Do you feel overwhelmed when you start thinking about telling your story?
It can feel like a BIG undertaking!
I encourage you to begin small – – one thread at a time!
To illustrate what I mean, I want to use a quilt as an analogy.
QUILT
A quilt is a complex collection of many threads that blend together to form a truly function item.
The overall quilt pattern can be as organized as a Block Quilt or it can appear wildly unpredictable as a Patchwork Quilt.
EXAMPLE: An Amazing Life
An individual’s life story may be smooth and organized, or wildly unpredictable.
So your life story is a unique quilt with your own patterns and colors.
My mother’s life story is indeed an unpredictable patchwork that included thirteen children and burying two husbands. But she wove the threads together beautifully and had An Amazing Life.
BLOCK
Look close at a quilt. You will see it was created by combining a number of blocks.
For your story, think of these blocks as major chapters in your life.
For example:
- growing up on the farm;
- high school years;
- raising your kids;
- working for Company XYZ;
- college days;
- time in the Service; etc.
One of the quilt blocks in my Mom’s life story is the summer of 1954. I learned many lessons from Mom that summer.
EXAMPLE: Lessons from Mom
FABRIC
EXAMPLE: Avon 3-Day Walk
As the example shows, each quilt block is created by combining fabrics in different colors and designs.
An example of fabric of a life story can be illustrated by looking at significant trends in your life and what they mean to you.
A strong fabric in Mom’s life story is the bond she fostered within her children. Even now in adulthood, sisters still come together to share a challenge.
THREAD
While we seldom pay attention to is, each fabric is created by individual threads tightly woven together to make fabric.
So it is with our lives. Our character traits or habits are threads that shape our life.
Where did you learn them?
What help shape your life?
My grandfather was a strong thread in my Mom’s story.
EXAMPLE: The Salesman
STARTING POINT
Where should you start with your story?
My suggestion would be to start your own Thread Catcher notebook. To get started, open to the first page of your notebook. For the next ten minutes, jot down the first words that come to mind when you think about your life.
Don’t overthink this part. Setting a timer may help you focus. Just jot down what pops in your head without wondering ‘why’. As you jot more items down, others items will come to mind.
For me, my Thread Catcher notebook includes things like: grandsons / Gum Gulley / farm / washing dishes / Susie / etc.
As you go through this exercise, one item will speak to you and you will know where to begin. Focus on that item and begin writing your story. When other things pop into your head, just job them down in your Thread Catcher notebook, and keep on going.
NOTE: Remember, writing down your story or recording your story is more powerful than making it into a little video. The primary goal is to encourage you to Embrace Your Narrative.
Do you feel overwhelmed when you start thinking about telling your story?
It can feel like a BIG undertaking!
I encourage you to begin small – – one thread at a time!