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Writing Your Life Story Blog

Here's where you find out what's new at Your Life is Your Story.

Nov 30, 2021

Giving Peace Talks Radio a Chance

Today is "Giving Tuesday" and every good cause and non-profit around is asking for help. It is good that there are so many organizations doing things to help our society and our world.

Of course we can't give to all who ask. At least I know I have to be selective. But I do believe in a radio program series that is entering its 20th year. Peace Talks Radio is the radio and online series on peacemaking and nonviolent conflict resolution. Paul Ingles and his crew are constantly producing great programs that delve into ways to promote peace in our world and to find better ways to deal with conflict. I am sure it is a labor of love. But they do need financial support to produce their programs.

Continue reading "Giving Peace Talks Radio a Chance"

Nov 24, 2021

Life Loaves and Loafing

I baked my first loaf of bread yesterday afternoon. That's right, at the age of 65 I actually mixed the ingredients, kneaded the flour, folded the loaves (there were two small ones), let it sit while the yeast did its thing, and then put it in the oven. When it was finished there was the wonderful aroma and the great taste that only freshly baked bread can deliver. Delicious!

Look, I know that's not really a huge accomplishment. Many people can bake bread. It's been happening for thousands of years! But don't judge me. I love bread, but I typically get it from the store or the bakery. Or when fortunate enough, from someone else's home baked creation.

Continue reading "Life Loaves and Loafing"

Nov 19, 2021

NPR Tips for an Oral Family History

According to an NPR (National Public Radio) story there are some great practical tips to prepare before you record a family member's story. First of all, you don't have to use expensive audio or video equipment, although some people do prefer to create a high quality documentary. The recording app on your smartphone can work fine.

Before you begin an interview spend some time brainstorming what you want to accomplish. Is there a particular person, time period, event or story you want to capture? Who is the best storyteller to interview?

And one of the best pieces of advice is to remember the interview is not an interrogation. It's a conversation.

Continue reading "NPR Tips for an Oral Family History"

Nov 14, 2021

The Lands of Native American Heritage

November is Native American Heritage Month. Given the history of the United States and the treatment of the indigenous people here long before European colonists, this month can be an opportunity to be honest about how we treat both the land and the occupants.

I live in New Mexico, a state rich in cultural diversity and with a large number of native peoples and tribes.

Continue reading "The Lands of Native American Heritage"

Nov 08, 2021

Your-Life-Your-Story - My Life Story Blog Archives, October, 2021

An archive of previous My Life Story blog entries from October, 2021 regarding personal history, life story writing and more.

Continue reading "Your-Life-Your-Story - My Life Story Blog Archives, October, 2021"

Oct 19, 2021

Healing Powers of Journaling

I continue to find evidence that regular journal writing can improve your mental and emotional state. It can promote wellbeing. It can even help heal you from trauma, heartbreak, anxiety or depression.

However you write your thoughts, feelings, memories, gratitude and expressions, doing it with a journal is a "no threat" way to get some of what you have inside of you down on paper or screen. Nothing listens like paper.

Continue reading "Healing Powers of Journaling"

Oct 13, 2021

90 Year Old William Shatner Boldly Goes to Space

Shatner is best known for his role in the television science fiction series Star Trek as Captain James T. Kirk. He and his crew were on a five year mission to explore new worlds and "boldly go where no man has gone before." Now that statement has a deep and personal meaning for Shatner.

After the historic flight he stated, "You look down, there's the blue down there and the black up there ... there is Mother Earth and comfort, and there is, is there death? I don't know, but is that death? Is that the way death is? ... It was so moving; this experience, it was something unbelievable," he said.

Continue reading "90 Year Old William Shatner Boldly Goes to Space"

Oct 07, 2021

Special Shapes Hot Air Balloons Bring Joy and Art to the Skies

There are all kinds of shapes. If you like geometry you can enjoy countless ones. But nothing quite brings joy, and art, to the skies above than special shapes hot air balloons.

In Albuquerque there is the annual International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta and balloons from around the world come here to fly in the beautiful October skies.

Hot air balloons are pretty colorful and wonderful to look at just with their typical spherical shapes. Amazingly enough, some balloons are constructed with a special balloon envelope shape. It takes a combination of art and engineering to pull this off. But how cool to see cows, birds, bees, stagecoaches, various heads of famous people, and even unusual things like Yoda and Darth Vader of Star Wars fame.

Continue reading "Special Shapes Hot Air Balloons Bring Joy and Art to the Skies"

Oct 07, 2021

Your-Life-Your-Story - My Life Story Blog Archives, September, 2021

An archive of previous My Life Story blog entries from September, 2021 regarding personal history, life story writing and more.

Continue reading "Your-Life-Your-Story - My Life Story Blog Archives, September, 2021"

Sep 24, 2021

Reflecting on Volume

As a 5th grade teacher I get to teach my students a variety of subjects. I try really hard to include life lessons and life skills along with the things they should learn as part of their elementary school curriculum.

This week in math I have been teaching them the concept of volume. Volume is defined as "the quantity of three-dimensional space enclosed by a closed surface." So we talked about how to fill that space in boxes or other three-dimensional objects. And there is the well known formula of length times width times height.

Math lesson aside, volume is a concept that can speak, well, volumes about our lives and life experiences.

Continue reading "Reflecting on Volume"