Epiphanies
- What, from previous sessions, has come back around to speak to you?
- Which of the homework exercises have had an unexpected impact on your outlook?
- Where is this path leading you?
Video Presentation
https://www.ted.com/talks/shane_koyczan_to_this_day_for_the_bullied_and_beautiful
https://www.ted.com/talks/stacey_kramer_the_best_gift_i_ever_survived
Questions for Discernment
- Do sticks and stones (and broken bones) really hurt more than being called names? Is the beauty of the Shane Koyczan’s poetry worth the pain of his childhood?
- How can anyone look at a brain tumor as being a gift? Was Stacey Kramer just being facetious, or is there truth in her description of her ‘gift’?
Homework Exercises
- Start writing an outline of your memoir. What are the key events in your life that have shaped who you are? How have you been broken? How have you recovered?
- Spend time seeking out and passively observing the ‘others’ around you. Where are the homeless, the poor, the sick, and the downtrodden? How can you listen to their stories without sense of guilt or a need to fix them?
- Create a ‘spiritual chart’ of your life to date. When has your spirit been on a high? When has it been low? Label the highs and lows with what events were happening in your life at that time. If you feel comfortable, share your chart with the group at the next session.
Side Trails
https://www.ted.com/talks/kitra_cahana_my_father_locked_in_his_body_but_soaring_free