“I don’t play favorites with people. My basic philosophy is that the only way to make the world a better place is by bringing something beautiful to every single person you run into at every moment of the day, so how can you play favorites with somebody? “~John Zorn
Today’s prompt …is not for the faint of heart.
Prompt 76- My Favorite
Option 1. Journal a list of your favorites! Easy Peasy, Favorite shows, books, people (see prompt below for an alternative DEEP people prompt), candy, foods, desserts…is candy a dessert or a snack? Well, either way- you can write a list however you prefer. Favorite places to visit, composers, artists, poets, writers. Favorite Bible books, Bible versess or characters. Favorite clothes designers, colors. Of course you can journal about ONE favorite anything. If you make a list, choose one item from the list to focus on for further journaling exploration. After you write the list, add a five minte write on one item from the list. OR you can research further about one of the topics you favorited and discover something new to add to a current interest. I hope that makes sense.
Option 2. This is a doozy, so prepare yourself. Write about parental favoritism as you perceived it in your own family or if you dare as a parent yourself. Being an only child and the parent of an only child limits me a bit in my perspective. However as I have observed many families and listened to many parents (twenty-five years listening to clients while working as a Personal Trainer in the gym is akin to a bartending on a late week night with a solo customer) as they struggled through parental challenges has taught me a few things. I also have witnessed first hand the effects perceived favoritism toward siblings played in the lives of a few loved ones.
OR respond to the quote below as seems good to you. Feel free to dissect or intersect wherever you feel you could jump off and journal, or interrupt Jodi, as if you are having a conversation with her…or you could just say, “Jodi, I hear what you are saying but, I think… or “I agree with you, but…”
“It’s not politically correct to say that you love one child more than you love your others. I love all of my kids, period, and they’re all your favorites in different ways. But ask any parent who’s been through some kind of crisis surrounding a child–a health scare, an academic snarl, an emotional problem–and we will tell you the truth. When something upends the equilibrium–when one child needs you more than the others–that imbalance becomes a black hole. You may never admit it out loud, but the one you love the most is the one who needs you more desperately than his siblings. What we really hope is that each child gets a turn. That we have deep enough reserves to be there for each of them, at different times.
All this goes to hell when two of your children are pitted against each other, and both of them want you on their side.” ~Jodi Piccoult
Option 3. Favoritism happens, in sports, in schools, in our playgrounds, back yards and churches. But, should people play favorites? Journal if you a time when you have witnessed favoritism in action, how it made you feel, and where you experienced it. Journal also how might you realte to others differently because of your experiences. For my Christian readers, check this article out if you like and allow yourself to consider Favoritism in the Church. There are a number of scripture references to springboard off in your journal.
Phew…That’s a lot of journaling!
Enthusiastically, Dawn 