Self Reflection
We invite you to find a prompt that sparks something within you, and then get to writing! You may write however you feel comfortable and open. Some people enjoy dimming the lights, or finding a quiet, comfortable, and peaceful place to focus. There are no rules to this practice, but perhaps setting an alarm for 20 or 30 minutes would be a nice place to start. As you continue with your practice, you will find ways to adjust and create your perfect individual experience.
While BRITE WRITE is a gift just for you, we have found that by sharing their work, some students have found the experience to be more impactful and empowering. If you choose to submit your work to us, please do so using the form below. We would love to publish you on our blog!
Prompt #16: Love Ghosts, goblins, and ghouls. If you're a history lover, perhaps you'll know that even the most famous dead folks have been reported lurking around every corner. It is said that Lincoln walks the white house, Marilyn Monroe still haunts her hotel room, and it’s rumored that Anne Boleyn, the 2nd of six wives of King Henry, still spends time in the tower of London, where she died almost five centuries ago. Do you have a ghost story as terrifying as these? Have you seen something that has gone bump in the night? Do you believe in the existence of the supernatural? This week, we’re writing spooky stories. If you haven't had a strange encounter, make one up! We wanna sleep with our eyes open tonight.
Prompt #17: Pressures of Being Young The pressures of being young! Some adults may say you don't know anything, that you don't have enough life experience, that they have been on the planet longer than you and so they know better. You may experience pressures to be popular, but not too popular. You may experience the pressure to be independent, to not ask for help. Being a teen/young adult can, at times, suck. Maybe you've heard challenging statements in your life that question your judgement, skill, and ability. Is there something you've heard that you wish you hadn't? Some assumption made about you that wasn't true? You've sat at the kids’ table long enough. Come at us with some insight.
Prompt #18: Random Acts of Kindness A simple act of kindness can go such a long way in a person's day. Acts of kindness can be shared with other people through many different ways. Maye the act of kindness is a smile towards a stranger, or helping someone at home with a chore, or giving a little of what you have to another person. Can you think of a time that you offered someone a small act of kindness? Maybe you received a small act of kindness from someone and it has had a lasting effect on you. How did it make you feel to randomly either receive or give kindness to or from another person? What are some ways that you can show kindness towards another person?
Prompt #19: Wishes & Regrets At the end of every story, there’s a likely a message; maybe it's some kind of lesson, or moral, or funny phrase. Getting to the end of that story is different for every single one of us. Some of us have things we want to erase from our story, and some of us have a list of things we wish we added. Whatever is in your story, it got you here. In the words of Iron Man, “part of the journey is the end.” So, let’s talk about what brought us here to this moment. What do you wish you had done? What accomplishments are you proud of? What do you regret? And what is something you can't live without?
Prompt #20: Current Life Challenges Many of us struggle with something in our lives; sometimes, we may struggle with discrimination at home or with the public at large. Some of us experience challenges in finding an ideal safe space to call our own. It can also be difficult to find a job, maintain friendships, or set and achieve goals. Now think about your current struggle(s) as you think forward to the next five years. Will these struggles change or stay the same? How will you navigate the world? In this session we are going to write a letter to your future self describing what our ideal lives will look like five years from now. What passions will you be pursuing? What will your friend group look like? Will your relationships be different with your family? Will you still be living in Ventura County? Basically, how will you be living your best life and overcome life's obstacles five years from now? This will be an exercise in manifesting and working towards your most ideal self.
Prompt #21: Influence People can influence us in every aspect of daily life, perhaps whether we realize it or not. Those around us can hurt our feelings, or build us up. They can affect the way we talk or dress. What’s more, our mental health can be directly changed as a result of influences around us. Maybe you've had your heartbroken by someone who never loved you, or maybe the person who bullied you apologized years later and now you are good friends. Maybe you did something completely out of your own character to try to emulate those around you. Maybe this worked out well. Maybe it didn’t. Today we're exploring influences. Write a letter to someone of something who has influenced you in one way or another. What would you say to them? What might you thank th
Prompt #22: Movies Film. Theatre. They change us. They inspire us. They break hearts. And they change lives. What movie, song, show, or play changed your life? How?
Prompt #23 Music Music brings the world together and can help give the hopeless something to grab onto. Do you have a favorite song? A favorite artist? What about them speaks to you? How can good or bad music change your day?
Prompt Topic #24: Nature vs. Nurture The age old question… why are we the way that we are? What shapes us? Do our parents’ genes weigh heaviest on our own behaviors and personalities, or does the environment around us shape who we become? Nature vs. Nurture has been a debate since the Elizabethan period, and will continue to be studied long after we're gone! So we ask you… what makes you… you? Do you believe it’s nature? Or nurture? Or both, or neither? Dive into your family history, how you compare to those who raised you, and how you could not be more different.
Prompt #25: Sleeping and Dreaming According to science, it is known that we, as human beings, need sleep. Many scientists point to an idea that during sleep, toxins in the brain built up during the day become released. But when it comes to why we dream, scientists can't agree on a reason. Some scientists believe dreaming has no function at all. What do you think: can dreaming really have no function at all? What do you dream about? Is there a dream you had a long time ago that really sticks with you? How do dreams affect your daily life? ...What about nightmares? How do you function when you get a full night of sleep, verses when you get just a few hours? What does it feel like to be well rested? Do you have any nightly rituals that help you get to sleep faster? Have you ever sleep-walked? Sleep-talked? Today, let’s take a deep dive into sleeping, dreaming, or both.