In
the ancient stories, fairies or wicked spirits would steal a couple’s baby and
replace it with a different one, sometimes one of theirs. Until fairly recent
times in Ireland and Scotland, parents believed this to be an explanation for
why a child was mentally ill, disabled, or a poor fit in the family.
Because writers often feel like misfits, I
thought a group of them could have fun with the topic. But I had misgivings, too, and wondered if some in the class might have trouble
relating to the subject.
I was surprised that about a
third of the participants chose to write about how they were, in fact, actual
changelings. They felt like they had never belonged in their families. The rest
of the writers had stories of their own about being out-of-place in the world.
Truth
be told, most of us probably feel like we don’t exactly fit in. Trying to fit costs
us a great deal in energy.
That
gives the time we spend apart importance. When we’re alone, we can be our authentic
selves. When we’re alone, we can be easy with who that is.
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