The Thing that EVERYONE Has (and It's Time to Share It)

Whether you are an actor, a writer, a teacher, a carpenter, a mother, a grandpa, a cowboy, a runner, a chef, or a Best Buy Geek, you all have it, but you may not realize it. That thing is a story. Your story, to be exact.

Everyone has a story, and contrary to what many of you may believe, there is no such thing as a boring story.

Every story is worth introducing to others. It doesn’t mean you need to rush out and find a publisher or a producer to make your tale into a blockbuster, and by the way, yes, I think Robert Downey Jr. should play my husband, but that’s not the point. . . .

Have you thought about putting your story down somewhere so that it could be shared? Or even just a part of your story that is significant to who you are or who you are becoming?

I have a friend who is a physical trainer/coach. She is always on the move, or on the phone, or cooking something delicious, or with friends, family, or clients. She would much rather post a video of her talking than writing a blog or article, because that’s what comes naturally to her.

However, a few years ago, she challenged herself to run a marathon. After this amazing accomplishment of perseverance and drive, she had learned so much, she was compelled to write down this chapter of her story. And it was beautiful. Who knows how many people will be touched by her efforts? And that is not just a literary question—we truly do not know how many readers are affected by what we share through our words.

So, if I’ve even semi-talked you into sharpening that pencil or figuring out how to make a Word document on your computer, here are some suggestions to get your story headed outside of your own head.

1.    First you need to decide if there is an event or two or three that stick out in your mind, happenings that you’d like to remember. Or would you rather write an account of your whole life, so far? Or maybe you just want to record a typical day in your life. One of the most interesting books I ever read was about creative people’s regular days. And despite the fact that many of the artists’ routines overlapped quite a bit, I could not put the book down. So don’t shirk from writing about a day that seems like every other day.

2.    Once you’ve decided generally what you want to write about, then begin writing. This is not as easy as it sounds; however, it is easier than the overwhelming obstacle your mind has created it to be. I suggest creating an outline if your mind likes order. And if it is not as orderly, then begin writing and see where it takes you.

3.    Write down all the details you can remember. Names, places, colors of things. These little details may spark other, more meaningful aspects of your  memory that you would want to include. Don’t hesitate to talk to others who experienced whatever you are writing about. While they will have a completely different perspective, they may shed a new light on certain specifics or spark new memories from you.

4.    Steps 2 and 3 could take you a few days, a few weeks, or a few years. As long as you’re moving forward, you are doing well. And when you’ve written all you can, stop. Yes, it’s that simple. Notice that I say “simple,” and not “easy.” There is nothing easy about writing, though the process is rather basic.

Sometimes we just need to share our story because there is one other person in this world who needs to hear it. And that one other person may even be ourselves. Writing something down helps us understand it, deal with it, and embrace it on a deeper level.

You’ve been experiencing the ups and downs, the good and the bad, of your beautiful story. It’s time to share it with the world.

And by the way, that includes me! I would love to hear your story or any part of it. You can send it directly to me at hello@thecreativefarmgirl.com. 

Let's do this.