THANK YOU for offering this! I pre-ordered your book after your session in A Writing Room, and I’m loving it! In the intro, the three places I underlined are:
p. 20: “…I remained part of the church for for years and integrated my identity so far into its theology that I couldn’t tell the difference between who I was and who I was “supposed to be”. Oof! We have this in common. I recently separated myself from the church that has always been core to my identity. I managed to salvage my faith, tho at first it was a struggle to separate faith from the institution. Even though the leaving was necessary for me as a matter of personal integrity, there is still pain in the separation.
p. 22: “…using story healing as an act of revisiting my past stories in order to understand their impact on the past, present, and future through the act of writing and reflection.”
MOST POWERFUL - underlined and “starred” - p. 22: “Our stories are never done with us; they are constantly unraveling layer upon layer to help us create deeper understanding of how to exist and be in this world.”
I’ve been writing down memories for the past 18 months, hoping (trusting) they will eventually reveal a theme, thread, or structure I can turn into a memoir. At the same time, I periodically write stand-alone pieces to post on my Substack - and many of these are also sort of “memoir adjacent”. I’m not writing my memoir using an outline, rather just capturing what comes up. There have been a few stories that keep resurfacing, and each time I write them I feel parts of them a bit differently, or I find a new way to express the feelings associated with the events. Some that come up on repeat are very painful. Some have just been super revealing as I re-process them. I’m only beginning to also be able to connect some of these with areas in my life that still need healing many years later. I am both scared and hopeful that I may find some much needed healing through this ongoing process. Your book seems to be a perfect companion for my journey.
I appreciate your use of the word “salvage” in regard to faith. That definitely feels like how this has been. Salvaging from the junk yard what could be useful and what not..
I can’t wait to hear what you think of the first chapter about memory, since you are on this journey. I hope this book continues to awaken and support your process. I look forward to hearing how it makes room for your story healing process.
LOVING this all so much Megan!! From your opening paragraph, I felt like I could have highlighted the entire chapter! My body has often had very strong and powerful messages for me, and I’ve been on a listening journey!!
A few of the most potent lines that resonated and brought tears (which hold the truth and the release) included: “When we approach the body’s story with compassionate listening, we can heal our narrative one chapter at a time”… “I wondered if I, too, could play with language and become a historian of my own lived experience.”… (all of page 21)… “I longed to understand the body as a storyteller and use the power of writing to release my past pain”… “writing your formative stories is a powerful portal to find yourself”… “the process of healing one’s stories is a lifelong journey”… “begin to heal them in the light of day”.
Thank you for this potent beginning… and your beautifully, tender guiding words of hope and encouragement! So excited to keep reading and exploring and healing! 💖
Love this so much! I already am on the chapter of collecting my memories each year of my life and the most fascinating reflection is that besides huge milestones like moving, marriage, divorce, and having children, the memories were painful ones—“paper cuts.”
Most of the lines I highlighted are books you mentioned and people you quoted. I've been obsessed with the idea of writing to heal trauma the last few years, I just haven't put it into practice. I went through a very traumatic transition in life within the last year, so I couldn't have found you and this book at a more perfect time. Glad to take this journey with you. :)
I just ordered my copy and can’t wait to start reading. Thank you for writing it and offering this book club!
Yay! I hope you love it. Can’t wait to hear what you think!
THANK YOU for offering this! I pre-ordered your book after your session in A Writing Room, and I’m loving it! In the intro, the three places I underlined are:
p. 20: “…I remained part of the church for for years and integrated my identity so far into its theology that I couldn’t tell the difference between who I was and who I was “supposed to be”. Oof! We have this in common. I recently separated myself from the church that has always been core to my identity. I managed to salvage my faith, tho at first it was a struggle to separate faith from the institution. Even though the leaving was necessary for me as a matter of personal integrity, there is still pain in the separation.
p. 22: “…using story healing as an act of revisiting my past stories in order to understand their impact on the past, present, and future through the act of writing and reflection.”
MOST POWERFUL - underlined and “starred” - p. 22: “Our stories are never done with us; they are constantly unraveling layer upon layer to help us create deeper understanding of how to exist and be in this world.”
I’ve been writing down memories for the past 18 months, hoping (trusting) they will eventually reveal a theme, thread, or structure I can turn into a memoir. At the same time, I periodically write stand-alone pieces to post on my Substack - and many of these are also sort of “memoir adjacent”. I’m not writing my memoir using an outline, rather just capturing what comes up. There have been a few stories that keep resurfacing, and each time I write them I feel parts of them a bit differently, or I find a new way to express the feelings associated with the events. Some that come up on repeat are very painful. Some have just been super revealing as I re-process them. I’m only beginning to also be able to connect some of these with areas in my life that still need healing many years later. I am both scared and hopeful that I may find some much needed healing through this ongoing process. Your book seems to be a perfect companion for my journey.
I appreciate your use of the word “salvage” in regard to faith. That definitely feels like how this has been. Salvaging from the junk yard what could be useful and what not..
I can’t wait to hear what you think of the first chapter about memory, since you are on this journey. I hope this book continues to awaken and support your process. I look forward to hearing how it makes room for your story healing process.
LOVING this all so much Megan!! From your opening paragraph, I felt like I could have highlighted the entire chapter! My body has often had very strong and powerful messages for me, and I’ve been on a listening journey!!
A few of the most potent lines that resonated and brought tears (which hold the truth and the release) included: “When we approach the body’s story with compassionate listening, we can heal our narrative one chapter at a time”… “I wondered if I, too, could play with language and become a historian of my own lived experience.”… (all of page 21)… “I longed to understand the body as a storyteller and use the power of writing to release my past pain”… “writing your formative stories is a powerful portal to find yourself”… “the process of healing one’s stories is a lifelong journey”… “begin to heal them in the light of day”.
Thank you for this potent beginning… and your beautifully, tender guiding words of hope and encouragement! So excited to keep reading and exploring and healing! 💖
Aw thank you Heidi! I am so grateful to hear this and what it is awakening for you! I can’t wait to hear how this continues to unfold your story!
Love this so much! I already am on the chapter of collecting my memories each year of my life and the most fascinating reflection is that besides huge milestones like moving, marriage, divorce, and having children, the memories were painful ones—“paper cuts.”
I am so grateful it is already opening old doors for you. May your entry in be kind, compassionate, and filled with healing.
Most of the lines I highlighted are books you mentioned and people you quoted. I've been obsessed with the idea of writing to heal trauma the last few years, I just haven't put it into practice. I went through a very traumatic transition in life within the last year, so I couldn't have found you and this book at a more perfect time. Glad to take this journey with you. :)
Oooh, wonderful! Which resource are you most intrigued by?
The Gabor Mate book. I've been following him forever and have read his most recent works, but not the one you mentioned yet.
Oh, it’s wonderful! I hope you love it.