Suggested Exercises (For the Lonely)

By Maddie Raymond
 
Part One: Dry Leaves 
 
This is an exercise 
In holding your head up high 
Walk down a dirt road 
Any will do 
But they’re best up north 
In autumn 
Most importantly, 
Ignore your white shoes
They don’t get dirty, darling 
I promise 
If they do, you won’t care 
That’s the whole point of the exercise 
Smile 
You’re alone 
You know you want to 
Face east 
You’re doing this in the middle of the day 
Let the sun touch you 
Sing along to your music 
No one’s around 
Breathe 
In 
Out 
Smell the leaves 
The dirt 
You’re a part of that 
Let the crown of your head align with the sky 
You’re a part of that too 
You’re born from this earth 
You live here 
So, my darling 
Use this exercise 
Practice holding your head up high 
You deserve to be here 
 
Part Two: Lavender Soap 
 
This is an exercise 
In remembering who you are 
Take a shower 
Make sure the water is hot 
Darling, you deserve comfort
Tip your head back 
Close your eyes 
Pretend you’re standing in the rain 
Think back 
While the water pounds on your scalp 
Who were you 
Before all of this 
Watch the drops dribble off your fingertips 
Until they start to prune 
You’re a clean slate now, darling 
Take that memory of the real you
Lather it on like lavender soap 
It’ll hang around you for days, now 
Trust me 
Step out the way you really want to 
But be careful not to slip 
You’ll probably need a bathmat for the first few tries 
If it doesn’t work the first time
Darling, don’t despair 
Sometimes it takes a few showers 
To be born anew 
 
Part Three: Scented Candles (preferably red) 
 
This is an exercise 
In being here 
Stay up late 
Everything is softer at night 
And existence has so many jagged edges 
Remind yourself you’re real 
It’s nice and easy, darling 
In the velvety dark 
Light a candle 
Preferably red 
And smelling of something warm 
You have nothing to prove here 
Breathe in the scent
Let the warmth reach your palms 
Your heart 
No matter what you’ve done, darling 
You’re still allowed to have this 
Wrap yourself in blankets 
Hug your pillows tight enough to remember them 
When the light of day makes you start to fade 
Have faith, darling 
That you are solid
 
Part Four: Two Glasses of Water 
 
This is an exercise 
In picking up the pieces 
Don’t be ashamed, darling 
We all fall apart sometimes 
Find someone 
This is a partner exercise, darling 
I know you’re ready 
Pour two glasses of water 
Sip 
Swallow 
It’ll help, with the rawness of your throat 
And your heart 
Tell them something about yourself 
Something they don’t know 
Let the stillness of the room 
And the water 
Keep you focused 
Like baby chicks lose their down 
And the trees shed their leaves 
We all have to expel parts of ourselves sometimes 
Now, I know this part is scary, darling 
But let that person take those parts 
And put them somewhere safe 
Sometimes it takes more than just us alone 
To be made whole again
 
Part Five: Imperfect Camera (it just has to take pictures) 
 
This is an exercise 
In being the center of attention 
Pick your head up, darling 
I know what you’re capable of 
Stand in front of a mirror 
The bigger, the better 
If there’s natural light, use it 
You’re allowed to smile during the day, you know 
Take out a camera 
It doesn’t have to be a good one 
It just has to take pictures 
Snap a photo 
Another 
Again 
Keep them all 
Even when your leg looks off 
Or your hair flies in your face 
Notice the sparkle in your eyes 
It’s working, darling 
Pose in the way 
You’ve always wanted to 
But never let yourself 
You’re hot 
Desirable 
Even if in this moment 
The only person who is aware of that 
Is you.
 
Maddie Raymond is 16 years old and lives in Goshen. Through writing, she has gotten to explore new perspectives, discovering things about herself along the way. What she loves most about writing is getting to experience something other than the day-to-day. Her favorite part about Woven Word has been the friends she’s made within the local writing community. ​