Reminiscences: Musings in Memoir - Prompt #6

PROMPT #6 — SPACE

In the space between chaos and shape there was another chance.
Jeanette Winterson

Space: It can be cramped and narrow, vast and far-reaching, confining or freeing. Space, in the physical sense, takes on the characteristics of both emptiness and fullness, and can either be encroached-upon or explored. In the emotional sense, space can be a distancing or a mindset of seeking. And then, of course, there is the concept of ‘space’ as ‘the universe’, encompassing planets, moons, asteroids, stars, black holes, and all manner of unknown frontier.*

In our everyday lives there are public spaces and open spaces, play spaces and work spaces, hostile spaces and safe spaces. We may gravitate toward (or avoid) certain activities because of the space they inhabit. One man’s sacred space may be another’s space to avoid.

Some other ‘space’ to consider:

The Space Between was a hit for Dave Matthews Band**
‘spacing out’ is a glass-eyed state of mental meandering associated with the checked-out state in which people take mental flights of fancy
‘needing space’ is common in varying stages and types of relationships

So for the sixth prompt in the Reminiscences writing project, please consider ‘space’. (Feel free to use the concept either literally or metaphorically.)

Have your ever created your own space, either in establishing a home or a business?
Do you have people or places in your life that you consider ‘safe spaces’?
Maybe you’ve ‘completely spaced’ and missed an important appointment?
Or perhaps you have memories tied to (or inspired by) David Bowie’s Space Oddity:

The point of this writing project is to create new content by writing from your personal memories, with a focus on the form of memoir.

Prompts will be posted on the 10th, 20th, and 30th of each month through August 10th. The purpose of the prompts is simply to provide inspiration. You are welcome to use the prompt literally or figuratively, or as a jumping off point that leads you in another direction all together. You are also welcome to revisit past prompts at any time as the project progresses. Your timing is your own, and adherence to the prompt{s} is not required.

To play:

Write a memoir-esque post.
Link your post either to this prompt or to the Reminiscences project description page. (Use of the badge is optional.)
Leave a comment below – you can use CommentLuv to create a live link to your post on my comment form – to let me know you’re playing.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the previous prompt. If you are interested in participating but are unsure how to approach your writing, I highly recommend taking a look at the plethora of creative possibilities demonstrated last time by these people:

The Barefoot Sub
Kdaddy
Marie Rebelle
May More
Mrs Fever
Polly Cullen
Sass C
Submissy, who also who caught up with Prompt #3 (RIDE) and Prompt #4 (RUN) in her memoir series

Thanks also to Sir Thomas, who first remembered when – 20 years ago – he first realized he had “gotten old,” and then reminisced about his “survivorship” friends-with-benefits relationship that took place nine years ago.

And to Cindi at Moondance Pages who added her ‘run’ memories to Prompt #4.

If you wrote something for Prompt #5 – or wrote your memories with (or without) any of the previous prompts as guidance – over the past ten days and do not see your name above, it means I don’t have your link. Please leave one for me and I will add your post! 🙂

For more information about this writing project, see here.

If you have any additional questions, please let me know. 🙂

*I once wrote a metaphorical bit of sexiness around this particular concept of space.

**The Space Between – same title, completely different concept – was also a popular post on this blog. 😉