"Reflections" and self-research

Self-Research Day Materials Used:

"Reflections" poem by Henry Bobotek

Large paper

Painters tape

markers

First we read the poem "Reflections" which is a poem based on the author's "preferences" (some lines include "I prefer tea I prefer myself when I listen, I prefer paperbacks") During the 2nd reading, we asked the group to write 10 of their own preferences on the paper The point of this was to get everyone to start thinking about what they like, what makes them them - without too much discussion

Then we hung up a large piece of paper for each person on the wall around the room, and did a rough outline of their head and shoulders. Once those were up, we gave everyone some markers and asked them to very quickly go around the room and write something that they value about the person on their paper. For example - on my paper, the rest of the group wrote "Important person" "outspoken" and some other things on the outside of the outline (leaving the inside of the head and shoulders blank for now). We purposely only gave them about 30 seconds per person.

After that, each person faced their own paper and responded to the prompts. Prompts included:

My body helps me be connected to my truest self when it has________________________

What do I do for fun and silliness that makes me laugh outloud?

I share my joy with_________________________

I could live without _______________________ but not for very long

Without ____________________I lose myself

When I feel most connected to something larger than myself I am ____________________________

Right now my body needs ____________________________

My 5 minimum daily requirements are_________________________________________

After that, we asked each person to sit and look at what they had written, and reflect. We sat in silence for a few minutes doing that, and then processed.

Themes that came up:

That it was hard not knowing who wrote what on the outside

Difficulty focusing on self, rather than others - what it is that we really need, separate from others

Valentines Love Poems to Yourself

This week's Creative Expression post - great for Valentine Day: Writing a Love Poem to yourself using Found Words

Materials we used:

typed and printed words - from the love poems you are going to read. Have them cut up and in a tub/hat/bag.

mod-podge

cardboard

scissors

paint brushes (for the glue)

pens

paper

Here's what we did:

1. Read outloud "Love poem for Ernest Mann" by Naomi Shihab Nye

2. Read a few love poems from the Magnetic Poetry book

3. Asked each participant to think of 3 people, animals, or places they love

4. Write down three things that describe each of those 3 people/place/animal (so 9 characteristics in all)

5. Have participants copy those words a few more times, cut them up, add to the bucket of pre-cut words

6. Talk about themes of: Valentines Day, Relationships, Love (does not have to be with a significant other), self-love, self-care

7. Explain the concept of "found poetry" writing poems using words that already present themselves to you

8. Have everyone grab a handful of words, and modpodge them onto the cardboard

9. Share - themes that came up for us were:

loving ourselves/is this selfish?

how much power we give to other people when we are angry

inner critique trying to write poetry

how hard it is to value ourselves

whether self-love happens like turning on a light or if it is a process

Here's what I did so you have a sample: