Writing is reflective and contemplative. Throughout this journey, we believe in writing as the means for us to record, reflect on and remember our experiences. As a result, a writing component will be incorporated into every day of the trip, hammering on different themes of the day. Whether it be a guided writing workshop, or a free-write activity, we commit ourselves to the following values as guidelines for our writing-into-being process:
Celebrate vulnerability: We hope that our writing activities open up the space for each member to be with their uncensored thoughts and raw emotions, whatever form that might take. We want to make sure that everyone feels comfortable to process and express themselves in any languages they are most connected to at a particular moment. Yes, that includes using bullet points, redefining punctuation rules, ignoring grammatical barriers and even drawing one's words out. It's a strictly no-judgment zone.
Celebrate connection: We design our writing component as a thread that hopefully helps us link everything together - all the different events in a day, all the days in the trip, personal history to family history to national history, individual memories to collective ones. We will move through themes that correspond to the field trips, from memory gaps, fragmented ideals/ identities, unjust death, refugee souls to forgiveness and healing. Together with contemplative practives, our writing exercises will provide the tool to dig deep into our past, reconnect with our ancestral roots and branch out into a future of reconciliation. Planned or unplanned, no writing is random in our journey.
Celebrate respect:Every story is a story to be told and remembered. Every voice deserves full attention, respect and appreciation.
Celebrate sharing: Since we are committed to trusting and carrying each other throughout this spiritual journey, sharing is encouraged at the end of every writing activity. Sharing stories allows us to build more connections and shed light on new meaning from our experiences. At the same time, we will make sure that one only shares what one feels most comfortable with.
Our sharing spirits also extends to YOU - our faithful readers, supporters, beloved friends and families. We will document our writing on this blog for each day of the trip, so please stay tuned for our stories, and feel free to share your thoughts/ feedback. Writing is our channel to carry your trust and support in this project, & in us.