Welcome to October.

A new month is always a chance to redo things, or to begin new habits. I've always been a believer of the phrase "begin again." I've lived it countless times. We can really begin again at any point on the journey. The human spirit is resilient, and it's always a choice to stew in sadness or to sulk for a while, and then pick up one's self again.

Writing, of which I am a strong advocate, is one way of understanding oneself better. It is a skill that can be cultivated by anyone. Writing down one's thoughts has always proven to be beneficial to one's physical and mental health. A study by neuropsychologist Jenni Ogden suggests that writing and reading something someone enjoys can slow down the brain's aging process.

In the book The Morning Mind by Drs. Robert Carter and Kirti Salwe Carter, writing down one's thoughts upon waking has benefits. The authors say that upon waking, synaptic connections are stronger than when you feel asleep the night before as detected by MRI scans.

"Incorporating just five minutes of putting pen to paper in the morning can have a hugely beneficial impact on your day — fewer visits to the doctor, reduced blood pressure, improved mood/affect, and feelings of greater psychological well-being are just a few of the documented benefits," Carter writes. Imagine reaping all those benefits for a five-minute investment every morning?

The book cites seven writing exercises or prompts that anyone can dive into. I am sharing four of my favorites. You need not be a creative or seasoned writer to complete it. It is suggested that the reader pick one and try it every day for a week and observe the changes in the wellbeing.

Write about an event that impacted you deeply. This is an exercise in putting one's emotions on paper. It asks the writer to go into detail about how they felt, how the experience impacted them, and how they felt before and after the experience.

Describe in detail an object in front of you. Here the writer is asked to describe an object of choice in much detail
— shape, color, function, and so on. You can write a story about it, talk about its origins and history. You are even allowed to add fun and fantastical details about the object.

Write about music. Bring out that Spotify playlist. Pick out a song that you love and discuss how you relate to the lyrics or the melody and why this is so. Talk about the things you remember when you listen to this piece of music. Where does the music transport you?

The magic wand. Carter cites this as a powerful exercise in envisioning solutions to problems and lateral thinking. "Write about a problem you are currently experiencing. If you had a magic wand that could create anything, what would you do?" Think outside the box and look for solutions that combine logical problem-solving skills with creative expression.

Remember that your writing need not be perfect. In all likelihood, you will find a hundred and one excuses not to spend five to 10 minutes in the morning to write. Each time you give in to your excuses, you will make it harder for yourself the next time the opportunity to write comes along. Stay focused, and keep a positive inner dialogue.
Today is a new month, a chance to start over. Begin again.

I would love to hear from you. Please share your thoughts, and your stories of second chances with me storiesbykate@gmail.com