A while back, I was listening to a podcast of Between the Covers featuring the writer, Dani Shapiro. I actually don’t know that much about Dani Shapiro, I have not read any of her books, but I intend to. I loved the podcast. I got so much out of it.
In one segment, she talked about reading some of her old journals and how they made her feel about her younger self. I, also, have read back over some of my old journals, and it is a very interesting experience. At times, I was frustrated with myself. I could read the struggles and patterns that would lead me down the road to certain mistakes or life experiences, but on the other hand, I was struck with the recognition of my own personality and the fact that I recognized my own voice, even from an early age. Me at 14, 17, my 20s, 30s and so on, it was always me. There were different levels of maturity, naivete, cynicism, happiness and pain, confidence or self-doubt, but it was always me. It was actually a very good tool for helping me to have compassion for myself. It gave me the ability to stand outside of myself, to see myself objectively, but at the same time, I understood completely what that girl was going through.
It makes me wonder just how early on we develop our sense of who were are, whether we know it or not. This thought process is what drives my haiku for mirror.
Reading old journals
Younger me is a mirror
of the me I know
this rings very true for me. i have been avidly keeping a journal since i was 14. in many ways it has allowed me to find my authentic self.
lovely poem as well. you can find my haiku here:
http://www.warningthestars.com/2017/06/an-evening-sea-escape.html
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I agree. Thank you for your comment. I read your poem, as well. It’s beautiful. I tried to comment but for some reason, there is a problem w the way I’m putting in my ID. But I wanted you to know that I enjoyed it 🙂
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