Patchwork

In order to give shapes to the tapestry of our lives, we piece together our memories. Here is a fun exercise to create a patchwork of yourself. The exercise is adapted from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. Allow yourself to free-associate for a sentence or so with each phrase, and pick up little bits of yourself, retrieving memories and misplaced fragments strewn over your lifetime...

1. When you were a child, what was your favorite game?
2. When you were a child, what was your favorite book?
3. When you were a child, what was your favorite movie?
4. When you were a child, what was your favorite place?
5. Finish this sentence: I don't do it much, but I enjoy....
6. Finish this sentence: Five things I used to enjoy are....
7. Five things I would like to learn (or skills I would like to have) are....
8. Three silly things I'd like to do are....
9. I secretly thought I was pretty good at....
10. If I would lighten up a little, I'd let myself....
11. If it weren't too late, I'd be....
12. My favorite music is....
13. I secretly enjoy....
14. My favorite "guilty pleasure" is....
15. If I'd had a perfect childhood, I'd have grown up to be....
16. If it didin't sound so crazy, I'd ....
17. Taking time out for myself is....
18. When (and how) do I relax?
19. My favorite way to dress is....
20. When I'm down, I cheer myself up by....

I've used this exercise in my classes, and women, without any conscious effort, create wonderful patchworks. I feel like I'm in the midst of an old fashioned quilting bee!