Life Story Lady

Surprises - Good or Bad - make Memories

"So... how's that' 'write a blog post every day in January' working out for you?," a friend had the nerve to ask. Well, obviously, not very well. First I got sick, then I had company from out of town. I figured I could still write during that time, but you know how it is... you run around all day, talk late into the evening, then you're tired. Things happen.

I will state here that it was NOT a resolution to do the daily post, just a goal I set for myself. Yes, I've failed at the goal, but I haven't failed completely in my mission, because I'm still writing, and I will continue to do so.

The surprise (bad) to me was that I would allow so many things to interfere with reaching that goal. But we readjust and move on. The only real failure is giving up.

Now how about good surprises. I've actually been helping this same friend plan a surprise visit to his family here in Arizona. They were totally blown away, and it was fun for me to be a part of it. Years ago, when our son was at West Point, he surprised us with a visit home when we didn't expect him, and a family friend was instrumental in making that happen. It made a wonderful memory for all of us.

Another amazing surprise was when my husband had this same family friend lure me to the airport under false pretenses, and hubby was there waiting to whisk me onto an airplane for a surprise trip to San Francisco for our 20th wedding anniversary. Our kids were in on it, had packed my bags, and were there to see us off. What a great time that was!

What has been the biggest surprise in your life? An unexpected visit from someone you love or hadn't seen in years? A huge gift, like a new car? An unexpected trip?

Write about one of the best surprises you remember - even if it goes back to your childhood. If you can't think of any - maybe you need more spontaneity in your life! Plan a surprise for someone else, and see how good it will make you feel! And then document it all in words and pictures and present it as a gift to the subject.

When Life gets in the way of Writing

So much  for my goal to write every day in January. Who knew a stomach virus could hit so hard? To be followed by a head cold and severe laryngitis. Yes, I know... writing does not involve talking. But I'm one of those people who never gets sick. The running joke in my family is that I had a cold last Tuesday - between 2:00 and 2:15pm. But this was one thing after another, and they both hit hard.

It must be the Illinois weather. Or germs carried by 2 adorable little boys who shall remain completely blameless in all this. But I'm on the upswing now, and determined to carry through for the rest of the month.

So many things make me think about the importance of leaving our legacy. Not just writing our stories, but sharing our lives, our thoughts, our feelings, with those we love, while we can. The tragic shootings in Tucson over the weekend bring this to the forefront of my mind yet again; that realization that we just never know when our final moment - or that of someone we love - may be. And right now, the last thing on anyone's mind is "I wish they'd written their story."

But what survivors may be thinking is "I wish I'd said 'I love you' as he walked out the door." Or "Why didn't I tell my friend how much she meant to me?"

I'm going to give you a new challenge today. Write a letter to those in your life that you love and care about. I call these Legacy Letters. Tell them what they've meant to you, how they've inspired you, what they've brought to your life. It can be a simple one page letter to each person, or a longer letter to all family members - perhaps including a paragraph about each one individually.

This shouldn't take more than an hour or two at the most. Then give them the letters.

It's been said that we regret most in life not the things we've done, but the things we've left undone. Don't let failing to express your love become your biggest regret.

NOT a Resolution... Just a Goal

Happy New Year to everyone!

No, I don't make resolutions, but I do set goals for myself for the coming year. One of my goals for 2011 is to be more consistent in my blog posts. My plan is to post something every day during January. (Well, yes, I know today is already January second, but yesterday was a holiday! Hmmm - I think I see my problem.) If I can do this for a month, when I cut back to two or three posts a week in February - it'll seem so much easier.

How about you? Do you make resolutions? Do you set goals? Do you look back on the past year, reflect, and think about what you might have done better - or at least differently?

If you set goals or make resolutions, be sure to include writing your memories somewhere in there. Set a goal to write two stories a week, even if it's just a couple of paragraphs about a special time in your life. Or your goal might be to have 50 chapters done by the end of the year. If you break writing your life story into small, manageable chunks, it'll be so much easier to envision...and achieve!

And as you reflect back on 2010, jot down some notes on the important events from the year that you'd like to remember and share. Did you start a new business? Retire? Have a child? A grandchild? Take a long-planned trip? Buy a house? Struggle with an illness?

Write about the successes, challenges, or adventures while they're fresh in your mind.

You'll be surprised how easy it is to write about your life - one story at a time!

Let me know how it's coming along!  See you tomorrow!