Back to Basics: Who are the significant people in your life?

 

Think about an individual who made a significant impact on your life—someone who changed you, whose life still ripples through yours today even if you live far apart, or even if that person has died:

• A soldier
• Fireman
• Parent
• Grandparent
• Aunt or uncle or cousin
• Preacher
• Teacher
• Singer
• Supervisor
• Janitor
• Missionary
• Neighbor
• Doctor
• Store clerk
• Professor
• Farmer
• Policeman
• Classmate
• Teammate
• College roommate

 

What, specifically, did she do that impacted your life?

What words did he say that made all the difference?

What good example did she live which inspired you to live in the same way?

How did his choices give you the courage to shape yours?

How different could your life have turned out without that person’s involvement?

 

You’ll want to include some of these people in your memoir.

 

Memoirist Kathy Pooler (who recently passed away) reminded us: “Hindsight seems to bring about new clarity and wisdom,” so take time—make time—to seek clarity and wisdom to discern how God brought people into your life and made you who you are today.

 

You might not have recognized, back then, 

the significance of that person’s mark on your life, 

so dig deep into your memory.

 

Note the ways God used them to protect you, give you hope, maybe redirect you, and strengthen your faith.

 

Start writing even before you have remembered everything,

even before you know where your story is going,

or how it will end.

 

Why?

 

Because much more hides within your experience than you realize right now. Writing leads to discovery. Roger Housden says it this way:

 

“[A]s much as we think we know about our story, there is far more waiting to surprise us when our own words hit the page.”

 

So, write your stories!

 

Write them not as a hobby,

but as a ministry to your family and friends

—and even to strangers.

 

Your kids and grandkids and great-grands—and all your readers—need to know about the people who invested in you and guided you—and probably even kept you from doing something stupid.

 

Just think: Your stories could have a life-changing impact on your readers, passing the original blessings on to future generations.

 

“There are generations yet unborn

whose very lives will be shifted and shaped

by the moves you make and the actions you take today. . . .”

(Andy Andrews, The Butterfly Effect)

 

Come back next week: I’ll offer specifics to help you write about key people in your life.

 

Tuesday Tidbit: Your writing can lead to personal discovery

Many of you will recognize yourselves in this quote:

“I’ve lived with and in my memoir for many years.

 Not only did I mentor my younger self

through writing my story,

but the writing process mentored me in turn,

providing lessons on writing and life

I could not have learned in a classroom

or a therapy session.

Through writing my memoir

I discovered who I was,

and who and what had shaped me into that person.”

Pamela Jane (emphasis mine)

Read more of Pamela Jane’s post at Women’s Memoirs

That brings us back to an excerpt from last Thursday’s post:

Much more hides within your experience than you realize right now. Writing leads to discovery. Roger Housden says it this way:

“…[A]s much as we think we know about our story,

there is far more waiting to surprise us

when our own words hit the page.”

(emphasis mine)

This is only one of the numerous benefits of writing your memoir.

So there you have it, your Tuesday Tidbit.

Have you started writing your memoir?

If not, how about beginning this week?

Who are the strategically placed people in your life?

Think about a person who made a positive impact on your life—a person who changed your life, whose life still ripples through yours today even if you live far apart, even if that person has died:

a soldier,

fireman,

grandparent,

preacher,

teacher,

singer,

supervisor,

janitor,

missionary,

neighbor,

doctor,

store clerk,

professor,

farmer,

policeman,

classmate,

teammate,

college roommate.

Perhaps even a stranger.

Or maybe a person from past generations:

a scientist,

artist,

pioneer,

sailor,

inventor,

explorer,

song writer,

spiritual leader,

writer,

world leader.

What, specifically, did she do that influenced your life?

What words did he say that made all the difference?

What good example did she live which inspired you to live in the same way?

How did his choices give you courage to shape yours?

How different would your life be without that person’s involvement?

Memoirist Kathy Pooler reminded us recently: “Hindsight seems to bring about new clarity and wisdom,” so take time—make time—to seek clarity and wisdom to discern how God has intentionally brought special people into your life.

You might not have recognized, back then, the significance of his or her mark on your life, so dig deep into your memory to detect how God worked through those relationships and experiences to make you who you are today.

Notice the ways God has used those people to protect you, maybe redirect you, and strengthen your faith.

Start writing even before you have remembered everything, before you know where your story is going and how it will end.

Why? Because much more hides within your experience than you realize right now. Writing leads to discovery. Roger Housden says it this way:

“…[A]s much as we think we know about our story,

there is far more waiting to surprise us

when our own words hit the page.”

So, write your stories!

Write them not as a hobby but as a ministry to your family.

Writing your memoir 

is a sacred work, 

a high calling, 

a divine project.

Your kids and grandkids and great-grands need to know about the people who invested in you and guided you—and probably even kept you from doing a few stupid things. Just think: Your stories could have a life-changing impact on your readers, passing the original blessings on to future generations.

“There are generations yet unborn

whose very lives will be shifted and shaped

by the moves you make

and the

actions you take today….”

Andy Andrews

The Butterfly Effect