Story, telling and listening, inhabits our deepest nature. It is how we, as humans, communicate. The venue has changed from fire -lit caves to books and movie screens, but in any form, we all relate to stories. Our own stories are important. What we’ve learned and experienced over a lifetime can be beneficial to others, and recording these stories can be enlivening for ourselves.
Can you recall what you did last week, a month ago? There are events in life worth remembering. Looking back on an incident from the past, you’ll find the edges have blurred. The act of writing preserves the flavour of what happened, but it won’t be an exact picture. This doesn’t mean go ahead and make stuff up. It means remember as accurately as you can. Take into account, however, that you have changed. The way you view what happened is coloured by who you are today. It’s the essence of the story and its value to others that is important.
I’m writing an autobiography right now. So far, it has been an eye opener. I’ve discovered that the act of writing shakes loose a deluge of memories. Writing my stories has been beneficial, has given insights. It is my hope that these stories will be valuable to others as well. Stories are how humans learn and grow. I don’t want to forget. I want to share.
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