I told W last night in bed that I’m failing therapy.
“What are you talking about? You can’t fail therapy,” she said.
“Well, you’re wrong about that,” I responded. “I’m definitely failing therapy.”
She just looked at me and waited.
Me: So, I have therapy this Friday. And, I told you about my two homework assignments.
W: Right. Start eating more healthy. Which we did this week. Remember, we had salad?
Me: One salad doesn’t really cut it. But, that’s not what I’m talking about. I have until Friday morning to start dieting.
W: Ok. You were supposed to sign up for that art class or something.
Me: Yeah. Which starts tomorrow. At 10 a.m.
W: (laughter)
Me: And, that’s how I’m failing therapy.
W: (laughter)
Me: I didn’t feel like calling today and signing up for the class. And I don’t know that I’m that into mosaics anyway. But I do have a back-up plan. So that I don’t fail therapy.
W: And that would be?
Me: There’s a writer’s group that meets every Tuesday morning from 10:00 to 12:00 at that new independent bookstore. It’s free. I thought I might give that a try.
W: There you go. That sounds like a plan.
Me: Crap.
W: What?
Me: I forgot about those deadlines for work. And I have to pick Kid #2 up after school. Tomorrow is not going to work. Looks like I’m failing therapy again.
* * *
So, I’m passing therapy, barely, because I actually went to the writers’ group today. I’ve been talking in therapy about doing something just for me like taking a class or joining a group or doing something like that. My deadline is this Friday morning when I show up for my therapy session.
About the writers’ group: The instructor is using The Artist’s Way as a guide. We worked on some writing prompts from that book and actually wrote two short pieces.
Maybe I’ll share some of what I’ve written here in this space at a later date.
For now, I’m going to hang with this writing group and see where it takes me. I liked hanging out with people. Especially people who like to write.
So, yay me for doing something that took me way out of my comfort zone and following through and actually talking in a group and not seeming all weird and wallflowery (I think) and for squeaking by in therapy, at least for a couple more weeks.
* * *
One writing prompt from today’s writing group and my response:
Ten Tiny Changes (small changes to make in your life)
1. I would like to eat healthier, especially by eating more fresh and less processed food.
2. I would like to learn how to cook some new meals/recipes.
3. I would like to ride my bike more.
4. I would like to spend more time reading.
5. I would like to take an art class.*
6. I would like to get at least one piece of writing published this year.
7. I would like to spend more time with friends (and make some new ones).
8. I would like to be out in nature more.
9. I would like for the TVs in my home to be off more.
10. I would like to volunteer for something this year.
* Apparently not a mosaic class.
The Flannel Files 