Hey everyone! We are officially starting! This question/exercise is for everyone! Let's get vulnerable! Read the questions below and answer as honestly as you can. Be open, be truthful, be vulnerable. Speak of your father, your husband, the man at the donut shop who is always wearing a smile, a grocery store worker who is constantly asking how you are. Whatever comes to you! ------------------------------------- Who is a male in your life that you would consider a role model? We start this week with gratitude toward a male figure in your life. Take a minute to think about this person, then start writing. What attributes do you honor about this man? What have they inspired you to do so far? What lessons have you learned from them? Do you see weaknesses within them? How do you think they will continue to alter your life for the better?

Hi everyone! Looking forward to seeing your beautiful faces tonight! I will log on around 7:30 to get things situated and be ready to go around 8:00 PM! It should be a fun evening. All I need you to bring is an open mind, a blank page, and something to write with. CANT WAIT! Here's the link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/87995188455?pwd=t3v6GYEFmd4bTJ37J42d2HOrUGSxC4.1

When: Monday January 6th, 7:30 PST What to Bring: A journal or paper and a pen Itinerary: New Member Introduction Book Club Update Guided Writing for 20 Minutes Group Discussion Can't wait to see y'all!

Hello all! We're almost done with 2024, and although my end of the year has been met with a seemingly unrelenting beatdown of the soul, I am humbled and ready to rebuild and grow with you! I've been reading a bit of our first Book Club selection, "A Little Life," and I'm impressed, immediately, at the beautiful writing. I did think, however, that because it is a beast of a book, and we are thrust into the fray quite quickly, we should perhaps go over some characters, even if just to help digest the information. So we got four friends, J.B., Malcom, Jude, and Willem all of different statuses and with intertwined relationships - some stronger than others - trying to get by in New York. Let's get to know them a little better. Jude - The focal point of a bulk of the book, Jude is damaged both physically and mentally. He suffers from an undisclosed (as of yet) issue with his spine that causes random spurts of pain throughout his life. He is notably suicidal, although this is hidden (at least, he thinks he hides it well). Jude, at times, tends to find things to enjoy in life, but there is always an undercurrent of sadness and pain that makes him fundamentally flawed in thinking that he is incapable of loving and being loved. Malcom - So far, I find Malcolm to be the most layered. A rich boy, spoiled by his parents, seemingly struggling with his own identity and never quite being sure of just who he is versus who he wants to be. It would be easy to make this character a tragedy, as the cliches are ripe, but allowing us to see the inner turmoil, wrapped in gold and riches of his parents, gives him depth. J.B. - As of my reading (roughly halfway through part 2), J.B. appears to be the one hyping all of his friends up while he himself struggles with his own art. I enjoy that his first taste of success in art is when he paints his friends simply living their life. There's a beauty in that, and I think it shows just how much he sees value in them, but also how much he's willing to exploit that value for personal gain.

You wake up, and the bed you are in isn't yours. A bedside clock reads 7:53 AM in bold red. The sheets feel expensive, the pillow is slick and full of duck feathers. The sun peeks through thin curtains and a breeze comes from a nearby window that is only just cracked open. From behind a closed door, you hear footsteps... Now write!