Prompt: A drier form of drowning

I stepped out of my comfort zone in 2022 by joining a reading group.

Not only was it an uncharacteristically social move on my part, but I also found I was challenged to read outside of my comfort zone.

There was barely a mention of dragons or wizards in any of the books that were selected. (Why would anyone want to read books without that stuff?)

I suppose that could be a prompt in and of itself; 

What one thing could you do this year that would take you out of your comfort zone? 

Or

Pick 3 books to read this year that are outside of your usual genre. Review each book. 

But, actually, I have something different in mind.

As part of the reading group, we read the fantastic, ‘The Woman Next Door’ by Yewande Omotoso. 

The book focuses on two neighbours from different cultures who discover that, ultimately, there’s more that connects us than separates us. 

As usual, I kept a notepad by my side as I read, and scribbled down any phrases or passages that jumped out at me.

This one line I thought was beautifully poetic, and such powerful imagery that I wrote it down immediately;

“Hating, after all, was just a drier form of downing”

Yewande Omatoso, The Woman Next Door

A drier form of downing.

I love that. And actually I think it’s true of a lot of negative emotions. If we can’t deal with them in a constructive and positive way, if we let them overwhelm us, then it can feel like slowly being drowned.

The quote also puts me in mind of Stevie Smith’s fantastic, Not Waving but Drowning.

So, here’s today’s prompt:

What emotion are you slowly, dry drowning in? How can you plan to come up for air next time this emotion gets the better of you?

Happy journaling.