beautiful like a glacier

I facilitate a class called Therapeutic Writing. Its about articulating and processing what the students already know but may not know they know. Its an open and safe space for people to learn about themselves and from each other, and I participate, too-I write too.

Yesterday we started with a check in. Most of the 15 in this class were doing well. One man said he was accepting the consequences of his actions and was at peace. He is Muslim and he said that people misunderstand Jihad to mean blowing things up. He said for him it means the holy war of dealing with his own inner struggles and striving to be true to himself and his god. Another said that he was worried about how his cellie was going to do in court today. He said "I hope he keeps his faith with him.'

We wrote about the topic "my energy." One young fellow wrote that his energy was enormous, joyful and "beautiful like a glacier.' Another wrote that his energy was love, and that love is a decision you make, a way of life. One fellow said that energy is the adrenalin rush you get when being shot at or running from the cops. Another explored how gratitude and staying in the moment can convert negative energy into positive.

We ended with a gratitude round. Gratitude for living one more day, for children, for hot showers, for food, and not having a std, for having a bed to sleep in tonight, for higher power, for love, and for this class were all shared. The energy was sweet, funny and relaxed by then.