Yesterday I went to my second session with a therapist. Yes. Therapy, therapist, Effexor XR. I need it all at this time in my life.
Last Monday, Sally gave me a homework assignment: to answer the question "Who am I?"
As I told her yesterday, it's an impossible question to answer. For so long I had lost myself, and I still haven't found what I'm looking for the real Alison yet. I'm in there somewhere -- it's not like I'm some ersatz ME -- but I'm just not quite able to say This Is Who I Am.
At the end of the session, Sally asked me to create a timeline of myself, my life, using some of the self-portraits I've posted on Flickr (which I shared with her). My task now is to scan photos of myself from age 0 to now into my laptop, write a commentary, and e-mail the whole shebang to Sally before our next session.
She caught me smiling as she described what she wanted me to do, and asked me to explain that. I said, "It sounds like fun."
And it does. Scanning photos of myself, exploring the epoch they were taken, writing down my impressions of the images themselves and their place in my herstory...
So that's my homework for the week. The photos have been scanned, and I'm going to create a blog especially for the project.
Oh, and I also have to write 500 words about a local organic farm. I'll get paid for that, but it seems much less interesting than the Alison timeline.
YAY!!! sounds like fun to me!
Posted by: rebecca | April 03, 2007 at 15:46
i like thie assignment! it's going to do you a world of good. :)
Posted by: sizzle | April 03, 2007 at 17:34
Wow, great assignment! Your therapist sounds fun :-)
Posted by: Retta | April 03, 2007 at 20:06
We get to see pictures of Little Ali?
Cool!
Posted by: Susan | April 03, 2007 at 20:07
I do LOVE that project, and you will share it with us on this other blog, right? I can't wait to see the mini version of those dimples.
Posted by: Margaret | April 03, 2007 at 20:33
Timelines are hard for me. I am not linear.
Posted by: Mist 1 | April 04, 2007 at 01:04
That does sound like an interesting project. Just thinking about doing something like that makes me realize that I have several years on my timeline that I'd like to skip right over instead of thinking about...
Posted by: meredith | April 04, 2007 at 02:48
That does sound like a great assignment...for anyone. I may have to give it a try myself. Might make for an interesting Flickr group, too--a little twist on the MDPD, with group members keeping individual threads of their timelines.
Posted by: Emil | April 04, 2007 at 03:07
"Who am I?" on your second session. She's a tough one!
Posted by: Neil | April 04, 2007 at 03:14
I like the sound of that, what a good therapist.
Posted by: Katherine | April 04, 2007 at 04:31
she should be paying you.
Posted by: madame l. | April 04, 2007 at 05:16
As homework goes, that's kinda cool.
Posted by: Chris | April 04, 2007 at 10:57
that does sound like fun. and honestly, i think a lot of people could benefit from something like that. its so hard to keep a firm grasp on your own identity sometimes.
Posted by: steph | April 04, 2007 at 12:38
I have an idea who you are; I haven't a clue who I am.
Posted by: The CEO | April 04, 2007 at 18:46