There's something I want everyone to know about, but I only mentioned it at the bottom of my last email. Allow me to give it top billing…
I’m hosting a writing class that’s all about ultimate. I’d love for you to consider joining, and if that isn’t right for you but you want to support my work, I’d appreciate you spreading the word.
So many of us eat, sleep, and breathe this sport. We pack our schedules with tournaments and practices; we pour ourselves into captaining and coaching; we live social lives that revolve around the game.
It’s a lot, and it’s so easy to hustle through it without stopping to process. A creative outlet can go a long way.
In Finding the Words, Frisbee Edition, we’ll give ourselves some much-needed time and space. Using a simple format—start with a prompt, write, share, and repeat—we’ll tell our stories, sort through our thoughts, and create for creativity’s sake.
Journaling is a valuable form of self care. It’s uniquely useful for dedicated athletes, as regular writing can be a tool for:
Tracking progress and recognizing patterns as you train
Processing how your commitment to ultimate impacts you off the field
Telling stories-- fun ones, silly ones, heavy ones, weird ones
Looking back on your tryout process, your season, or your entire career
Building self awareness and emotional intelligence
No expectations. There are infinite stories flying around this game, and I anticipate people touching on anything and everything.
Logistics
I’m offering two different sessions:
Mondays, 4-5:30pm EST in July/August (7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1)
Wednesdays, 3:30-5pm EST in July/August (7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3)
Each will meet for 4 weeks.
We’ll meet over Zoom. Beyond an internet connection, all you need is a pen and paper.
I need people to hear about this
I obviously get something out of reflecting on my frisbee career, and I know I’m not alone there.
I also know that others can’t reap the benefit here if they don’t hear about it.
With that, if you know anyone who might want to know about this opportunity, or if you’re behind the idea that good things happen when people engage with their emotions and experiences, please pass this email along. Team group chats and alumni email lists are a great place to start.
The muggle version
My other writing class is just called Finding the Words. Enrollment for these is also open, with the next class starting Friday, July 22nd and running until August 19th.
Some people there can throw flicks, and others don’t know what that means. If you want to write about something that isn’t frisbee, check it out!
A break from the norm
I’ve been hesitant to use this particular platform for this announcement. If you’re a subscriber, I assume you’re here for the personal writing/reflections I publish. I want to honor that.
That said, I also trust that if you’re reading my newsletter, you like my work and want to see me succeed. With that, I tried to remember that I can’t have something I’m unwilling to ask for.
Once more:
Finding the Words, Frisbee Edition is a storytelling/journaling/creative outlet, aimed at a major force in our lives.
I’d love to see you there.
Another way to get in on/spread the energy is to tell your teammates about this.
We’ve all got stories. Let’s tell them.
Much love,
Jonathan