by Rachel Kobin
When I chose Acceptance as the theme for our July
newsletter, I thought I knew what I wanted to say. Now that I’m actually trying
to write it, I feel lost. There’s a voice inside me saying, “You should
brainstorm, just write a list of all of the reasons you wanted to write about
acceptance; you should mind map or make a vision board; you should at least
write an outline.” But how can I write an outline when there’s so much I could
say, and who is this bossy person calling me “You”?
Acceptance. Okay, I’m going to practice it right now. I’m
the Director of the Philadelphia Writers’ Workshop and I’m struggling to write
a few paragraphs about acceptance. I’ll just sit with this struggle and be compassionate
with myself. This is part of the writing process, part of any process. But there’s
that girl nagging, “But you’re the Director of the Philadelphia Writers’
Workshop. You of all people should be able to write a cogent article.”
That voice isn’t nearly as loud or shrill as she used to be.
After years of helpful therapy, I worked with a life coach who helped me have a
direct conversation with that mean, bossy girl barraging me with an endless list
of shoulds I would never be able to accomplish. I thanked her for her concern,
for her attempts to save me from exposing my shortcoming and faults. I told her
I wouldn’t be hiding until I was perfect anymore: it was time for me to move
on, to open up to the world around me and embrace myself as I am.
Like I said, that voice is still there. I can hear her now: She’s
worried I’ll make a fool of myself if I don’t write an article “worthy” of me. “What
will people think?” she’s saying. I reply, “This is what acceptance looks like:
letting go of what other people think, daring to make myself vulnerable and
embracing my imperfections. Acceptance isn’t organized; no amount of outlining
or mind mapping will remove the bumps and potholes from the path to reaching
it, but it is scenic. As I take in the variety of vistas, my love for myself
and others grows.”
Oh, dang,
there she goes again! “You should be writing the perfect article!” Chill girl, I’m
sure whatever I write will be good enough.
Since 2006, Rachel Kobin has facilitated acceptance via creative
writing workshops held at The Resiliency Center on Tuesday Nights. She also helps
people finish their novels, screenplays, plays,
collections of short stories, and essays in the Manuscript Workshop and as a
private editor. Learn more at www.phillywriters.com
