Write Through It: The Writing for Healing Project

Life and Cancer Are Not Mutually Exclusive

Welcome! I hope you’ll find this to be a safe and thoughtful place to write and explore life after cancer. Afterall, Life and Cancer are not mutually exclusive. I want this to be a place for healing. That is not to be confused with “curing” which has to do with eliminating the disease. Instead, healing speaks to finding wholeness and well-being, in the face of life’s challenges.

It is difficult to experience well-being when something has gone terribly wrong. It is not unusual for our minds to become hypervigilant: to search everywhere -- all of the time, for possible danger. It does not want to miss any opportunity to stay ahead of further calamity. And as we think about the danger and the “awfulness”, our bodies feel the impact of these thoughts as well. We become exhausted and overwhelmed. And sometimes hopeless.

I believe that transformation of the “awfulness” is possible through writing. It can be a place for our mind , body and spirit to find safety on the page. A contained place to explore not only the dark and the dangerous, but beyond to the “what can be” or that which “still is right”. Perhaps, even -- to the “doable”. And, as you sense “the possible”, does your body feel differently? Can you sense an increased feeling of well-being or hopefulness?

I, and many others find that writing, in a certain way, does indeed lead us to an improved sense of well-being. Here, I will share evidence based techniques based on the work of James W. Pennebaker, Ph.D., Kathleen Adams, LPC, PTR, John F. Evans, MAT, EdD, Christina Baldwin and many others who I will note as we go.

I like to use poetry to stimulate internal exploration. For me, in my early days after my cancer diagnosis, poetry illuminated feelings I had difficulty identifying. Let me know how it works for you.

Remember:

· there is no way to do this wrong — just write –don’t worry about spelling or grammar. (You will notice it’s not always my strong point)

· Please observe James Pennebaker’s ‘flip out rule”. It states that if you feel like you’re flipping out--- Stop. You are in charge. You may revisit the thought at a later date—or not.

· This is not about writing well, but rather, honestly. And while expressive writing can often be creative, it is not a creative writing project.

· Use a timer. While noticing our thoughts and emotions are important, 10 to 15 minute sessions can keep us from feeling “flooded” or overwhelmed by them.

· I will offer prompts that you may explore and write about. Please remember these are only invitations—my offerings--you may have something completely different that you are drawn to explore. Feel free to go there.

Let’s start with a Mary Oliver poem. Read it a couple of times—and even out loud . Notice how it “lands” in you. Writing is all about noticing. I’ll offer a prompt or two at the end of the poem.

This Morning

This morning the redbirds’ eggs
have hatched and already the chicks
are chirping for food. They don’t
know where it’s coming from, they
just keep shouting, “More! More!”
As to anything else, they haven’t
had a single thought. Their eyes
haven’t yet opened, they know nothing
about the sky that’s waiting. Or
the thousands, the millions of trees.
They don’t even know they have wings.

And just like that, like a simple
neighborhood event, a miracle is
taking place.

~Mary Oliver, 1935-2019

“This Morning” from Felicity (Penguin Books) © 2015 by Mary Oliver

For educational use only

One of my favorite lines in this poem is, “They don’t even know they have wings.” In my 14 years working with cancer patients/survivors/thrivers, I have noticed that there is a reluctance, or a maybe a blind spot, in recognizing their courage. And, I believe it’s a great place to start.

Choose one or more prompts to respond to.

· Write about a strength you have discovered since your diagnosis.

· Write about a success you have had coping with cancer that surprises you.

· Write about how you experienced the poem.

Kathleen Adams, LPC, PTR, and Deborah Ross LPC, CJT, who wrote the book, Your Brain On Ink, suggest a short “reflection write”. To do this, read over what you wrote in response to the prompt. Take a few minutes to write 3 or 4 sentences about what you notice about your response. These might include:

· Something you feel curious about or want to revisit at a later date?

· How your body felt as you wrote or as you reread what you wrote?

· Any “Aha’s” or surprises?

Let me know what you notice!