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Your Life is Your Story, Issue #235 – Ordinary Things Done Intentionally April 30, 2026 |
| Greetings "Your past is your story up to now. The future is the story yet to come. The present is where you live with that experience, your hopes and your dreams." 
Your Life is Your Story Newsletter April 30, 2026 Your Life is Your Story, Issue #235 – Ordinary Things Done Intentionally From Tom Gilbert – Editor and Writer, www.your-life-your-story.com In this Issue: Opening remarks: Taking It Easy Featured Article – Ordinary Things Done Intentionally Featured Resource – Running Among the Trees Opening Remarks: Taking It EasyI have been taking it easy all this month. Not because I am kicking back on vacation. Rather, for the first time in my life, I had surgery. Going under the knife for a planned procedure had me a bit anxious in the days leading up to April 1. I’d had a consultation with my surgeon and I knew the reason for the procedure which I freely chose. I also understood the risks, which with modern medicine were not of big concern. But you know the mind and imagination can enhance things. I started thinking about my mortality. Reflecting that maybe the road ahead is not as long as I’d like it to be. In the end there wasn’t anything to get that worked up about. The team performing the surgery did a great job and I have been recovering all this month. I’m alive and healing. But it does give one pause–it reminds me that every day is a new day and life is precious and it is important to live in the moment. The feature article in this month’s newsletter is a direct result of taking it easy and not taking for granted the ordinary things in life, especially when done with intention. Thank you so much for being part of the Your Life Is Your Story community. Thanks to all our subscribers. I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. You are receiving this e-zine because you signed up for it or someone who is subscribed passed it along to you. If a friend DID forward this to you consider subscribing by visiting our signup page . Also, let me know what you’d like to see more of in this newsletter – simply reply to this email e-zine. – Tom Featured Article: Ordinary Things Done Intentionally
As a student of life stories and memoir I find I am attracted to the honesty and willingness others have to share about their experiences. The journey of life can be long and arduous, but like the axiom, we do it little by little, one step at a time, one breath at a time.
Much of our life is mundane. In a space of 24 hours we may do many ordinary things. And when it comes to writing a memoir we might think none of those ordinary things have anything to do with sharing our life story. The great Mary Oliver, in her poem “The Summer Day”, called it, “Your one wild and precious life.” How do the small and ordinary things influence our life and our story? It is important when working on a memoir to consider the significant events in your life. Finding a theme that resonates with you and can hold your truth and lessons learned can be valuable to share. This, I believe, is one of the reasons people are attracted to the stories of others. Perhaps we identify with the author, or at least relate to their struggles, their sorrows as well as their joys and triumphs. But if you include all the basic and ordinary things you do day to day you risk boring the reader. Instead, consider how doing small things, ordinary things, with intention and focus, can help you better appreciate the whole of your life. As we have all heard, it is in the details. Sometimes on walks I find myself enamored with trees, the sun, clouds, mountains and even the path beneath my feet. It sparks reflection and inner dialogue. I contemplate. Contemplation is good. What are the ordinary things in your life? How do you approach them? Next time you are doing the dishes, laundry, taking out the trash or weeding the yard, try pausing and giving your full attention and intention to the task. It is a gift to be present to the now. And it may well fuel your ideas and writing. Writing a life story or memoir can be hard work. It takes time and discipline. A little each day will keep you moving forward. Progress, not perfection, is the goal. Read more articles at here. Featured Resource: Running Among the Trees
One of the pleasures of working with various people on their life stories is seeing how their lives continue to evolve. Such is the case with poet Ahrend Torrey. With April being National Poetry Month I thought I would share more about Ahrend Torrey because I continue to marvel at his growth as a writer and his inspiration to share his work with the world. We first started working together around 2005 when Ahrend was in his early twenties and feeling compelled to pursue a life of poetry. That is a challenging road for anyone. Writers are often driven to express themselves through the written word, but it can be a hard way to make a living. Who will read their words? Who will care? Why take the risk? Despite the obstacles, Ahrend persevered and he is a published poet with a wonderful talent. He has a way of seeing and exploring the world with honesty, compassion, a love of nature and an insight that inspires. His new release, “Running Among the Trees”, is now available and contains many new poems along with a selection of some of his previous favorites. More is revealed at the Ahrend Torrey website. For every copy sold of “Running Among the Trees” a donation will be made to the Jane Goodall Institute. Closing InformationThat’s it for this month’s issue. Thanks for reading. Here’s to telling your story. Do give it some serious consideration because I just know you’ve got a great story to tell! Be sure to see the Get Started section.Any comments, ideas or feedback is greatly appreciated. Just reply to this ‘zine and tell me what you think! Until next time, – keep your story alive! Tom Gilbert |
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