The Stony Path (Writing prompt)
Imagine holding as many rocks in your hand as you can. Each rock symbolizes a major step, choice, or milestone in your life. With your mind's eye, imagine walking down a path, holding each individual rock, acknowledging the choice or milestone it represents in your life, and then tossing it lovingly back to nature. Do this for each rock.
Write whatever comes to mind.*This is a writing prompt from Write Well University http://www.writewellu.com - I'd also like to dedicate this piece to my friend Terry Milton "The Stone Lady"*
Ah the stony path, I love going down this path, makes me realize where I've already come from and where I'm going. Or at least in my head anyways.
I start of with a really large rock. Not one you can really hold in one hand, but large enough for two hands. It's really heavy. Dense. Dark. I put it down to start my journey, and try not to look back at it. This big, heavy, dense, dark rock signifies my past. My father not being the nicest of people to me growing up. Dysfunctional with not so much fun in that word.
But, here I am grown up as I pass that rock and move forward. Ah lighter rocks now and a sparkly shiny one - looks like crystal, oh but it's not. It is most likely plastic or something that still reflects this part of my life. A phony con man comes in my path - I don't want to believe that it's not a fake...not plastic. Oh but I learn my lesson and how (the hard way).
Huh, I find a piece of amethyst - pretty and purple. Just my style or so I think. This rock was too good to be true, or so I think. I finally figure out what real love is (or so I think) and it is good, for a while, but then distracting little bits and pieces come my way, and it shatters while I strike it out of my hands.
Oh look, here are some pebbles. Oh no, another few dark little ones, and some really big brown ones now. I think this is the wrong path for me, I try to go down this path, but then realize that it isn't the right way.
Here comes the big shiny red rock - oh how fun this is! I think this will be my new "family", my friends. However, I realize that it's not really red and shiny, but red and covered with booze and some drugs. Maybe this isn't the right path for me after all.
Ah, a quiet time for me as I keep walking down this path and find a quartz rock, you know one of those rocks that are covered up, but then when you break it up, you find a beautiful gem inside it? Ah there it is, my heart after all. I learn to figure out what real love is, and then learn to love myself (isn't that a part of growing up?).
Now I come to my new path, my new road. My dark amethyst. Not as shiny as before, but simple, and loving.
My own little blue rock comes from this amethyst (not really possible, but in my mind sure), with shiny blue eyes and a large smile. My son. He inspires me to stay on this path, of motherhood and of how sure I am in my new life.