By Pamela Schloesser Canepa, (c) 2019
“We are all given a psyche. You must think of your psyche as its own living thing.”
This was an interesting class Cassie dragged me into after my divorce. The instructor was a little wacky, though. Lots of college kids were there. Were they getting college cred? I sure wasn’t. Continuing education? Hmm. Some blond, New Age hippie named Ashbury sat to my right. Much to my relief, he smelled of Irish Spring.
The instructor continued: “Imagine your psyche as a living being…and draw it. Then, label it. Your last instruction, is to start nurturing it.”
I started with paws, and a belly, then decided to step out for cigarette before finishing. I was sick of always doing what I was supposed to; it got me nowhere in my marriage except mismatched with a narcissist. Plus, I had no idea how to picture my psyche. Some air might help.
Ashbury smiled at me. “Are you stuck?”
“Yeah. Shhh, don’t tell anyone. I might be the failing student here.”
A smile spread across his face. “You can’t fail if you took the first step.” He pointed to the half-hearted drawing on my paper. “What will the rest be? I wonder.” He tapped his pencil to his forehead lightly.
“Right now, I wouldn’t care if you drew something on there. Something radical, horrible, I don’t know. I’ll be right back.”
Ten minutes later I came in , apologizing to the instructor about a stomach issue. Sitting down, I saw a baby dragon staring up at me…and Ashbury smiling at me. There was a lovely orchid on his paper. I chuckled.
“Mine looks like ‘Puffin’ McStuffins’! Well-done, Ashbury!” This man had sized me up and done my homework for me. Could I nurture Puffin in all of his adorable imperfection? You bet!
“So now you have a name, too. I think you’ll pass. How do you think we could nurture an orchid and a baby dragon together?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.
“Passion-fruit tea?” I said through a smile.
“Yes, let’s go!”
He walked out first with his drawing, and I followed moments later. The instructor just looked up at us, defeated. Or maybe he knew I was beginning the process of nurturing my psyche?
*Posted in response to the prompt at https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/06/06/rdp-thursday-nurture/
I hope you enjoyed my story. I’d love to hear your comments or your experiences with this topic!
pamelascanepa 