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©2005-2006 Carol Newman
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I would like to write my life story, but how do I begin? This
is a common question so don’t worry if you feel a bit overwhelmed.
Here
is the motto I like to use for life story classes: Good Enough Is
Good Enough. Don’t worry about being perfect. Just have fun.
Write
by hand or on a computer. If you write by hand, use every other
line to make it easier on your readers. Write your story in your
own words, in your own way. Don’t fret about all those grammar
rules you learned in school. Your family and friends are more interested
in your story than they are in semi-colons. Think
small. Keep in mind that an important part of writing your life
story is to create a historical record. Begin with one page telling
your full name, place and date of birth, parents’ complete
names, and names of siblings. Expand
your first page. Tell a little more about when and where you were
born, and how your parents named you. You could also write about
how you felt about your name or write a bit about each sibling.
Remember the motto and have fun.
How should I organize my stories? Most
people think they must tell their story in chronological order:
birth, childhood, adolescence, adult, middle age, old age. That
is fine, but there are other interesting ways, too. You
might organize around “first.” Write about your first
day of school, first love, first day of college, first bike, first
car, first job, first home of your own, first horseback ride. Make
a list of several firsts in your life and write a page or two about
each one. Or
you could organize around the idea of “several.” Write
about all the houses in which you have lived or the variety of jobs
you have had. Sometimes
women say, “Oh, I never worked.” Of course, you did. Write
about managing a household in days before television or home freezers
or air conditioning or supermarkets. Haven’t you marveled at
tales of life in “the old days” when the settlers crossed
the country? Someday our everyday life now and even ten years past
will be “the old days” to our younger family members. You could choose general themes such as home, education, church, family. Just remember, specific details make your story interesting.
I would like to write about my life, but I am so busy; how do I find the time? Do you like coffee, tea or soda? Sit down with a favorite drink for ten minutes, and you will be surprised at how much you can write. On your first day, spend your ten minutes making a list of possible subjects, themes or stories. Here are some ideas: how I met my spouse, my wedding, my favorite subjects in school or how I learned to drive. On succeeding days, just choose a topic from your list. If you want to, just close your eyes and point to something on the list. Any subject is fine. Pick up your pen or put your fingers on the keyboard and let the words flow. Forget about “composing,” or “topic sentences” or any of the other stuff you had to do in school. Keep your hand moving. If you wander off the topic, just go where memory takes you. This is a great way to unearth some wonderful details. Ten minutes a day, and your story will unfold.
Where should I begin my life story? I don’t remember much from my early years. It is perfectly fine to begin your life story anywhere. The times and events you include are entirely up to you. Even though you may not remember certain events, you may have heard stories about them, which you can include. For
example, was there anything unusual about the circumstances surrounding
your birth? Your life story is also a historical account so even
small details can reveal information about the times. In
my case, I was born during World War II. My parents lived in Texas
where my father, an airplane mechanic, was waiting to be shipped
out for overseas duty in England. My parents’ big worry was
whether they would be able to obtain enough rationed gasoline for
my mother to make it back to her family in Oklahoma before the baby
came. Of course, I don’t remember the actual events, but I
remember hearing the exciting details as I grew up. What was happening in the world when you were born? It’s a great place to begin your story.
When I am busy with other things, I have lots of ideas to write about my life; but when I sit down to actually write, I draw a blank. Here
is a simple way to gather your ideas so you will be ready to write
at a moment’s notice. Fold a large sheet of paper into quarters.
Label the top left section Childhood – birth to age twelve,
name the top right section Youth – Age 13 to early 20s.
The lower left quarter will be designated Adult – mid-20s
to 50s; and label the last section Retirement. Keep
this paper in a handy place, and as you think of events or stories
you want to include, jot them down in the appropriate section. Continue
adding ideas as they occur to you. Or
instead of dividing up one large sheet of paper, you could use four
sheets of computer paper or notebook paper. Label each sheet, just
as you labeled the sections of the large paper. When
you sit down to write, simply choose one event from any section.
After you write about each event, cross it off your list. Enjoy the sense of accomplishment as your story begins taking shape.
