Risky Blossom’s, Harper’s Index
The goal of this writing prompt is to show how very specific, quantifiable, details can add up to a “big picture” — in this case, a self-portrait.
Number of times I started the first sentence on this list: 12
Chances my mother and stepfather will eat a vegetarian dinner: 0
Average times per day I cringe over something in my past: 48
Average times per day I remember old grudges: 32
Average times per day I feel guilty: 6
Number of times this hour I picked up my phone to check the drama on the NextDoor app: 6
Number of times this hour I picked up my phone and forgot why I picked it up: 4
Years it took me to master a barred F chord: 1.5
Number of times I have weighed over 200 pounds: 3
Number of times I have gotten to goal weight: 4
Number of times I have gone to the hospital for an accidental overdose: 2
Number of times I accidentally overdosed but did not go to the hospital: 3
Times I have gone to rehab: 3
Years I have been free from cigarettes: 16.5
Years it took me to quit smoking for good: 28
Years I have been sober: 9
Years it took me to quit drinking for good: 35
Approximate number of romantic relationships I have had: 15
Of the 15 romantic relationships, number of people I actually liked and was attracted to: 1
Years it took me to forgive my father: 34
Number of times per day, every day, that I can eat a meal of beans, salsa and corn tortillas and never get sick of it: 3
