Our Stories

A couple of months ago, I wrote this post in which I explored the positive effects that writing has on my life (and can have on yours too!).

From time to time, I read a blog written by William Zinsser (you may recognize his name, as I quoted him at the end of the post I just referenced) entitled “Zinsser on Fridays” (www.theamericanscholar.org).  Recently, he discussed his thoughts about the importance of telling our stories through writing, not for the purpose of inciting any specific response in those who might read them, but as a way of recording the moments of life (both minute and monumental) that have helped shape us into who we are.

In fact, he holds that it is through the act of writing out those details of our lives that we discover what lies just underneath the statement of our facts . . . and what lies beneath is often profound, sometimes surprising, but always gives us greater insight into who we are.  It is discovering these sub-story themes that, when we’re open to their lessons, can move us.

Our emotions, our perspectives, our future choices . . . these can all be moved by the simple act of writing out the details of our lives.

Each of our stories is worth telling.

I encourage you to take a few moments to read William Zinsser’s posts entitled “Who Would Care About My Story?” and “Hold the Emotion!”

Be inspired!