Writing: The # 1 Way to Review and Reconcile Your Life
What do we do with the memories of how we've navigated our different life stages? Some pleasantly, others not. Is there a way to reflect and make peace with it all?
WRITE! It's Cathartic, Freeing, Healing.
Find a place for your words, describe who you were and are, along with the people and experiences that have shaped you. Create your chronicles. It can be a help to others too.
When my mother passed from leukemia in March 2010, grieving swept me like a tsunami. Like many of us, the loss of a parent is one of those defining moments that changes everything. She was a determined single parent with humor and focus. Not that we didn't have our challenges, particularly as me being her oldest. How could I come to a place of peace? Then I birthed a book, Navigating Life's Roadways: Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey, claiming my mother as its spiritual co-author. This publishing goal of 15 years came to be out of these intense emotions, and a fellow writer had shared that this was a good time to pen a memoir. The best teacher, life itself, had taught me much as an army veteran, cancer survivor and go-getter in spite of my family's poor, rural beginnings.
Keep it moving.
As I mentioned, writing has been on my radar for a while, so I discovered there were many pieces I'd put to paper over the years, in addition to poems, blogs and speeches.Gleaning lessons from my varied life stages such as watching the careful way in which my grandfather grew collard greens in my youth, to the emotions of seeing a fellow soldier and friend off to war for the first time, gave voice to my varied experiences. So now what to do with those? Life is A Review, my new eBook is a compilation of those.
I've spoken to many people in my work and personal life about the value of journalling, or just carrying a notebook. Which I see as an important first step if you're a writer or non-writer. My advice, "Just get the words and energy out, it'll take shape when it's supposed to."
Many events in life are ordained, part of our purpose. Share them in your stories. Others have expressed how my triumphs as well as tragedies have given them permission to take a look back at their own lives in a different lens. With a "me too" reaction, they appreciated in knowing they were not alone in their sufferings or successes.
The review of my journey continues.
Try it for yourself! Review and Reconcile.
Life is A Review: Observations and Collections of My Passages Through the TimesNavigating Life's Roadways
WRITE! It's Cathartic, Freeing, Healing.
Find a place for your words, describe who you were and are, along with the people and experiences that have shaped you. Create your chronicles. It can be a help to others too.
When my mother passed from leukemia in March 2010, grieving swept me like a tsunami. Like many of us, the loss of a parent is one of those defining moments that changes everything. She was a determined single parent with humor and focus. Not that we didn't have our challenges, particularly as me being her oldest. How could I come to a place of peace? Then I birthed a book, Navigating Life's Roadways: Stories of Insight from My Odyssey and Inspiration for Your Journey, claiming my mother as its spiritual co-author. This publishing goal of 15 years came to be out of these intense emotions, and a fellow writer had shared that this was a good time to pen a memoir. The best teacher, life itself, had taught me much as an army veteran, cancer survivor and go-getter in spite of my family's poor, rural beginnings.
Keep it moving.
As I mentioned, writing has been on my radar for a while, so I discovered there were many pieces I'd put to paper over the years, in addition to poems, blogs and speeches.Gleaning lessons from my varied life stages such as watching the careful way in which my grandfather grew collard greens in my youth, to the emotions of seeing a fellow soldier and friend off to war for the first time, gave voice to my varied experiences. So now what to do with those? Life is A Review, my new eBook is a compilation of those.
I've spoken to many people in my work and personal life about the value of journalling, or just carrying a notebook. Which I see as an important first step if you're a writer or non-writer. My advice, "Just get the words and energy out, it'll take shape when it's supposed to."
Many events in life are ordained, part of our purpose. Share them in your stories. Others have expressed how my triumphs as well as tragedies have given them permission to take a look back at their own lives in a different lens. With a "me too" reaction, they appreciated in knowing they were not alone in their sufferings or successes.
The review of my journey continues.
Try it for yourself! Review and Reconcile.
Life is A Review: Observations and Collections of My Passages Through the TimesNavigating Life's Roadways
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message 1:
by
Jeffrey
(new)
Jun 26, 2012 10:15AM
Well stated, Deborah. I've tried to make similar points in a memoir writing class I teach for the Indiana Writers Center.
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I agree wholeheartedly Deborah! Writing my way through grief was extremely cathartic and healing. I don't think I'd be where I am today without having done that. Thanks for the reminder to keep writing!
Leila wrote: "I agree wholeheartedly Deborah! Writing my way through grief was extremely cathartic and healing. I don't think I'd be where I am today without having done that. Thanks for the reminder to keep wri..."I appreciate your feedback! Keeping the spirit of writing going!
I am thinking of writing a memoir that involves a business. Any advice on changing the name?
So what about changing the names of family members but keeping one's own name? That doesn't really make sense either because when I write about "my brother Alex" whose name really was Peter, that's also confusing. Know what I mean?
