First Thoughts

To be honest, I began this reflection using this technique, which I will explain very briefly in the next paragraph. I enjoyed doing this activity as much as I did last semester. It was amazing to see how my hand and mind continued to connect in a way that they pull my deepest thoughts and feelings and pour it onto the page. I didn’t realize it during the process of writing but at the end, when I read what I wrote in that entry, it was as if it was another person speaking. Disconnecting from the world brings out the best in you, the real you, and there are no words to describe how good it feels.

In the book “Writing down the Bones” Natalie Goldberg discusses a First Thought Technique. She gives six rules you have to follow in order to use it: keep your hand moving, don’t cross out, don’t worry about spelling/grammar, loose control, don’t think nor get logical, and go for the jugular. You write with no restrictions; nobody can judge you at the moment. The entries from this semester are more sentimental than those of the past semester.

My favorite part of all? Going for the jugular. I remember how much I hated it since I usually don’t open up to anyone about my personal issues. Now I realize how good it feels to let it all on the notebook. The journal is my best friend. The majority of the time I write about what I am going through the day or week. It was not until I finish every entry that I realize several things and find answers which I desperately seek or found a way in order to solve a problem. As many may say: “I saw the light”. I have someone to talk to and that someone was me.

Another thing I enjoyed was to continue to see the development of my writer’s side. She now comes and goes expressing her opinion using the right words, either in a paper or out loud. It is so good to choose the topic I’m going to write about. I don’t have to worry about anyone reading my notebook. It is personal, a one-to-one connection. I completely, seriously, disconnect from the world during that 10 minutes. In August, I was very uptight with what I wrote. It was as if there was a battle within myself between the uptight judgmental me against the free spirit me. I remember how in the first essay I had to hand in for this class I had no idea what to write about. Now I can say that I am able to write about almost everything in an open way. When writing, I just let my emotions flow and guide my pen. I write more and with more confidence than I did in High School. Instead of pausing my writing in order to overthink about what I’m writing, I just keep writing and at the end I let my editor’s side do her job. It’s a good escape from reality.

            When I started this project I was just a Freshman in the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus. I still am, but the journal helped me a lot with the transition and the adaptation to this new lifestyle. This semester has been amazing so far. I have more positive vibes, I’m not mad at the world as I used to be. Instead of snapping on someone, I stop and think about what I’m going to do or say before. I definitely learned how to deal and get rid of my anger.

             The interdisciplinary goal of this class helps you learn about everything. I selected one of the journals that connected with Psychology. In overall, I talked about why is the human mind so complex. There’s no book that states how to analyze or understand it. We, the humans, are still very ignorant when it comes to this topic. The mind is the most complex machine that has the power to influence upon the brain, the nervous system, the body, all of the organs, and glands. It is a part of our soul, who we are as a person. It is through it that we reflect how we live and how we function in the world we live in. People assume that we have a violent nature but we don’t. We have tendencies to be good or bad, but it is our choice to choose the right path. You can’t blame it on our nature as an excuse to explain your behavior. You do, however, have to find hobbies that can help you deal with situations that are bothering you or else it will eat you inside. The “First Thought Activity” helps you in many ways. I am very grateful that I got introduced to it and have the opportunity to continue to use it.