We’ve officially entered our working from home era at Fighting Words! We’ll be remote for about a month before we transition into our new office space. I was worried that this interim period would be boring and lonely, but we’ve actually still had plenty of in-person work opportunities, including various workshops in schools and team meetings in community spaces. Last weekend, I attended a rap workshop, where we analyzed the lyrics of famous rappers and even wrote some of our own. Even though I was there as a staff member, I got to participate in the writing exercises and ended up including an Edgar Allen Poe reference in my lines. Who’s surprised?

You may remember me mentioning the residency program we’ve been piloting, where we complete 6 sessions with each class. We recently completed the final workshops with both of our classes, and it was bittersweet! We have gotten to know these students and watched them blossom over the course of the year. It was beautiful to see the growth and creativity present in those last sessions– they have eagerly adopted the Fighting Words mode of collaboration, positivity, and imagination. At today’s workshop, students reflected that writing stories made them feel “brave, free, happy, and confident.” One of the shyest kids in the class was the one who said he felt brave. I nearly shed a tear. We couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome than a room full of children who are genuinely excited to continue to use their power to write. 

For the rest of the life update, I think I’ll just quote from last night’s journal entry: “I am the happiest and most content I’ve been since arriving here. The weather is so beautiful, I have lots of quality friends, I genuinely like spending time alone, I have continued to find new walking paths and coffee shops and thrift stores, and my work is so meaningful. I love my pace of life and the ways I choose to spend my days.” That pretty much sums it up! I’ve found my groove here and the impermanence of this life I have built only makes it sweeter. Life is swaying golden daffodils and writing outrageous stories with 6 year olds and singing as friends blow out birthday candles and stirring homemade lavender syrup and swishing thrifted skirts and discovering new songs to love and reading peacefully on a grassy patch. Spring has always been my favorite season; I love the freshness and sense of renewal that accompanies it. I spent fall recalibrating, winter reflecting, and now, in spring, I am reinventing. 

I remember writing in an early blog post that I didn’t want to lose my sense of wonder in this place. I’m happy to say I certainly haven’t! My appreciation for Belfast grows deeper each day, and each new season brings exciting discoveries. Last night, I went to Late Night Art, a monthly event where galleries all over the city open up late so people can come see what artists have been working on. Everyone dresses up and enjoys art together. I had fun chatting with new and old friends, admiring art of all varieties, and marveling at the fact that it was still light out at 8 pm. What magic!