Suggested Activities

There’s plenty of evidence about the ways in which writing about trauma can help people heal, but even for younger community members, turning the trauma of their personal “Fire Story” into drawings, lists, or even just taking the time to color or scribble out hard feelings, can be a healthy part of processing. Here are a few suggested activities you can try with your new Fire Journal. *

 
 
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Draw what you remember

The mental images associated with any persons individual “Fire Story” will vary, depending on what their personal experience of the fire was. When you ask kids to ‘Draw what you remember’, they may draw imagery from before the fire, or they may draw pictures of actual flames. Either way, getting it out and getting it onto paper can help with processing their feelings and trauma integration.

 
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Write what you feEL

Sometimes, just saying “I was sad” can be powerful. Giving yourself the space to say what you feel can be a healthy part of the grieving process.

 
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Make lists

My kids made a lot of lists following our fire. Lists of things they lost. Lists of things they missed. Lists of things they wanted to remember. And lists of things they wanted to replace. Making lists can free up space in your mind to think about other things.

 
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WRITE a letter

Sometimes writing a letter can be easier than ‘just writing’ in a journal. You can write to anyone - a friend, a parent, a grandparent, a pet, your future self, or even someone you lost in the fire. Taking the time to share your feelings through writing will help you understand how this all fits into the big picture of the story of your life.

 
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Make a plan for the future

For some people, losing everything can be both devastating and also very freeing, in that it means they now have some room to think about a different and boundless future. Talk with kids about what things make them feel hopeful. What are their dreams for the future - for one year, 3 years, 5 years following the fire? Help them write it down.

 
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Recognize gratitude

Disaster can often bring out the best in people. Simple acts of generosity and basic human kindness often have a way of revealing themselves when we most need them - whether from friends, neighbors, firefighters and emergency responders, community members, or even from strangers far away. Taking a moment to feel grateful for those who are helping and holding us at times like these can be incredibly healing and restorative.

* We are not psychologists, and cannot give professional advice, though we have consulted with some mental health professionals on an informal basis. Also, these activities helped us - they may help you too.