I love hearing other people’s stories. On visits to my mom’s relatives when I was little, I’d sit around various dining room tables just to listen to them swap memories. Being shy, I savored the chance to sit and quietly soak in a part of their history.
As an adult, I often start conversations by asking other people how they are. And I really want to know. Sometimes they’ll go beyond the quick answer and share what’s going on in their lives. Whether I hear more of the up-to-date or of the past, I feel blessed to be allowed into their world for that moment.
I’ve worked on writing my own personal history. It’s a lot of work, both mentally and emotionally. But I think it’s really important to acknowledge even some of our own stories.
Why? For a few reasons:
- To understand ourselves: why we do what we do
- To realize the uniqueness & value of what we’ve gone through
- To acknowledge all that we’ve survived!
- To be able to bond with others
Once we have those stories ready, there’s great power in telling them. Think about how sharing our experiences:
- Forges and fosters relationships that add to our mental, emotional and spiritual health
- Encourages, teaches and challenges others to grow
- Offers support to others who might feel alone in their struggles, problems, and fears
Have you written out any of your story yet? If not, think about it – your history could actually improve someone’s future! More on this coming up soon…