How do I strike a balance between revealing too much and too little? Imagine
yourself at lunch with a friend. This person is not a lifelong friend,
but someone who is more than a casual acquaintance. Maybe your children
went through school together so the two of you have shared the laughter
and tears as your children grew up, went off to college, married
and had your grandchildren. Maybe one of you has been through divorce
or loss of a spouse or parents. Now
suppose your friend asks: “How did you become the person you
are today?” What would you say? What events would you say shaped
and transformed your life? What people would you list as being influential
in your life and why and how were they influential? As
you think about the events and people in your life, you might first
write a general answer to the questions – think of it as an
overview of your life. Later, you may find you want to delve deeper
into some of the areas. Choose an event and write about it in detail.
Likewise, choose a person and write about how you met, your conversations,
and how you were helped or instructed. Write as if you were speaking to a friend over lunch – revealing yourself in a way comfortable for both of you.
I want to write some family stories, but I want them to have some practical application and be fun. Is that possible? You
might try what my friend, Harriet, did. Harriet went through her
mother’s recipe box and picked out the family favorites. Fortunately
for Harriet, her mother had collected recipes from grandmothers,
great grandmothers and aunts. Harriet selected the recipes with
some history to them, copied them, and included her memories and
funny stories about each one. She planned to do the collection for
her children only but ended up sharing with nieces, nephews and
cousins of different generations. An added bonus, she used it for
Christmas presents. A recipe
collection will generate even more family stories. Another friend,
Judy, collected family recipes too. One day her son called from
college. He was using the family recipe book to make chili. “What
is sweat?” he asked. Sweat? In a chili recipe? Spell it, Judy
said. “S-U-E-T. Sweat.” Whether you have recipes from many generations, as Harriet did, or just one or two, as Judy did, collecting stories around food, good meals, and good times is a wonderful way to construct a life story.
How can I keep track of all the important dates I want to include? Create a timeline. It will help you remember events and put them in order. Add to it and refer to it as you write. To make your timeline, simply draw a horizontal line on a big sheet of paper. If you don’t have any really big paper, tape several regular-size pieces together or make several parallel horizontal lines on one sheet of paper. Leave plenty of room for notes. At the left end of the line, write your birth date. At the right end of the line, write the current year. Then begin filling in with actual or approximate dates of important events in your life. You might include any graduations, marriage, births, deaths, major life changes, and relocations. At first, don’t worry about exact dates or events. In addition to person events, you might want to include historical events or social events of the times. As you write, more things will come to mind. Look up details as you have the time and interest. The following two websites are fun to browse for exact dates and to refresh your general memory about any specific or general date in history: www.dmarie.com/timecap and www.thehistorychannel.com.
What do people forget to include when writing their life story? Life story is not the same as genealogy, but it is still important to include all the basic information. Include your full name, Full name means first, middle, any nicknames, maiden name or names, if you are a woman, and your last name or, again, names if you are a woman who may have been married more than once. You might include how you received your name or any story associated with your name. For example, a man in a recent class told of being called Cornie as he was growing up. It wasn’t until he registered for the draft that he learned to spell his full name – Cornelius. Other basics to include: date and place of birth, parents’ names, grandparents’ names, and names of siblings. Also include names of your spouse or spouses and when and where you were married. Of course, your children’s names, dates and places of birth would be included too. At first, you might simply make a list of all these names and dates. As you write your story, weave the information into the story, being sure to include occasional reminders of who those persons are.
I want to include the basics such as complete family members’ names and dates, but what if I don’t have that information? A wonderful
resource for finding family information is just a few miles, maybe
just a few blocks, from your home. Visit the genealogy section of
your local library. For example, here where I live, the Central
Resource Library, 9875 W. 87th Street, Overland Park, Kansas genealogy
collection features: obituaries from local newspapers for Johnson
County citizens 1977—present; Kansas census microfilm for Johnson
County 1855-1925; early newspapers of Johnson County towns, on microfilm,
dating back to 1861; county and family histories; genealogy journals;
and atlases of Johnson County 1874 and 1902. If
you need to search farther afield, the collection also includes
passenger lists of immigrants to America from various European countries,
guides to ancestry research in many countries, and miscellaneous
records from states and counties around the U.S. Also, find information
on historical societies and other genealogical libraries in the
Kansas City metropolitan area. You
can search for Kansas information at http://genealogy.jocolibrary.org.
If you don’t have a computer, you can use those at the library.
Volunteers are on hand to help. Also, see the library catalog for
free introduction to genealogy classes and computer classes. Find
the Iowa Genealogy Society at www.iowagenealogy.org
or call 515-276-0287 They have 20,000 volumes, 15,000 microforms
including vital records, histories, federal & state census records,
military records. There will be a genealogy society in your location too. Ask at your library, ask your friends, do an online search, and find all the information you need.
