Is That You or Your Armor? | Writing Prompt #22
Toughness, sarcasm, perfectionism, humor, fierce independence, people-pleasing...
This week, I sat down and watched an ABC After School Special.
No, that’s not still a thing. And no, it’s not making a comeback. Kids don’t come home and turn on the TV these days; they pick up their phone, an iPad, a video game controller.
But back in 1977, it was all about graham crackers, frosting, and an hour spent with teen star Kristy McNichol.
If you’re really curious, you can watch The Pinballs on YouTube. Although I’ll warn you, it’s very much a product of the 70s, from the cheesy opening music to the saccharine representation of life with a foster family.
But it still made a deep impression on 11-year-old me. I absolutely believed Kristy McNichols character, Carlie, was a role model. She was tough, sarcastic, spoke her mind. She allowed herself to be angry. No people-pleasing in sight!
But what I hadn’t realized at age 11 was glaringly apparent to me as an adult. Carlie wasn’t a scrappy little smartass because she was cool. Carlie was who she was because she was protecting herself, taking aim at others before they could take aim at her. Bristling so nobody would get too close.
You can read the story here if you missed it.
How well do you really know yourself? Your mind is filled with memories. Writing is like a master key that opens every box, helping you extract meaning from the events and experiences it holds.
Each week, I invite my paid subscribers to hunt for meaning in the messy attics of their minds with a writing prompt. They’re also invited to share their writing with me or the I’ll Go First chat community.
We’d love to have you join us!
Karen
