Hollow Dreams

Hollow Dreams
by Shauna Berglund-Immel

The tree,
which once stood strong, proud and majestic,
now sits silent and alone in the forest.
Invaded by unwanted weeds and ivy.
Stripping it of it's dignity.
Strangling it.
Choking it.
Stealing it's sunlight and water.
It's very breath.
Bringing disease and destruction.
Infested with termites.
Eating away at it's core.
Stealing it's beauty and health.
Leaving it to waste away.
From the inside out.
A hollow shell of itself.

This was a piece I wrote in my Writing Workshop yesterday. Our facilitator passed around oil pastels and colored pencils and had us pick a couple of each. Then she told us to draw a tree. The Roots representing our strengths, the trunk our core and the leaves/foilage our hopes and dreams. We then were instructed to write words within those areas of our drawing. And then we had a timed writing inspired by what we had just done. Or we could use the prompts "As I grow..." or "I root...I reach..." The above piece is what came out of me although my tree had strong, deep roots, a big strong trunk and many branches that continued off the page. It was a very full tree, full of leaves and leaves falling to the ground, piling up at the base of the tree as well.

Our last assignment of the workshop series was a timed writing using the prompts "why do I write?" or "What still needs to be written?"

Unwritten
by Shauna Berglund-Immel

My future still needs to be written.
To be lived and put down on paper.
Journeys still to take.
Love and life still to share.
My story is not complete.
Like a good book you've just started and can't put down.
Anxious and eager to get lost in the adventures.
To see how it turns out.
To get my happily ever after...

I'm so sad this was our last class. :( I've decided to continue to use that time every week to write for myself and my family. I've invited the gals in my group to join me if they wish. We can each come up with our own writing prompts, maybe take turns. Writing prompts are everywhere. This workshop has really helped me to channel my anger and my fears. It's given me a safe, healthy way to deal with them. To get them out. To share them. It's really caused me to dig deep. It's been very therapeutic for me.

Update on the two ladies from my support group. There is good news, and bad news:



Penny's surgery took about 6+hours, she is doing well and in ICU for at least 24hours. A kidney and adrenal were removed along with a portion of her liver, in addition there was some tumor on her urethra and they removed a portion of that. The good news was that she had no tumors on the spleen or pancreas so they left those alone. There was quite a bit of blood loss so she did get some transfusions.Word is 24 hours at least in the ICU, and 7-10 days total in the hospital. Word is that she will be out of ICU and in a regular room tomorrow. I hope to get to go see her soon. I have chemo tomorrow but maybe I'll stop by on my way home from it since I'll probably feel my best tomorrow anyways.

Jackie passed away this morning. She was just at our support group and writing workshop 2 weeks ago. She had shared with us that her chemo wasn't working. I wrote her a card and brought it the following week and she wasn't there to give it to. So I brought it the next week, thinking she'd be there. She wasn't, so I mailed it. I'm not sure it got to her in time. I hope so. I hope she knew how much she meant to me. How great of a lady I thought she was. How beautiful her writing was. How much she touched my heart. I wished I had hugged her tighter. Talked to her more. Said what I wanted to say when I had the chance. I will miss her dearly.

YOu never know if it will be the last time you see/talk to someone. Accidents happen. Life changes in an instant. Say what you want to say. Leave nothing unsaid. Let people know how you feel now. Don't wait for later. They might not be around to hear you later. And what a shame for them not to know how much they've impacted your life. Or how much you love and care about them. Don't hold grudges. Forgive. Let the past be the past. Open up yourselves and your heart. Reach out and touch those in your life. Leave nothing unsaid. No regrets.

xoxox
Shauna