Carol often uses the “Before and After” exercise to develop a prompt – asking the participants at the writing workshop to give words to describe how things were “before” a loved one’s death and “after” their death. From those lists, she suggests choosing one word and using it as an acrostic and writing from that framework. At a recent workshop, I chose the words Ordinary and Discovery.

Out of the depths of the
Raw truth surrounding your
Death
I
Now know more about you, about myself,
And about life itself.
Recovery is not possible
Yet renewal and authentic living is.
———
Dealing with your death has pushed me to new limits.
Instead of folding inward and retreating from life
Somehow I have become more brave –
Confident in what I know in my heart.
Others may notice or not, but their
Verification is no longer important to me.
Each day is a new opportunity to
Reflect on the gifts I received from
You.