Читать книгу Engage the Group, Engage the Brain - Kay Colbert - Страница 30

Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Location: Indoors (need tables or workspace)

Time: 90 minutes

Materials: Secondhand shoes of varioius styles (one shoe per person)

Paint (water-based or acrylic)

Large sheets of paper or cardboard (at least 12″ × 18″) or foamboard (one per person)

Glue or glue sticks

Scissors

Collage materials, sequins, jewel shapes, glitter, feathers

Optional: Speakers to play the song “Walk a Mile in My Shoes,” originally performed by Joe South and The Believers, or similar songs

Objectives

• To encourage participants to tell their life story.

• To encourage unconditional self-acceptance.

Directions

1. Before the session, collect an assortment of used shoes—a variety of heels, flats, and athletic shoes based on the gender make-up of the group. They do not have to match or be wearable. Shoes can be purchased cheaply at garage sales, or secondhand stores might donate unusable pairs.

2. Have participants select one base to use as a display board and one shoe.

3. On the top of the paper, direct participants to write, If you walk in my shoes . . . followed by what others might not know about their lives or what others might not immediately see about their lives. Encourage participants to write about positive things as well as losses or struggles.

4. Instruct participants to paint or decorate their shoe and attach it with glue to the display board.

5. After everyone has finished, invite each participant to present his or her shoe and story to the group.

Observations

Women often prefer working with the high heels, and men can use athletic shoes. Female participants delighted in this activity and engaged in it immediately. It was an enjoyable way for them to approach telling their story. Those who found it difficult to share in traditional process groups viewed this activity as a safe way to start communicating with others.

Inspired by: A similar activity seen at the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, Dallas, Texas.

“If you walk in my shoes . . . you will laugh . . . you will cry . . . you will find a lot of pain . . . you will find a strong woman . . . you will find the quiet after a storm . . .

“To walk a mile in my shoes you’d know that I struggle with low self-esteem, the fear of being left alone, and a scary history of organized crime. My past is my addiction in so many dotted ways.”