I want to include some information about past relatives, or maybe just some general historical information, but I have no idea where to find such information. The National Archives have anything you could want. Recently I visited the Central Plains Region, Regional Archives of the National Archives and Records Administration. These particular archives are located in Kansas City, Missouri at 2312 East Bannister Road. If you plan to visit, especially if you want to use original records (not microfilm), call first (816-268-8000) so they can assure the records are available. Also ask for driving directions. There are several buildings, and it is tricky to find the correct turn. For those of us who love paper, old books, and old documents, this place is just wonderful. Stacks of files that seemed to reach out to the horizon just begged to be inspected. But the best part is, if you arrive prepared with a specific name and place of birth or name and date, they can set you on the path to finding what you want. Someone in my family has already done all the genealogy work, but I would love to just visit the archives to look at the variety of stuff there: federal prison records from Leavenworth back to prisoner number 2, Indian records, census records, territorial papers, Civil War photographs, and records documenting the unexplained loss of Navy flight 19 in the Bermuda Triangle. These are just a few examples. Prepare
for your visit and find a regional archive in your area by reviewing
the web sites:
Both my husband and I want to write our stories. Is there a way our stories can be combined in one book? This is a great idea, and there are several possible ways to do it. You could divide the book into three sections. One section would be your husband’s life up until the time you married, another section would be of your own life until the time you married, and the third section would combine your stories after your marriage. Different fonts or different colored ink could be used to indicate who is “speaking.” Or, you could each have alternating chapters in which you write about the same periods or topics of your life. For example, your husband could write about his early childhood, and then you would write about your early childhood. Again, font type or ink color can indicate whose story is being told. A third method would be to have one person be the principle storyteller. The secondary storyteller could “chime in,” in a different font or ink color, with added detail or commentary. Two lives joined. Two stories joined. A wonderful gift to yourself and family.
I want to write about my mother, but I only see her once a month when I visit her out-of-town retirement community. There isn’t time, and she doesn’t have the energy, for lengthy interviews. How can I gather the information? Think small. A gentleman in a recent class had a wonderful solution to just this problem. He had chosen the theme of their ethnic family food. Each month he talked to his mother about one aspect of the meals she made when he was growing up. After their visit, he wrote a story about their conversation. At year’s end, he had twelve stories. This year he is focusing on family holidays and birthdays. He will have a chapter about Easter, Fourth of July, and all the other celebrations of the year. He also includes just a few, perhaps only one or two, photos. The book he creates is given to his mother as a Christmas gift. Not only is it a gift the two of them created together, it is a memory aid for her and conversation piece when she has visitors. By making the stories tightly focused, the writing task fits easily into his busy schedule, and the stories are interesting to all readers. At year’s end, you will have twelve stories written. That is much better than a grand plan of writing an entire life that is so overwhelming not a word gets written. Think small. Reap large satisfaction.
I am writing my life story. Because I am including part of my family’s story, I can see it is going to take a while. In sorting through family papers, I have found wonderful old photos. Of course, I will use some of them when I put my life story together, but is there anything quick and inexpensive I can do with the photos right now? My family is getting impatient with me. Yes, here is a great idea from Ann. You have seen ads for photo calendars using your own photos. You often see these advertised at Christmas. Usually we think of using new photos of children, grandchildren, and other family members; however, a charming calendar can be made from old photos. If the photos are odd sizes and you want to use more than the twelve that one-a-month would allow, assemble a collage. You might make the collage first and photocopy it in sepia-tone. Birthdays, anniversaries, and other special dates of current family members can be noted on the calendar. Also, consider including important family history dates, such as the date grandparents were married or great-grandparents came to this country. You don’t have to be a whiz on the computer to do this. Ann, who had this idea, is a computer novice. She did her calendars with the help of a copy shop. Visit your friendly copy shop at a time when they aren’t busy and ask for help. While the employees are often rushed, I have always found them to be helpful. If not, just try again somewhere else.
I would like to include some family history such as war records and photos. Where could I obtain some information? Usually, I don’t recommend places that require a fee, subscription, or payment; however, www.ancestry.com has just unveiled new records that are nothing short of amazing. They have more than 90 million U.S. war records, from the first English settlement at Jamestown in 1907 through the Vietnam War’s end in 1975. This new information can be accessed free until June 6, the anniversary of D-Day. After June 6, users can pay $155.40 a year for unlimited access to thousands of U.S. record databases. Check with your local library. Some genealogy websites can be accessed through the library without paying a fee.
