Emergence Evening

2/1/2023

On February 24, 2023, in celebration of four months of writing online
the Covid Writing Recovery Project
hosted an in-person event at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC

Emergence Evening was a time to write together and listen
as community members reflected on their emergence
into this time of Covid recover, in this place

If you missed the ArtsCenter event, you are invited to write about moving from "emergency" to EMERGENCE during this phase of your Covid Recovery.

Post your reflection by clicking on the word "Comments" below
and scrolling down to the "Leave a Reply form" at the bottom of the page.

2 Comments

Mary C Gregg

3/29/2023 01:09:23 pm

Emergence
After the global quarantine of COVID, and my most frightening battle with depression and anxiety, a new me has emerged. Many of my friends prefer the old me.
That’s their problem.
You’ve been reborn, I tell myself. Then I think about birth, or what I had been told about my birth. At 11:43PM, I emerged four weeks early, sticky, crying, and with forceps bruises on my head, because the doctor, according to my Dad, had a golf game the next morning and wanted to get on with it.
I don’t know if that’s true. But it feels true, a street life that began with a lot of screaming from all involved parties and a difficult adjustment period, followed by a lifetime of learning to behave. It’s those learned behavior patterns I’m now emerging from, and in spite of the lousy time period that preceded the changes, some are long overdue and only came about because I had to find ways to feel better. I might not be able to cure what’s wrong but even feeling a little better was something. If it involved exercise, healthier eating habits, discontinuing my excessive codependent behaviors and learning to say no, guided and unguided meditation, different medicines, redefining my relationship with a Higher Power, retraining my brain to find positive moments in the day, letting go of unhealthy thought habits, and God forbid, experiencing my emotions, I did it. And more.
This is the good news. I changed some of my habits and accepted that this will be a lifelong practice, of doing whatever it takes to find a life that is truly mine and living it. It only took 66 years to get the message, and I got it.
I have choices. Not as many as I would like to have, but I have them.
My mother was a hospital delivery room nurse and she told me the story of a baby delivered, clutching an IUD. I don’t know if that’s true either but I feel like that baby now. Waving my barriers and saying to the world, I’m here, whether you like it or not, so let’s get on with it. And while we’re here, let’s play.
Because we’ve been through enough and play is a good choice.
Perfect or not, I still have choices, every minute and every day.

Melissa Michael

3/30/2023 07:10:01 am

Emergence

I spent years at the bottom of that well, carefully treading water that gently lapped at my upper lip, just under my nose. Cold slime slowly slid down the dank dirt wall of my dark tubular prison. Sometimes I feared for my life. How long could I keep treading water? Did I even want to anymore? What was the point? Some days I couldn't even see that light, that shy glimmer of hope, way up high, so far beyond my reach, at the top of the well.

So I went within. Into the past. And there I found a hurt, scared, confused little child. She never had what it takes to belong, to be part of, to be one with. I went to her, within me, and I comforted her and pointed out how perfectly beautiful, brilliant, big and bold she is; just as she is! I hugged her tight and made her a magickal tea with herbs of exploration, options, experiences, and wisdom walks in the woods. Then I took her on moonlight meditations and taught her how to embrace her own power with candlelight rituals.

In time she began to trust me, believe in me, believe in herself, and the Goddess that she is. With her help I emerged from the well and got back to the art and science of living. The pandemic helped me to relearn healthy eating and exercise and returning to the fulfilling practices and fun activities that make me happy. Now when trouble calls and challenges come I have an ally in the little girl who rose to Goddesshood.

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