That Place You Love: Real People. Real Stories.
Round-Up on Loyalty; Next-Up Home. Why write in the first person?
This week took forever (it felt like)…
I wrote the prompt for Loyalty on June 12, only 4 days ago.
Mourning has a way of suspending time and letting it go in bursts.
June 12 marked eleven years since my father’s passing, and on the same day, this past Monday, another beloved family member passed away surrounded by dedicated family and the many friends he had from years of loyalty.
My story on Monday meandered for this reason. I was angry at the loss, how untimely and unnecessary it felt.
I was also plain & simple sad.
When it came time to write,
I allowed anger and sadness to settle into reflection.
This is the power of writing in the first-person:
I own my actions.
I am my own judge & jury, reporter & advocate.
TPYL is for stories in the 1st-person because we can only control the truth we tell.
PS: Thank you to the New Contributors who accepted the offer of taking part!
Round Up on Loyalty & New Prompt - Home - below!
If you’re reading this for the first time…
And want to know more about the ZINE’s mission, go to ABOUT or FORUM on the Substack platform or read the introductory post I WAS AN EASY LIAR.
11 Contributors weighed in on LOYALTY:
I wrote about Nixon, American idealism & individualism, disloyalty at happy hour in Soho, and my current loyalty to peace & stability.
(in order of appearance)
Carole D wondered if dreaming about her ex-husband is disloyal to her husband, knowing that by shedding the old & meeting herself, she made place for the best.
Amelia wrapped Trust & Forbearance into Loyalty, as it takes patience & commitment to fully realize the potential of ones loyalty to a chosen cause.
New Contributor Debbie K shared contrasting moments of loyalty - earned, revoked, questioned - and wonders if cynicism might be necessary at times.
Melissa S celebrated the loyalty of reciprocation, when a community mutually supports each other that interdependency continues through adversity.
Zig found the root of disloyalty in the exit of a favorite parent and how loyalty to oneself, no matter how long it takes to manifest, is the key to sensitivity & peace.
New Contributor Tiffany explored the boundaries of loyalty, its sacred currency, and the luxury of vulnerability. How & when do we offer loyalty without regret?
Carol M gave herself voice in contrasting the extremeness of blind loyalty with the need for reason and sober fact.
Julia W held up the plot of a TV show as a paradigm for what she’d hope not to do in a crisis situation, knowing that loyalty to two is more complicated than one.
Karen E assured her father he ate every meal with them and realized the routine was an act of loyalty. His gratitude was not lost on that feeling of reliability.
Tabitha B admitted loyalty to Labour at the same time admitting that her loyalty is more to an ideal of what Labour once represented than to the current party.
Intact Animal paid loving tribute to his Uncle Bob, citing a lifetime of loyalty for the spontaneous gathering of loved ones in his last breaths.
READ & HEART this week’s writers & SHARE your own story in the comments.
Contributor Zig went back to LAW to write about custody battles and a child’s right to choose. Go back a week to read & see who won.
(Click on the unique theme hyperlink above to connect to the story).
Next Up: HOME
On Monday, I’ll write about HOME through the lens of truth and see what I come up with as a prompt. This theme was already on my spreadsheet when I noticed Contributor Melissa S wrapped up Loyalty with the word HOME.
It’s a sign! Home it is.
Consider where HOME takes you and share on Monday!
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More to come on Monday….
Have a great weekend.
Sincerely, for real.
Michelle