I have mixed feelings about writing about my life. Sometimes I feel very angry; sometimes I feel sad. Meanwhile, I avoid writing, but my kids keep asking me to write. Unfortunately, many people have had unfair and unfortunate occurrences in their lives so take comfort that you are not alone. There is no shame in having a less-than-perfect life. In fact, who among us has had a perfect life? Still, how to write about it? Here are two simple questions to answer. (They are simple questions; the answers won’t be so simple.)
These two questions are a little trick – a way of turning the tragic into the triumphant. Try it. It will work. Write your answers and you will feel better for it when you see how you have grown and overcome.
I just want to write something short and concise but meaningful. How can I do that? Look at Robin Roberts’ book, From the Heart: Seven Rules to Live By. Robin, co-host of Good Morning America, has made a list of the rules she lives by and then she has told interesting stories from her life that illustrate how these came to be rules by which she lives. Now, my guess is that if, before she wrote the book, you said, “Robin, tell me the seven rules you live by,” she would have been unable to do so. Making such a list takes some time and some thought, but she did it – so can you. What are the five rules you live by? What are the ten rules you live by. Maybe you want a really short book. What are the three rules you live by? How did you come to those rules? What life experiences contributed to your adopting those rules? Like the rest of us, and like Robin, you may have learned these rules by making some mistakes. Don’t be afraid to admit your mistakes. Don’t be afraid to poke a little fun at yourself. And also, like Robin, do remember to credit those who helped you and taught you along the way. (note: Yesterday Robin Roberts announced she has breast cancer and will be having surgery. Our thoughts and prayers are with her.)
I know you have said that anyone’s life can make an interesting story, but I just can’t seem to find a story line. In a recent issue of AARP Magazine, I read an excerpt from a book that will be published later this month. The title is How Starbucks Saved My Life. That title would be a great way to tap in to some interesting aspects of your life. Fill in the blank: How _________ saved my life. Your sentence could be funny, sad, literal, or metaphorical. It could be a person, a place, knowledge, or an event. For example, I know someone who has said that the best thing that ever happened to her was being turned down for graduate school. So that might be what saved her life. I have heard someone talk about how the military kept him from prison and a life of crime. The sentence doesn’t have to be an actual title for your book. Use it as a tool to get you thinking about events of your life and how your life was shaped. You might write several “saved my life” sentences and choose one. Or try writing about several and see which one is most stimulating. You are right. Anyone’s life can make an interesting story. It’s just a matter of investing the time and thought to find the story line.
I am writing my life story and enjoying the process; but when I read back what I have written, it seems tedious. What is the problem? You may just be being too hard on yourself, but here is one possible culprit. Certain words and phrases can slow the pace. Look for phrases such as I remember, I saw, and I heard. These phrases often can be eliminated. In telling your life story, you are telling things you remember, you saw, and you heard. We know that; therefore, it is unnecessary for you to actually say, “I remember.” How would that work? For example, you may have written, “I saw the ducks flying across the pond toward me.” You can easily change it to, “The ducks flew across the pond toward me.” Or, you may have written, “I remember walking three miles to school.” Change that to “I walked three miles to school.” The writing is crisper and moves quicker. Of course, there are times when you may want to include those phrases – for style, to slow the pace or for other reasons. In those cases, include the phrases. Just know you have an option.
I am not exactly computer literate, and I plan to compile my story in a simple three-ring binder notebook. How can I include pictures and old documents if I am writing my story by hand or if I just use a computer for “typing”? Good for you for being interested in including photos and documents. Although there are computer programs that will insert photos and arrange the words around the photos, there is a simple, low-tech method anyone can use. Let’s suppose you have an heirloom desk that has been handed down in your family. Photograph the desk. Compose the story or description to accompany the item and print or write it at the bottom two-thirds of a page. Take your photo and page to a photocopy machine. Put the photo on the copy machine, put your printed page over it, hit the copy button, and there you have it. If you have a small item, such as a cameo pin, gloves, or handkerchief, you might be able to simply put the item on the copy machine and skip the photography step. If you are copying old documents, make “color” copies to capture the color and look of the old paper and ink. Also, this is a good way to handle items you want to remember, but don’t necessarily want to keep. Capture the item in a good photo and then dispose of the actual item. This can be helpful and soothing to yourself or others who are closing a family home or moving to a retirement community. An album or notebook of loved items with a few paragraphs of description can make a heartwarming keepsake.
