Don't Ever Forget

Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones Deck prompts - Begin a writing with "Don't ever forget" and then tell us what, who, how we should never forget. When you get stuck, repeat, "Don't ever forget," and keep going.

Don't ever forget we don't have to like everyone, but we have to love everyone. How does that work? I asked my sponsor in early recovery. I was the only Native American attending those meetings, and I didn't like anyone.

She said to hold firm to who I am, but to love everyone, I simply had to look at each person and, in my head, tell them I love them, when in the same space, or same meeting. I told her I would try that, and I did. It worked.

The result after many years is that I do love everyone. I can't say that I like everyone, and yet there are still many more than there ever were. I am grateful for the information I received in my mid-twenties.

Then someone suggested I attend a Joyce Landorf talk at a neighboring church. She said that it was important for her to pray for her children's partners. In that way, she loved their partners and never interfered in their lives other than to support them. She trusted that they were with whom she had prayed for all of her children's lives.

A refresher came some years later when I was told at the water ceremony, "When we are praying for water, we are praying for everyone as we all are made of 60+% water." I was struggling with the election results in 2016. It has helped.

Don't ever forget how powerful prayer can be in our lives.

Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones Deck prompts - What's wonderful about this way is you can juxtapose this urgency of the opening, "Don't ever forget," next to the most mundane things and give them life. Really, moment by moment is what we are made up of, but how to get someone else to pay attention? "Don't ever forget": the steam rising from green tea, the snap of the first apple bite, your father's whiskers before he shaves, the gray of an elephant and the greay of a Seattle rain.

You can make up more urgent entry points or phrases to begin - it livens the writing, alerts the mind and reader. How about "this matters..." or "the point is ..."? You can have a lot of fun: "The point is bananas and peanut butter sandwiches..."

Don't ever forget...

You are loved.

Respect our beloved.

Live in the moment,

Get rid of resentment.

Stay in this day only,

Don't allow yourself to get too hungry, angry, tired, or lonely.

Take the hard stuff one day at a time,

Selfcare and see the importance of downtime,

And one minute at a time if need be

Happy, joyous, and free is for me!

~~

This matters to me...

Culture i.e. Seven Grandfathers

My cultural family

Doing my trauma, grief, and loss work

It is helpful to others in doing their grief work

The point is...

What matters to you

Will not be the same as to me

It is important to be who you are!

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Author's Note: Bananas and peanut butter were called Elvis Presley sandwiches when I was young. I will, on occasion, have one!