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The "Your Life is Your
Story" Blog Archives
Read
about quality family history and life story news, views, methods, products,
links, services
...and whatever else catches our fancy
July, 2004
current blog entries
blog archive index
July 27,
2004
A completely psychedelic (and delicious) flashback to the groovy sixties
can be found here.
The 1960's were a decade that changed a lot. In fact, it is still changing
things. Timothy Leary, The Grateful Dead, Woodstock, the civil rights
movement, the Vietnam War, an in-depth look at the year 1968 and much
more. And some really freaky posters. Far out, man.
July 26,
2004
The Highlight Site page has
just been updated. This time we are looking at the means to create your
own successful Internet web site. I'm sure the idea has crossed your mind.
You could have a site like this devoted to personal history - your own
or others. Or it could be another dream. Whatever your passion, hobby
or business goals are, a good web site can further them. But, there is
a lot that goes into it. The key is to have the right tools - system -
vehicle. You don't have to spend an arm and a leg or be a techno-geek
to accomplish it.
Take a look at the Highlight Site
to see what I recommend.
July 20,
2004
Today is
the 35th anniversary of the first moonwalk. I certainly remember watching
television as a kid and being riveted to the grainy image of Neil Armstrong
stepping down onto the lunar surface. There are some nice recollections
and history of the Apollo 11 mission at space.com.
It is also
my wedding anniversary. I am truly grateful for my bride, Annette, our
children and our life together. 19 years is not a bad start.
July 19,
2004
If you are
a writer working on your life story it's important to think about your
self-image. What you think about yourself as a writer, not just
what you think about your life. Of course, the two are closely related.
Your self
image as a writer contributes to your writing style, the point of view
(POV) you bring to the page and your values. I encourage you to spend
some time thinking...and writing...about your self-image. You can read
more on this topic at Angela Booth's excellent ProWrite web blog (the
July 18th entry) go here.
July 13,
2004
I'm a big baseball fan so watching the Major League All Star game is an
annual event. It's fun to see the best and brightest on the field. This
year the American League provided most of the fireworks, including home
runs by two Red Sox players (my favorite team), so I'm enjoying that.
Baseball is a big part of my past. I loved playing as a kid and even had
aspirations to play professionally, although that dream evaporated by
high school when I realized I didn't have the "stuff". Nothing
wrong with having the dream, though. Over the years I can associate many
memories around various World Series and the rare opportunties of attending
big leagues games. I've managed to see several teams and there is certainly
some magic in going to Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, Yankee and Dodger Stadiums
(some of the ballparks where I've had the pleasure of seeing games).
Part of your story are the cultural activities you love. It can be anything
- baseball just happens to be one of those things for me. Take a good
look at your passions because they are important to your life story or
memoir. Some of your most cherished value statements can emerge from these
areas.
"As you grow older, you'll find the only things you regret are the
things you didn't do."
— Zachary Scott
July 10,
2004
"The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely
to see."
- Winston Churchill
I've discovered a wonderful software life story tool. If you subscribe
to my free e-zine you probably read about it in the last
issue. Telling Stories is an affordable and highly creative
software package that puts you in the driver's seat to easily create a
multimedia biography. The end result is a slide show that incorporates
writing, images, music, voiceovers, and even video. The software is easy
to use as it is designed with helpful visual wizards and the ability to
build upon some basic default options with your own customization. I recommend
it.
July 4, 2004
Happy 4th of July! I hope that wherever you are you are enjoying the celebration
of Independence Day for the U.S.A. My family and I are being pretty traditional:
a cookout and some safe, legal fireworks (mainly fountains) in the cul-de-sac
at the end of the street where we live.
I send birthday greetings to my younger brother, Doug. Yes, he's a "Yankee
doodle dandy" born on the 4th of July.
Here's
a picture of Doug with his lovely wife, Susan and young son, Joshua.
July 3, 2004,
I was catching up on some email today and a newsletter I subscribe to
for writers (from the Write to Inspire web
site) linked me to an article by Debra Johanyak, Writing
Your Life. Once again, some great instruction to write what
you know and from your life story.
July 1, 2004
Artists are fascinating people. I happened across the story of this young
Navajo man, Sheldon Harvey, at a home schooling web site.
What struck me in the story was what the writer, Stephen Goode, discovered
about Sheldon.
| excerpted from the story |
>>>What Harvey said and the way he said it impressed me as deeply
as his art already had. He sees his goal clearly, even if the details
need working out: He wants to tell the story of his people. By that he
doesn't mean straight history so much as the spiritual history of the
Navajo, from their earliest origins in what their creation story calls
the First World.
His desire to depict the story of his people comes at a time when Navajo
culture is in crisis. "It is disappearing," Harvey lamented.
"Many of the old ways are fading. A lot of the youth are not interested.
Parents are busy educating their kids to survive, and survival doesn't
include the Navajo inheritance."
Read the full story posted here
at WorldandIHomeschool.com.
Everybody has a story to tell!
Your-Life-Your-Story.com
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Tom Gilbert
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