Why write your story?

During COVID, I wrote a story.

Yes, it was three years ago when our daily lives changed dramatically… (Remember when they said the kids would be home for two whole weeks?).

I sat my butt down in my chair, morning after morning, and put my story into words.

I connected dots between my upbringing, my struggles, my internal chatter and the series of choices I had made over the course of my almost 50 years. The arc of the story was about my change: my transformation from a young girl who was stuck in the wasn’ts (wasn’t pretty, thin, smart or good enough — it was a long list LOL) to what I feel now, on most days (here I am, I want you to love me but if you don’t, so be it. My heart is full. I’m here to learn and to love). Yes, it’s really that simple.

Don’t get me wrong, I still ruminate, worry and feel doubt. But most days I just try to show up for my husband and kids, my family and trusted friends, for my courageous clients and for my ever-evolving self.

During this particular time, the process of being committed to expressing myself through writing was deeply meaningful. My father was dying of pancreatic cancer, my husband had just wrapped up a year of colorectal cancer treatment (he’s doing well, knock on wood) and my oldest son was about to go to college.

Being a writer or an author wasn’t at the core of this self-induced project. I almost wrote a self- indulgent project, because sometimes allowing yourself this kind of investment feels, well, indulgent.

At the core — literally — was this desire to make sense of the life I’ve been given and to connect more intimately to the choices I’ve made and the person I’m becoming. And heck, I do story coaching; I love this stuff. The story was mostly centered on the relationship with my father but everyone close to me has played a role.

Writing my story gave me focus, practice, and over time, clarity. And like any achievement big or small, it gave me the confidence that comes from completing a personal challenge.

I believe each one of us is capable of telling our story and each one of us (yes I’m talking to you) has a deep message to share from the story our life is writing.

So whether or not my story project finds its way to you, I want to encourage you to start thinking about and start crafting your own story. Not for publication or posting for the world to see. Not even to share with your family. Yet.

But for the most important reader of all: the person you are becoming.

The next step always unfolds, but you have to take the first one.

I’m [finally] getting closer to sharing my story! Email me here if you’d like to learn more.