The future is wildly uncertain, and while that can be cause for anxiety and stress, it may also serve as our biggest source of inspiration. What happens when we make space—internally and collectively—for futures that haven’t yet been named? How do we learn to trust what we cannot fully imagine, and still lead our lives with optimism, resilience, and hope?
This creative writing workshop invites you to engage in a gentle inquiry into how we relate to the future. We’ll begin with an introduction to the psychological barriers that keep us tethered to old narratives, exploring the quiet power we hold not only to envision different futures but to practice showing up in ways that allow them to take shape. Through a guided visualization and reflective writing prompts, we’ll envision what a renewed relationship with the unknown might look and feel like—on the page and in daily life. The goal of this workshop is to leave feeling expanded, grounded, and reconnected to a sense of agency and optimism.
IMPORTANT EVENT INFORMATION:
- This three-hour workshop takes place in The Mount’s Stable Auditorium, a climate-controlled auditorium and classroom adjacent to the Main Parking Lot. Registrants may be asked to participate in some outdoor activities, so please dress accordingly!
- Registration includes self-guided admission to The Mount, Edith Wharton Cultural Center.
- Accessible seating is available. To discuss arrangements, please get in touch with us by phone: 413-551-5111 x5; or email: programs@edithwharton.org. For more information about accessibility, review The Mount’s accessibility webpage.
- Questions? Email: annetherese@theclimateoptimist.com
Anne Therese Gennari is a speaker, educator, and author of The Climate Optimist Handbook (2022). As a workshop host and communicator, Anne Therese focuses on shifting the narrative on climate change so that we can act from courage and excitement, not fear. For more than a decade, she has been promoting climate optimism to help people cope with climate change and make decisions to create the climate-just future she believes awaits us. She has brought her message to schools, companies, and organizations, including Harvard, Columbia University, BMW, Tetra Pak, and the United Nations Global Compact.
