Perspectives
Today I wanted to share the journal writing technique of writing from different perspectives.
Have you ever found yourself considering a major decision in your life but unable to make it?
The technique of writing from a different perspective is placing yourself in the situation and writing about it from that vantage point. In regards to attempting to make a decision, one would write from the perspective as if nothing changes and then alternately write from the vantage point of if the decision was made. Taking this perspective allows one to view things from all directions.
Another direction to take the technique of Perspective writing is to consider the point of view of another person or place. This can often help in regards to gaining a better understanding of why a person views life and thinks as they do.
I wanted to discuss writing from different perspectives when I saw today’s Write or Day Wednesday prompt was What Period would you have liked to have lived?
I’ve truly never felt that I was someone who was born in the wrong decade. I have friends who would certainly fall into the beliefs and fashions of the 60’s and other friends who prefer the music of the 50’s. However, I’ve always been happy with the time frame in which I was currently living.
As a social worker, I’ve been educated in regards to the decades of ills and oppression of each decade. I look back at each time and see the struggles of women in gaining the rights to their own bodies, of establishing a place in the workplace. I think of the horrors of segregation and the heroic measures of those who fought for rights.
I am grateful for all of those who have come before me. I am thankful for the women who were strong enough to stand up and fight for rights.
This isn’t to say that I can’t see wonderful things about various decades. I’m simply grateful for the modern advantages of where I am at now.
In what time period would you have liked to have lived?
Joining Mia and Vashelle for more perspectives and the #WODW link-up.
I like what you said about being grateful for those who came before us. So true. We wouldn’t be where we are today without their sacrifices and contributions. Thanks so much for joining us, Sheryl. I love your insightful posts. xo
Thank You Mia. I always love your prompts and some weeks are easier to join than others.This prompts really made me think this week!
I love the idea of writing from different perspectives, but you’re right, it takes away from our “now”.
I totally agree! So grateful for those that fought to make our country what it is today. And that we have SO many freedoms because of it!
You are so right Andrea!
“In regards to attempting to make a decision, one would write from the perspective as if nothing changes and then alternately write from the vantage point of if the decision was made.”
Oooh, I love that! You’re so good at your craft, Sheryl! You always give me arsenal to journal writing. Thank you! 🙂
I love what you had to say about going back in time too. I suppose the past can be glamorized in movies and art and such. For example, if you look at movies portraying King Henry VIII, they always give the role to a hunky leading man (Eric Bana, for example). Nevermind that he had a wife or two beheaded, he was hot! NOT! haha. That’s a silly example, but it’s easy to look at the costumes, ambiance, music of a time period portrayed in movies and think it’d be neat to be a part of that era; when in reality, so many people suffered from the hands of others, the oppression of others, diseases and such. This really is a decent time in which to live.
Your comment made me think of a conversation I recently had while we passed by some beautiful old homes in our town. My mother-in-law commented “wouldn’t it have been beautiful to have lived back then” and my husband responded “and there were dirt roads and you didn’t have a bathroom” It’s so easy to think about the beautiful things of a time period. As for the perspectives writing, It’s amazing what it can do when you are trying to make a decision. Always grateful for the prompts.
I love this Sheryl! I love how you are so aware and thankful of life. I have pondered this question before and thought the same, the past is ugly. As much as their is beauty in the past there is so much that taints it, but from that we’ve grown. I like where I stand. I’m sure I would like different aspects of different time periods, but the minute someone talked down to me for being a woman… GIRRRRL!
XOXO
I so know what you mean. I seriously put a lot of thought into this prompt. Of course, it would be great to live in certain time periods but I think we romanticize them and forget the struggle that went into that time period.
This is great! It also kind of goes with “if you could change one thing about your past, what would it be?” My answer is always “nothing” because if I changed something in the past, I would not be where I am today. And I like where I am.
Amanda, I know it’s always interesting to think about what would we change if we could go back but we do have to remember that changing just one thing can alter everything! XOXO