Do I have to give up everything else if I want to write my life story? Do I have to give up my painting and golf? Not at all. In fact, those activities add to the richness of your writing because you can create contrasts, comparisons, and metaphors from your other activities. Just as you don’t give up everything else in your life to play golf or to paint, you don’t have to give up anything at all to write about your life. You are adding to – not taking away from. I usually tell people they easily can create a written body of work by writing for a minimum of ten minutes a day. And that is true. It works. I have your letters and e-mails telling me it works. However, you can adapt the method you use for playing golf. You might play a four-hour round of golf once a week. In between, you might go to the driving range or practice your putting. Likewise, you could set aside an afternoon a week to write. Or, if you do your art an hour every day, you could set aside an hour for your writing. Yes, I can hear you. “But I don’t have an extra hour,” you say. Or, “I can sit around writing all afternoon.” Look at the quote for this month. Our writing friend, Betty Swisher, said it well. “If you are going to write your life story, you have to get serious about it.” That doesn’t mean the writing isn’t fun or that you don’t enjoy it. It just means you “get serious” about it in the same way you get serious about your golf, painting, antiquing, or piano playing. Get serious! Have fun!
How can I give my story a unique twist so it doesn’t sound like bragging? Also, I don’t want to go into every single detail of my life. Is that possible? This year I received a Christmas letter from Patty and Darrell Holtz that offers a perfect solution. The letter began by saying it had been an uneventful year for them. Then they suddenly “remembered” something good that had happened. With each paragraph, they “remembered” another event. This created a light tone that carried the reader to the end of the letter. Also, the Holtz’s technique is a nice way of counting blessings without getting all pious and pompous. The first sentence of each paragraph was in red, and that seemed to move the story too so you might experiment a little with font size or color. There were about six paragraphs – not every detail of every day. Just enough to keep the reader smiling. You can do the same. Look back through the year and remember the good things that happened. Or apply the principle to your entire life. Look back through your lifetime and recount the major highlights.
With a group of women friends, I will be spending a week at a fabulous beachside condo in Mexico. Each of us is taking a project to work on. For example, one woman is a painter. I would like to write my life story, but is that possible in only a week? Yes, it is possible. Create a mini-memoir. Don’t you love that term? Already, the scope has been defined so you know this isn’t going to be a saga. There are a couple of ways to approach it. Each day you could write an overview of one decade of your life. An overview can easily be written in a few minutes or a couple of hours. In the overview, write about your place in your family, the general family conditions, a sentence or two about world conditions, how you liked to spend your time, and anything else you want to include. At the end of five days, you will have covered 50 years. Another method would be to select one period, event, or one theme in your life. You might spend the first day listing and refining the points you want to include. Then spend a few minutes or a couple of hours every day writing about one or two points. Think of it as creating a mini-memoir, and you can produce a very nice story. You might even copy it by hand into a little notebook or make a small notebook using your computer and software such as Publisher. Get your artist friend to create a cover and you’re all set. Enjoy the beach, and remember the sunscreen. It’s easy to lose track of time while writing.
I tried to start a timeline, but I have trouble remembering years far in the past. I get frustrated trying to remember and I just quit. Here is an idea I got from Lynn Anderson, editor of The Best Times. In her May 2007 column, “The Editor’s View,” she wrote about a couple that gardens. In an unexpected spring freeze, they had lost many plants in their garden. Lynn writes: “Instead of wallowing in the grief of their losses, he and his wife have a plan. . . . They’re going to walk backward through the years, remembering their garden planning sessions, lively trips to nurseries, moving of plants here and there for best effect.” When I read this, it occurred to me that life story writers could apply the same technique. Work your timeline backward. Begin by listing most recent events instead of most distant. Memories trigger memories and soon you will find the past rising to the surface. Remember to concentrate on successes and accomplishments and soon you will be smiling as your list grows longer and longer.
