Today let’s imagine Woman School. We’ll be in the same house as when the Boy learned to become the Man. Input comes through a screen and some speakers. All the parts of the brain and body are present and ready to learn. The Brain at the front of the class narrates for the other body parts.
Brain: Okay everyone, ready? Remember, we’ll be spending most of our time with and we’ll get most of our guidance from The Mother, so watch her closely. She’s making breakfast on a weekend. We didn’t sleep well, sorry guys.
Memory: Sorry. I babbled a bit last night.
Imagination: Yeah, I wasn’t exactly quiet either, sorry.
Brain: Okay I think everyone’s been served. She has a list she’s written out. See that Hand? You give lists to him.
Hand: Got it.
Eyes: Oh oh. I don’t think he wanted a list. He does not look happy.
Brain: She’s tired of him not being happy with any lists.
Mouth: To talk to a future husband like that I’ll need some help from the diaphragm. She got a bit stern there.
Memory: Meet unhappiness with increased pressure. Got it.
Ears: Oh oh. He’s yelling.
Eyes: He’s mad. He’s coming toward her.
Self (silently): I enjoy my connection to others and prefer that those connections continue.
Ears: Hear that Mouth? She starts to offer apologies.
Eyelids: She’s starting to flutter in case he swings.
Eyes: I’m scared for her.
Legs: Should we go over and help?
Brain: NO!
Head: That did not work out well for me last time.
Ears: Those are terrible names he’s calling her.
Memory: We hear them a lot. I’ve already got them down as ‘normal.’
Nerves: Yeah it’s been a while since we’ve reacted to harsh names.
Ears: That feels weird to me.
Eyes: If my hair ever gets grabbed like that I’ll need some tears ready.
Brain: I’m confused. Why doesn’t her fight or flight chemistry come on? Ours is.
Self (silently): I enjoy my connection to others and prefer that those connections continue.
Heart: I don’t think anyone taught her to love her own heart enough to know she deserves to be defended.
Brain: That’s crazy! Why not!?
Ears: We have overheard her say a lot of negative things about herself.
Memory: Yeah we have a lot of those stored and we do hear her replaying them a lot to herself.
Eyes: Thank goodness he’s letting go!! He’s storming away!
Legs: Let’s get over there and comfort her.
Arms: I agree. It’s time for a hug.
Self (silently): I enjoy my connection to others and prefer that those connections continue.
Eyes: Why did we have to see that?
Nerves: Yeah. Sorry guys. I got overloaded. It’s gonna take me a day or two to fully settle down so let’s keep things calm. That’s hard on me.
Memory: Do I really want to just store this?
Heart: It feels wrong.
Legs: She’s headed to the bathroom to cry again.
Eyes: If you’re this sad apparently it’s important to see yourself in a mirror.
Brain: I wonder what she’s thinking?
Ears: Sounds like she might be replaying those words; the mean ones.
Brain: Why? Ouch! Those would hurt. Why would she hurt herself because he lost control and hurt her?
Ears: Mouth, why are we saying we’re fat when she looks fine?
Mouth: I don’t know. Memory’s just supposed to write it down.
Memory: Brain, can’t you get her to pick some other thoughts? I don’t want to record those.
Brain: I agree. I’m okay with meditating around a lot of things away but this is not something that should be meditated away. This is a guy a woman should not be around.
Memory: So are we saying we’re not going to do what the Mother did?
Brain: I don’t know when when it’s so obvious but she must not feel worthy. I think that’s why she thinks his behaviour is in alignment with who she is when it doesn’t feel right to any of us.
Self (silently): I enjoy my connection to others and prefer that those connections continue.
Memory: If it doesn’t feel good why are we storing it for future use?
Brain: I don’t know. I’m designed to copy everything.
Memory: But we all get a say. And it’s mostly Face and Arms and Back that get the punishment. What do they think we should do?
Face and Arms and Back: We’re not interested in being hurt like that.
Brain: Okay fine, but then what do we do?
Legs: I don’t think it’s a good idea but she can stay if she wants to. But if most of us still feel worthy we could just leave if it was us.
Brain: I suppose it’s true. We could just decide and leave if it was us.
Face: I know I’d appreciate that.
Brain: Okay, we’ll stay and help her as much as we can but we do not want to copy the parts about men. On those we’ll do the opposite. Sound good?
Heart: Yes. I’d rather be alone that put up with what she’s putting up with. We’re worth more than that.
Brain: Got that everyone? So we have some tolerance for when people are struggling but from now on there’s certain things we won’t put up with. We’re worth more than that. Everyone comfortable with respecting ourselves?
Legs: So we’d walk out if it was us?
Brain: Let’s still do our best to protect The Mother.
Face: Isn’t it up to her to do that?
Brain: I suppose you’re right.
Face: Let’s hope she does.
Brain: Okay. Everyone’s in? We’d leave if it was us?
The Body: Yes!
Brain: That does feel like a good answer.
Ears: Indeed. That sounds like love.
peace. s
Scott McPherson is an Edmonton-based writer, public speaker, and mindfulness facilitator who works with individuals, companies and non-profit organisations locally and around the world.
A serious childhood brain injury lead Scott to spend his entire life meditating on the concepts of thought, consciousness, reality and identity. It made others as strange to him as he was to them. When he realized people were confused by their own over-thinking, Scott began teaching others to understand reality. He is currently CBC Radio Active’s Wellness Columnist, as well as a writer, speaker and mindfulness instructor based in Edmonton, AB where he still finds it strange to write about himself in the third person.