Activities
The Enclosure: A Reflective and Creative Activity
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I told you in the summer that my enclosure was made of glass.
In the fall, you became curious about my habitat.
So, you started knocking on the glass.
The glass began to crack, but I was still inside. Comfortable but a little bit annoyed by the noise.
By winter, you recruited the other guests.
People who also were peeking through my enclosure and wanted to get inside.
Forty fists banging on the glass until it finally broke.
And you SHRIEKED because the shards hurt your hands.
And I screamed and cried because you made a mess of my enclosure.
Pieces of glass everywhere. In the moss. In the vines. In the flowers.
So, I left. And when I left, I stepped in the glass.
My feet bleeding.
Afraid. Confused. And hallucinating from the pain.
The enclosure is yours now.
I'm outside.
I'm uncomfortable out here.
The tiny pieces of glass remain embedded in my feet.
When you entered the enclosure, you learned that it wasn't what you expected.
So, you followed me back out into the world. Still watching.
Screaming because you perceive me to be an animal.
But I'm the one you set free.
It is spring.
And while you may still hunt me,
I am alive.
Reflection Questions
What is your “enclosure”? Is it a safe space, a comfort zone, or a limitation?
Have you ever felt like someone was “knocking on the glass” of your enclosure? How did it make you feel?
When your boundaries are broken, how do you heal or rebuild?
Quick Prompt
List three things you would place in your ideal enclosure to make it a space where you can thrive:
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Creative Writing Prompt
Imagine stepping out of your own enclosure. What does the world outside look, feel, and sound like? Write a short story or poem describing your experience.
Art or Visualization Activity
Draw Your Enclosure:
What does it look like? Use symbols and imagery to represent its qualities.
Imagine It Breaking:
Visualize the cracks and shards. How do you step out of it?
Playful Movement Exercise
Escape the Enclosure:
Stand in a small area and imagine the glass enclosure around you.
Take small, exaggerated steps in different directions, pretending to find a way out.
Use your hands to “push” against invisible walls or clear a path forward.
Once you break through, shake your arms and legs to release tension and “free yourself.”
Accessibility Modification:
If standing isn’t possible, remain seated in a chair. Mimic the movement by leaning forward and stretching your arms outward as if clearing barriers. Shake your hands gently to symbolize release.
Group Option:
If you are with others, take turns describing your enclosures. Encourage each person to share one thing they would add or remove to make their space more positive. Discuss how these changes could be symbolic in real life.
Joke Writing Exercise
Write a joke about your enclosure! For example:
Why don’t enclosures like glass?
Because they always crack under pressure!
Journaling Space
Use this space to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, or realizations after completing the activities.
Additional Activities
Early Spring: A Reflective and Creative Activity - Download PDF
Labyrinth: A Reflective and Creative Activity - Download PDF