I’m having trouble with transitions. How do I get from one part of my story to the next part – or from one story to the next? You won’t believe the first part of my answer: don’t worry about it. If you are writing a series of stories or chapters, when one ends and the next begins, your reader will naturally follow along. Never underestimate the intelligence of your reader. Think about movies. The action moves from one scene to the next with little if any transition. When the scene changes, we, the audience, know to follow along. You can give the reader help by mentioning the passage of time, your age, the changing season, your relationships or your location. Or, you can give the reader a visual clue. You can start a new chapter, use a new heading or subheading or you can simply insert extra space between the paragraphs. Sometimes this extra space is accompanied by an extra visual notice such as ***. If you really, really, really think you need something more – try being your own writing coach. Ask yourself: Why do you think you need a transition here? Tell me about what you are transitioning from and transitioning to? Listen to your answer or write your answer. Often when I ask writers these questions, their answer is just the transition that is needed. I simply say: What you just told me is the perfect transition. Write that. Three methods. Give them a try.
In writing my story, I am writing about people in my life. Sometimes their stories come up more than once. For example, I plan to write about my mother-in-law. Then I want to write about my son. Part of my son’s story includes my mother-in-law’s story. Should I repeat her whole? One of the fun things about life story writing is that there are no absolutes. So, it isn’t possible to know ahead of time how these two stories will work out. I have developed a term for this because I have been guilty of it so many times myself. I call it pre-worrying: being immobilized by trying to control the future. Some things just can’t be figured out ahead of time. Write both stories. Can they include different details? Can one part of the story contain more detail? Can your mother-in-law’s story be summarized when you get to your son’s story? If you were learning to water ski, you wouldn’t just sit on the dock and wonder how far forward or backward you should lean or whether to grip the tow rope overhand or underhand. You would just hop into the water and give different methods a try. Same with writing. Try one thing; try another. It may take time, but eventually your pen will be skiing across the paper.
My grandmother lives in another state. I will be visiting her this summer, but I think intense interviewing would be uncomfortable for both of us. Yet, I would like to know her life story. What can I do? We can thank, Deb, a member of the Lenexa Life Story Group for this answer. When Deb was visiting her grandmother, she gave her a small notebook, about 7 inches by 9 inches. The exact size doesn’t matter, but it is important that it be smaller than 8.5 inches by 11inches. Periodically, (I think it was every week.) Deb sent her grandmother one question, such as What was your favorite part of school? Or, What did you do for fun when you were in high school? Or, How was life different before, during, and after World War II? Her grandmother wrote her answers in the notebook, using one or two pages. Later (Maybe it was a year. Choose your own time.), the grandmother returned the notebook, Deb photocopied the pages onto a variety of pretty colored patterned paper, making enough copies for family members, and had the pages spiral bound. It made a pretty book which we enjoyed passing around in the life story group to see the story and to get ideas. A couple of tips: Deb’s grandmother had clear, legible writing so the pages did not need to be transcribed or typed. Also, all that color copying of pages can get expensive. Deb found a sale for copies twenty-nine cents each. To create the questions, just think of questions you would like to ask. As an alternative, there are a variety of books of questions available. Or look online for idea starters. Thanks, Deb, for showing us another fun way to capture life story.
How do I write about my difficult parents when my children have a good relationship with them? I don’t want to damage that relationship. At a recent life story gathering, someone asked how to write about difficult parents and a difficult childhood. This question is frequently asked, but there was a twist this time. This person’s children have a good relationship with the grandparents. The writer doesn’t want to taint that relationship by detailing grievances. Actually, she answered the question herself. She doesn’t have to “detail” the grievances. She can summarize the entire situation in a sentence. My parents and I sometimes disagreed. Or – as I summarized on page 15 of the Write Your Life Story in Eight Weeks Workbook: “My parents were harsh.” That’s it. No details needed. However, the writer can go on and detail what she learned from these experiences and what sustained her during any difficult times. This is also an opportunity to write about people who weresupportive and loving. Sometimes it is necessary to write a draft or two in which you are more specific and get all your hurt and anger out on the page. Then, go back and edit, edit, edit and summarize. This doesn’t mean you sugarcoat events. It just means you choose your focus.
Summer is flying by and my plan to write my life story is evaporating faster than the water in my birdbath. How can I still accomplish something this summer? Here is a great answer from Betty. She wrote this in an email, and it is a perfect solution. I’ll let Betty explain it: If you did this twice a week for the month of September, you could cover 80 years of a life. Three words at a time. Try it now. (Those are my three words on the subject.) And – thank you Betty.
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©2002-2008 Carol A. Newman/There's an Angel in Your Inkwell®
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