Week Thirty-three - Going backwards

In some ways, it would be lovely to have known what you know now when you were a teen. Since you didn't, try the next best thing. This week write as if you were writing letters that you could send back in time to yourself as a teenager.

What would you tell yourself? Try writing those letters as an older woman advising a younger one.

Week Thirty-two - Crying

One of the things I've noticed in my many years of working with women and just being alive is that many, many people apologize for crying. I find that almost ludicrous. Crying is a natural function that is meant to allow us emotional release - whether it be crying for happiness, frustration or sadness.

• What is your relationship with crying? 
• Do you allow yourself to cry? 
• How do you feel when you cry in front of others? 
• Do you apologize for crying? 
• When is the last time you cried? 
• Have you ever really cried for a long time? 
• How did that feel? 
• Write about crying.

Week Thirty-one - Epitaph

If you were to die today what would you like people to say about you? If someone had asked me that question 20 years ago or 50 years ago, I know my answer would be different because I really couldn't imagine me dying. But now I am 77.
Here is my answer today: I would want people to say I was a visionary who never let go of the idea that she could help create peace on this planet. I'd want them to say I was a good mom even though I didn't have a very good mom. I'd want them to say I was cute and wise and loving and funny. I know they would say I was fussy and picky about almost everything and I hope they'd know it was because I had a sensitive body and wasn't just a pest. (Although I'm sure I am that too.)

Well, I could go on but I'd rather start reading your journals.

If you were to die today what would you like people to say about you?

Week Twenty-nine - Your dreams

I don't really know how to interpret dreams and I feel a little suspicious of someone telling me what they mean - although I know there are forms of therapy that focus on them. My feelings about them are mine.

I do have some very memorable ones. The one in recent years that seems most profound to me I dreamed the night before my son, his then 2 month old baby and the baby's mom moved out of our house where they had been living for the past 5 months. I was very upset because the parents were so immature. In the dream my husband was carrying the baby out in front of him while on a bicycle on a tightrope. I woke knowing that it was not our job to know what was right for that baby. He chose my son and his mom for parents. Not us. (Fast forward, that 'baby' is 20. His then immature dad decided that being a dad required him to grow up. He has.)

What is your interpretation of one of your recent dreams? Did it have any effect on the way you live your life?

Week Twenty-eight - Gratitude

Gratitude is something that is so obvious to us, we generally ignore it. Religions talk and write about it. Spiritual pursuits talk and write about it. 

How do you approach it? Is it important to you? 

This week try an experiment. Each day choose at least one thing - a person, a situation, an experience - something that you are grateful for and see how it makes you feel to focus on it. Then write about your gratitude experience.

For example, today I am very grateful for having my daughter and granddaughter living with me. I lived alone for the 14 months after my husband died and I hated it. I am very grateful.

Week Twenty-seven - Fast forward

Think about the way your life looks now - where you live, your job or career, your relationships, your finances, your health - everything about your life.

What do you want it to look like in 5 years? Unless we have some idea of where we want to go in our lives, we usually just keep going along and life can pass us by.

One way to do this is that each day this week, choose an aspect of your life and write how you'd like it to look in 5 years. Use lots of detail so the picture is clear.

Week Twenty-Six - About forgiveness

We all know that we are supposed to forgive. We all interpret that differently. Let's explore the concept this week.

• Day 1: Start by writing what you think forgiveness means. Finish this sentence with as many sentences or paragraphs it take to explain it.
• Day 2: Who have you forgiven? What did they do to you and how did you go about forgiving them?
• Day 3: When you think of the people you wrote about yesterday, what are your thoughts and feelings?
• Day 5: Who has forgiven you? What for? Does it seem to you that they have really forgiven you? What does this feel like?

You might not want to journal every day so although there are only 5 days of topics, you can write more about forgiveness or you can just report on what's happening in your life, relationships and feelings.