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Dear Reader Stories that Touch my Heart 1. A Published StoryRecently my daughter Amy recommended a book to me: The Angry Women’s Choir by Meg Bignell, set in Tasmania.
I very rarely read a book twice, and rarely in the same year. As soon as I finished this book, I turned to the beginning and started reading it again. Meg Bignell has such an insight into the world of emotions, and how important it is to find an outlet for them. I cried. I ranted. I grieved. I laughed. I felt compassion and joy. Sometimes in reading a single page! Her characters are you and me, real people experiencing the ups and downs of life. I thought I’d share a couple of paragraphs with you, but on reflection, I’m encouraging you to get hold of a copy and read it yourself. I’m sure you’ll have a strong reaction to it too! 2. Inspiring stories from ordinary folk like you and me …Following on from my little write-up last time about an inspiring ‘older’ woman (Ximena Abogabir Scott – a journalist from Santiago, Chile) I want to share with you is that I believe each of us has a story. And I believe each of us should write our stor; ynd each of us should share our story. I’ll tell you why. I made a new friend at Olive Cafe, my favourite coffee shop. We got talking about books. When I learned she was an immigrant from the UK, I shared with her about my friend Pat Backley who’s contributing piece in The Warrior Women Project – A sisterhood of Immigrant Women touched my heart. Next time I saw her, my new friend gave me two of her own stories to read – one her grief story, the other her immigrant story. Too often we balk at putting our words down because of the fear of not being good enough and all those other stumbling block walls we are so good at building in our own way. I want to assure you that her writing isn’t without flaws. It’s not polished. It’s not Booker Prize ready. It doesn’t have to be to that standard to touch our hearts, to inspire others, to give others a glimpse at your courage and strength, and to show how connected we all are. It may be because I’ve got my own grief story that I felt the pain of her tale. But I don’t think so. I think it’s because she shared the extent of her pain, telling authentically how the death of her husband left her a widow with two little children when she was just 31 years old. Her story highlighted the ‘stiff upper lip’ attitude of an older generation; the judgements meted out to a young woman doing her best to create a new life for herself and her children; and the economic struggles and stigma of a young mother ‘on the benefit’, raising her children rather than going to work until they were older. I cried along with her as I read her story. I wished we’d been friends way back then. I would have shared my own story of being widowed with two young children when I myself was still a teenager. We would have found things to laugh about, and I wouldn’t have judged her because she could find something to laugh about in her grief. Laughter is a healing medicine to the broken heart. Will you have a think about your own stories? Maybe of grief. Maybe of achievement. Maybe of travels. Maybe of child rearing. Maybe of not rearing children. Maybe one of a host of other scenarios. Would you like commit to writing a draft of your story? All stories start with a draft. Some call it Draft Zero, because they know that it’s not even structured enough for a first draft. But it’s a beginning, a good beginning of your first draft. The world needs to hear your story. I need to hear it. I’ve long had a secret wish to compile our stories – does the thought of being in such a compilation scare you? GOOD! It means you’re well capable of putting your story down. It might be something we can contribute to together – or not. Whatever the future is for your story, I hope you’ll pick up pen and paper, or open your computer and sit at the screen and use the keyboard, and begin. I’m here to encourage you, to hold your hand, to work on my story alongside you, and to cry with joy with you when you put those little words on the page: “THE END”. Will you do it? Seasons greetingsIt’s that time of year again when our thoughts turn to time with family and friends. Whatever your traditions, I wish you joy and peace and lots of time to share with your loved ones. Till next time, may you find joy in all you do. Much love from me to you My thoughts for Living Life in 2024/5 and beyond: “Life is a Daring Adventure or Nothing” Helen Keller “Write it on my heart that every day is Ralph Waldo Emerson “Remember that sometimes not getting “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave [person] is not [the one] who does not feel afraid, but [the one] who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela Read past Newsletters and, if you enjoy them, please share with your friends and encourage them to subscribe http://www.StephanieHammondAuthor.com Join my Reader’s Group on Facebook. FOLLOW ME Like, post and comment at any of |
Can you Write Your Story? Yes you can!
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