Merriam Webster’s definition of quote reads, “to speak or write (a passage) from another usually with credit acknowledgment“. Well, today I will offer you a quote- though I cannot tell you whence it came or by whom it was written! I trust in light of this journey here on the blog I am afforded some grace as I do believe it is worth a ponderance with our pens.
Shall we begin?
Prompt 12: Quote by an Unknown Source
Today’s prompt comes from a quote I tore from another magazine. At the time I was working on creating this journal tearing and pasting the prompts, I added a few scribbles…not something I normally do until after I have shared the prompt. I was just responding to the words of the quote in a mind map diagram style. I encourage you to write the quote into your journal and then do your own mind map of what comes to your mind. Whereas I circles one word, you can choose any of the words (maybe use different color pens), and mind map as you are led.
Using a quote with the credit as “unknown” is a huge pet peeve of mine. One of my favorite publication uses a bunch of quotes sprinkled in their pages with the credit to “unknown”. It really bothers me. But instead of my going on about how that urks me so much, I want to offer you the chance to write about a time you felt you were not credited with something you had done or when you felt overlooked or unseen. Write about how it made you feel, what it allowed you to learn about yourself, others and life. Did you change in response to the circumstance. Focus on the outcome, lesson, positive take away if there was one- it is ok to write through some of the yuck too. But remember, we have the power to write and rewrite the narrative of our story. Own that.
OR
Tear your own quote from a magazine and have at it.
Jump off these from the quote in my journal:
- I believe tolerance today is…
- Freedom of speech is…
- When I listen to people talk lately I notice…
- As I read comments on social media I find…
- If I say what is on my mind…
- When I say freedom of speech, what I mean is…
- Respect these days looks like…
- If ideas are oppressed…
- Is there any freedom I would “defend to the death?
- In the current cultural climate where I live…
OR
Respond to either of these statements:
“The new dispensation is: ‘I disapprove of what you say, therefore you may not say it.’ ”
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.“
OR
Or just go have a good long, hot bath or shower, glass of wine and a good book. Sometimes, after all, silence is golden.
Happy journaling!
Enthusiastically, Dawn
Remember you can find all of the prompts and explanation on this page: Fall Into Journaling.
Enthusiastically, Dawn 