Home

What Story and Why

How to Tell

What's New

Blog

Life Story Resources

Research is Fun

Get Started

Highlight Site

Sample Writing

Free Newsletter

Articles

About

Privacy Terms

[?] Subscribe To
This Site

A Great Free
Ezine to help
you
"Tell Your Story"

Email

Name

Then

Don't worry — your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you the
Your Life Is Your Story
newsletter.

Writing Your Life Story Blog

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

Jul 07, 2020

Memoir and Imagination

Memoir has been defined as factual stories about someone's life. Further, it is considered a writing form that covers a specific aspect of the writer's life. This gives the writer a freedom to better explore the themes that have been influential in their life. Unlike an autobiography that follows a chronological timeline a memoir might take a particular period of life and focus on challenges faced and lessons learned.

I find that more liberating. Facts and details are still important, but reasons, motivation and purpose also come into play. But how important is it to be truthful?

Continue reading "Memoir and Imagination"

Jul 04, 2020

Calling Forth A Different Kind of 4th of July

Independence Day 2020. But clearly this is not a typical 4th of July. This year we are dealing with one challenge after another. The pandemic fallout affects us socially, economically, physically, mentally, emotionally, and it appears even politically.

Time to focus on more than hot dogs, flags and fireworks.

Continue reading "Calling Forth A Different Kind of 4th of July"

Jul 04, 2020

Your-Life-Your-Story - My Life Story Blog Archives, June, 2020

An archive of previous My Life Story blog entries from June, 2020 regarding personal history, life story writing and more.

Continue reading "Your-Life-Your-Story - My Life Story Blog Archives, June, 2020"

Jun 29, 2020

A Year for 2020 Vision

2020 has become the “Year of the Pandemic”. But the trials and tribulations brought about by the worldwide Covid 19 virus are only part of the story.

Unrest over racial injustice, police brutality, economic inequality, a struggle for civil rights for all and the very welfare of our planet in the face of ongoing climate change consequences are putting “pain and obstacles” right in our face.

Never in my lifetime have we had a year with so much upheaval. Yes, some of these problems have been around for a long time, but it appears that it’s coming to a head. We may not want to see it. It can be hard to look at the truth of what needs to change and what needs to be done. But we ignore it at our own peril. Thus the sage saying, “If nothing changes, nothing changes.”

How ironic that this is all happening this year. 2020 vision is the term for visual acuity, the clarity or sharpness of vision measured at 20 feet. If you have 20-20 vision you don’t need corrective lenses. You have good eyesight. This year we really need to see clearly.

Continue reading "A Year for 2020 Vision"

Jun 29, 2020

A Year for 2020 Vision

Continue reading "A Year for 2020 Vision"

Jun 25, 2020

Fateful Feedback From Foo Fighters Father

This is a followup to Father's Day. I came across an essay written by Dave Grohl, the musician (drummer with Nirvana, guitarist/frontman, et al for the band Foo Fighters) where he delves honestly and openly into his sometimes frustrating relationship with his father. As a rebellious punk rocker kid he gave his more conservative dad some difficult times.

In reading it my own challenges talking with my father came to mind. He was also conservative, highly intelligent and a rockstar Air Force bomber and fighter jet pilot. We had a few clashes. But mostly we just had a hard time communicating. I really wanted to have some honest and nurturing conversations with my dad. That admittedly was probably hard for my dad to see given my often rebellious attitude.

Continue reading "Fateful Feedback From Foo Fighters Father"

Jun 20, 2020

Faith of Fathers 2020

Let's face it, Father's Day, like virtually every holiday or significant calendar date since March, is different this year. Different because we are dealing with so many impactful situations, from the coronavirus to renewed calls to reform systemic racism and the protection of the rights of all people regardless of race, color, creed or gender.

What does it mean to be a father this year? It's a question I am asking myself. And my answer is to double down on the values I hold dear. I can't hold those values without a faith that it all matters and is part of Something Bigger.

Continue reading "Faith of Fathers 2020"

Jun 19, 2020

Lifting Voices on Juneteenth

Juneteenth is an independence day for African-Americans. The United States marked its independence as a new nation on July 4, 1776. But that was declaring independence of colonists from England. The time honored document containing this declaration stated, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is apparent to anyone who cares to find out that it unfortunately did not include African-American slaves, just as it also didn't really encompass the Creator-endowed rights of Native Americans, children or women.

It is shameful that it is taking so long for enough of society to awaken to this truth and do something about it. Yet there is great hope in the lifting of so many voices in this most trying year. It just goes to show that it takes a lot of collective calamity to shake and wake us up.

Continue reading "Lifting Voices on Juneteenth"

Jun 15, 2020

Summertime at the Mall

I was at a local shopping mall here in Albuquerque today and it brought back a flood of memories.

Shopping malls have had their ups and downs. No doubt you've seen that. Today's experience was nostalgic. I remember how my younger brother and I went through the phase of walking several feet behind our mom when we had to accompany her to the mall. This was the early teen "just not cool to be seen with your mom" phase.

Continue reading "Summertime at the Mall"

Jun 09, 2020

Perspective From Arielle Nobile About Belonging in the USA

There is so much going on right now and many people are saying ABOUT TIME!

The stories are not new. And that is part of the problem. The perspective of many white people, myself included, as not been enlightened enough. Even when we want equal rights and support #BLACKLIVESMATTER we have to face up to the truth about white privilege and the history of systemic racism in the United States.

Years ago I began communicating once in a while with Arielle Nobile. She is a life story writer, personal historian and documentary film maker. I've watched her business grow. Even better, I've watched her grow in great enlightenment about the importance of lives and life stories. In the midst of the protests she takes an honest look at her place in society and her growing perspective.

Continue reading "Perspective From Arielle Nobile About Belonging in the USA"