocean at Capistrano Beach, California.
When I would go outside to my backyard, I would swing or play in our sand pile.
When I would make recordings with my little brother, Curtis, we would imitate commercials.
When I was reading comic books with my little brother.
When I would rollerskate with my neighbors, Mary Ann, Kathleen, and Alice.
Playing hopscotch, jump rope, and night tag.
My mother taught ski school at Brighton Ski Resort, and our neighbors owned the resort. I spent many Saturdays there, and at first I was so scared, but then I grew to love skiing. (I drew this picture in 1st or 2nd grade.)
I had a magical childhood, filled with make-believe, dress-ups, good friends, a great neighborhood, and a strong community. I have four brothers and one sister with me being the second to the youngest. All of them shaped who I am. All great examples, to me.
I had great mentors and good elementary school teachers. When someone asks me who my favorite teachers were, I think of my elementary school teachers. They encouraged creative writing and art.
How have these events shaped me, and what is my most authentic self?
Reflecting on these childhood memories, I can see how they have profoundly shaped who I am today. Each experience carried a spark of creativity and connection that has influenced my values and character.
Playing Barbies and making poetry books instilled a love for storytelling and imagination. Those moments taught me the importance of creativity and the joy of expressing myself through art. Similarly, the hours spent in the fields or at my Grandma’s house provided a strong sense of belonging and community. They remind me of the simple pleasures in life, the importance of family, and the power of nurturing relationships.
Body surfing at Capistrano Beach and playing make-believe games in the car with my brother cultivated a spirit of adventure. I learned to embrace spontaneity and the thrill of new experiences. These memories highlight the joy of play and the freedom it brings, which I still cherish in my adult life.
The support from my teachers and mentors during those formative years shaped my confidence and passion for learning. They encouraged my creativity, setting the foundation for my authentic self to flourish. Their belief in my potential inspired me to pursue my interests and to foster my creativity.
My most authentic self thrives on connection, artistic expression, and a sense of adventure.
Try this prompt to see what you can reveal about yourself!
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