Lil Journal Project: Word Associations
So, I know it has been a few weeks since I’ve posted on Ashley Hackshaw’s Lil Journal Project. I admit that I fell off the wagon during week 4 (too many other fun projects calling my name). And Ashley took off week 5 to focus on a few things she was working on.
However, the word association prompts Ashley came up with for this week were too fun to pass up! So, we’re back.
I love word association games. They’re great to use when teaching improv as a tool for re-training the brain to trust its instincts. You get going so fast with word associations that you don’t have time to judge your impulses – – you just blurt out the first word that pops into your mind…which can be a little interesting, especially if you’re working with high school students. Smile.
Mark and I will even play word association games in casual conversation. Someone says an interesting word that sparks an association, and we’re off:
M: Antelope.
L: Anteater.
M: Antiquated.
L: Antilly lace.
M: Antenna.
L: Antidisestablishmentarianism.
M: Right….
So, I really enjoyed taking each of the words Ashley proposed and writing about the first memory or event that popped into my mind. Here are a few glimpses at my journal pages from these past few days.
And with some extra space at the bottom of one page, I brainstormed some words I thought would be fun to try in other word association prompts:
I recommend you try word associations whether in casual conversation or on the pages of your journal – – it’s interesting to see where you brain takes you when don’t allow it time to second guess itself. You might be surprised what you discover!
I can connect to so many of your journaling stories! Oh the fort and the pink/red blanket! And Autumn Blaze! There’s something powerful about shared childhood experiences…to be known and loved. And to be known for years, to have a history with someone and to continue to walk alongside them in life….I’m so grateful for you!
Your comment makes tears well up in my eyes. Oh to have a sister like you! And I agree, there’s something so wonderful about the deepening of sisterhood through all the seasons of life. (I’d still love to build a fort with you, even now!)
We’ll have to do this when we visit! This is also a Freudian technique for therapy! “The patient is invited to say the first word that enters their mind when the therapist gives a stimulus word. This enables unconscious thoughts to enter the conscious ready for investigation later on in the therapy”.
But let’s not read too much into our responses! 🙂 Also the parts of your journal that you showed are such a tease! Would love to see more, if you are willing!
Interesting about Freud! Leave it to my psychiatric nurse, Mama, to make a connection to pysch. 😉
And I’d be happy to share more of my word associations with you during your visit. 3 days!
YAY….We will make good use of our time together!
Hi Lauren, I love the word associations this week too! So glad to see you back on your journal project!
Thanks, Suzy! Feels good to be back in the races again. 😉