Day 27 - How Did I Get Here?

Some may approach this question from a genetics or religious-origins point of view, especially if they are mapping their family tree. Some may approach it from a physical point of view: I took a plane, a train, and a bus, or How did I get to OctPoWriMo today? I got up and walked to my favorite coffee shop on the corner. Or some may be looking over a precipice and wondering how to step back. This question can stimulate so many ideas, but I wanted to touch on one of the big ones: destiny.

No matter how organized and prepared we think we are, life will throw some serious curve balls. There are plenty of philosophers that have argued whether or not we have any say in our existence at all. If you are interested in a super-quick physics-driven overview of the philosophies of determinism and free will, I found a Big Think video.

If you want more, I found a fun PBS video.

Whether you approach the "here" of "How did I get here?" as place, time, emotional state, physical state, mental state, or all of the above, give yourself 10 to 15 minutes to describe your "here" in detail. Is it the here you imagined when you were a child, a teen, a young adult? Is it a "here" you want to be in?

Think back to a singular event that you see as the precursor to being "here." Think about whether you played a role in that event, if you determined your destination.

While you think about that, I highly recommend watching this video for Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads:

Word Prompts: destiny, fate, rebel, choice, chromosomes, singularity

suggested form: Ottava Rima

Since this is my last prompt this OctPoWriMo, I wanted to take the opportunity to share some great news: Last week I received an acceptance letter for two of my poems. They have been accepted for publication in an Emerging Poets anthology coming out in December. It will be the first time my poetry has been published by someone other than myself. I'm very excited. Thank you for all of your supportive and kind comments. I truly enjoy this opportunity to interact with others who love reading and writing poetry.

Remember, our prompts are only suggestions, you can find your inspiration wherever your muse leads you. Please visit the other participants, share the hashtag, #OctPoWriMo on social media, and share your link in the comments below. Let us know how this journey into poetry is going for you and if this is your first year or if you have been with us from the beginning.

 

Maria L. Berg enjoys brisk swims in the Pacific Northwest. Her short fiction has appeared in Five on the Fifth, America's Emerging Writers Anthology and most recently in Writer Shed Stories. She writes and photo-illustrates Gator McBumpypants picture books and plays many instruments. You can find her poetry at experiencewriting.com.