Prompt Five: (re-)Discovering Your Past Self
There have been earlier parts of my life that bore the hallmarks of this current time: sick days home from school where hours were endless, school holidays where I was stuck home with my imagination, trips to far flung family where languorous days stretched slowly into dusky nights. During these strange, formless days that bleed into one, I find echoes of my past self in many of my daily activities; a past self who has navigated this strange terrain before. I found a box of ancient watercolours in a drawer, and from the moment the brush touched the page I suddenly recalled endless afternoons during summer holidays of painting in my childhood home. I wonder how long it has been since I felt the joy of one colour bleeding into another.
Do any parts of your current situation and routine feel familiar? What would your younger self make of this time? Do you feel called to reconnect with yourself in any way? In what ways do you do that?
Today’s prompt is from Laila Woozeer. Laila is a writer and musician, and their debut nonfiction book, Not Quite White, will be published by Simon & Schuster soon - it’s a mix of autobiography and critical commentary about the experience of growing up mixed race in Britain. I first discovered Laila’s writing through their wonderful and much loved blog, Tape Parade - covering everything from romance and identity to veganism and magic, I find something extremely comforting in what they do with words: reading their posts is like being wrapped in a duvet, chatting to a wise friend. Thanks Laila!
If you’d like to share what you’ve written in our google drive you can do that here. Remember you can email files to me if you have trouble uploading them - ambermblomfield@gmail.com.
It’s wonderful that this little project started to keep me and a few pals occupied during lockdown now has over 500 people participating. If you’re enjoying it please do encourage friends and family to sign up - they can do so here. Originally this was only going to run for six weeks, but I have quite a few more prompts up my sleeve for you, so I’ll extend it to ten and take it from there.
Have fun!
Amber x