I’ve been told that the physical act of writing down ones thoughts – of putting pen to paper in the literal sense whilst forming thoughts and sentences the “old fashioned” way, not only helps ones mind with cognitive retention, but also is considered to be an effective therapeutic modality helping the mind sift and sort through this chaos we call life.

I’d like to start to write again in an effort to harness my chaos and maintain some level of grounding in my mental health by simply telling random stories of what I will call “Reflections of the Past.” These reflections will be about nothing and everything, random in their delivery but with the purpose and intention of simply learning to be creative again. I’m really out of practice in the discipline of being intentional and thorough in the process, so I figure practice will eventually make perfect – added with what I’m sure will be multiple corrections post publishing in leu of lacking an editor. It seems that I can read something over and over again and not see the obvious spelling and grammatical errors riddled within the text until POST publication.

C’est la vie.

Don’t judge….. ok, maybe just a little as I literally just stated that I am wishing to practice the art of discipline. So maybe have grace within the process. Mind you, it is here that I usually like to counter with a quote attributed to Mark Twain, “Anyone who can only think of one way to spell a word obviously lacks imagination.” And as already stated that my goal is one of creativity which is rooted in imagination, let’s call them more “guidelines” rather than rules of engagement as laid out by Barbossa of the Pirates of the Caribbean [CLICK HERE]. Clearly I have more than enough imagination that is typically allotted to the average individual. What is it they say, “A person’s greatest strength without the act of discipline, is their greatest weakness?” Well, apparently I am both imaginative and weak.

Why not use this time to dust off the cobwebs and oil-the-gears a bit before I attempt anything too earth shattering. But what to write about?Evidently, I woke up this morning with a series of memories on the brain and thought, “Jennel, just write about that.” Let’s leave it to the professionals to deduced some psychosomatic reason as to why these specific memories or the interpretation as such were brought to the forefront of my mind. Besides, I figured there is nothing like the present to journey down the path of self reflection in self-expression for the sake of survival and at risk of growing old.

And so, please note the following post to come will be a haphazard collection of memories, in no particular order, as I cultivate some level of discipline in the name of perseverance and general maintenance before my mind gives over to the dark side.

Besides, if some of y’all haven’t yet figured it out that it takes just a dash of wit, a mustard seed of courage and a basic level of defiance to survive in the absolutely insanity that our world has become, then I will withhold any comment as to the judgement in level of moral intelligence upon which I bear in your name. Remorse is a heavy burden to bear and is one that time shall record as it transitions into history. So friend, as critical thinking requires sharpening of the mind and as “the pen is mightier than the sword,” (Lytton) shall we all “Stick ‘em with the pointy end?” (Arya, GOT).

Draw your pen and write.