Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Graduation

I am back from my hiatus, and now, a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing graduate! The experience was great, though bittersweet. It's sad (yet somehow liberating) to know I'm on my own. There are no more mentors to guide me. It's my turn to guide myself. During the graduation ceremony, the MFA program chair said when we, the graduates, return home to our desks and work-spaces, we shouldn't arrange the books that are already there; we should sit down and finish writing our own. So, that's what I'm doing. I'm writing my heart out.

Eating during the residency and graduation process was tricky for me, as I knew it might be. There were some days that I didn't eat even a fraction of what I should have. Other days I had three square meals. Part of it was due to stress and anxiety. I had to teach a 50 minute lecture (about anorexia in poetry!) and read one of my pieces to a room full of friends and students and faculty at my senior reading, so there was a lot to worry and stress over. I'm a worrier. I always have been. I tried to take time to just enjoy the Los Angeles sunshine. Sit beneath the palm trees. Watch the ocean waves. Breathe the salty air. It helped me to focus and unwind, until the rain came and wouldn't go away for days and days, but there is beauty in that, too. Luckily, everything turned out okay. There's nowhere left to go but forward.

I'm spending Christmas alone this year. Well, not completely. I'll be here with my cat. My boyfriend is in Minnesota with his family. I'm not exactly sure why I'm not home with mine. That's a wound I don't want to open up at the moment.

Regardless, I'm sending warm Christmas and holiday wishes to whomever is reading this.

God bless.

(Here is me in my graduation robe and hood. I know it's only my back but I like the picture anyway!)

Photobucket

7 comments:

  1. aaawwww:/ I'm sorry you are spending Christmas alone - except your cat...

    Congrats! That is super exciting!! You are right. Take a moment to breath and move forward.

    Merry Christmas to you too!! <3

    ~Lily

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  2. Congrats! It is a HUGE accomplishment! You rock.

    AS for Christmas, you can make it uniquely yours. Spoil yourself on this day. Do things you have not done in the past. It will just make your day even more special. :)

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  3. Congrats!!! And it's good that you made it through the celebration. You deserve to take care of yourself. !!

    Merry christmas babe <3
    xoxo
    -Lisa
    ps- I will be spending my christmas with my kitties as well when I'm not at work. :)

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  4. Congratulations!!! I hope you have a lovely Christmas, no matter who you're with :) x x

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  5. Congrats!(: That must feel so good to graduate.

    I'm sorry that you're spending christmas alone/: If you ever get too lonely, you can always email me too.

    Have a great Christmas!(:

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  6. Congratulations!!! I hope you have a Merry Christmas even though you will be alone.

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