"Your past is your story up to now. The future is the story yet to come. The present is where you live with that experience, your hopes and your dreams."

Opening Remarks: Hurry Up to Slow Down

Thank you to all our subscribers. I hope you enjoy this month’s issue. You are receiving this e-zine because you signed up for it or someone who is subscribed passed it along to you. If a friend DID forward this to you consider subscribing by visiting our signup page . Also, let me know what you’d like to see more of in this newsletter – simply reply to this email e-zine.

While the main focus of this newsletter is to share thoughts, ideas, and insights on life story writing you should know that I offer various services and also mention some products and services that can be helpful. You are under no obligation to purchase anything, but if any of these products or services are helpful and you decide to utilize them then I am most grateful.

Thanks for reading. – Tom

Featured Article: Building Bridges for Art and Life

In a world where people are too often building walls it is important to recognize that life stories can build bridges that connect us. A family history or life story can connect younger generations with their elders. It can connect people who share similar values. Our stories can bridge the gap between cultures and help people recognize that despite our differences we have many things in common.

Building bridges for the better good is better than building walls out of fear of the other.

One of the wonderful ways to build bridges so that people can connect is through the use of art. There are many artistic activities that allow for sharing lessons, values and stories. An organization based in America’s heartland of Lincoln, Nebraska is using the arts to help facilitate the creation and sharing of life stories and spiritual growth. The Hildegard Center of Arts is inspired by the 12th century artist and mystic Hildegard Von Bingen. This woman was very much ahead of her time. She created sacred music, poetry, was a playwright, social critic and theologian. Her inspiration to this art center is clearly evident in a new program they have developed: Art Bridges – Lesson Plans for Enrichment, Growth and Healing.

Visit hildegardcenter.org and select “Bridges” and then “Art Bridges” to discover how the idea developed from Jean Martin (an artist, teacher and art curator) to develop lesson plans for seniors, especially ones that anyone can do. Ms. Martin was ninety at the time and her invigorating spirit and enthusiasm channeled Hildegard and motivated the HCFA to create the Art Bridges Project. Project Chair Anne Woita collaborated with many people to create a project containing more than 120 links, activities and/or lesson plans. In addition, there are 15 articles in 75 files which encompass visual art, writing, storytelling, music enrichment and even drama. I am honored to have an article I wrote (Why Tell Your Life Story?) included in a “personal stories and more” lesson that has some fun activities such as creating a persona-poem or a personal mandala.

How we go about our lives interacting with others, be they family, friends or the members of our community and the world at large, says a lot about our values and our humanity. When you preserve your life story to share these values with others you are helping to weave a great tapestry that can teach and inspire others. It is so much better than building walls and huddling in fear or criticizing those who are different from us. We don’t all share the same beliefs, but we do share the same world.

You can read other life story articles here.

Featured Resource: Short Professional Bio

Closing Information

Any comments, ideas or feedback is greatly appreciated. Just reply to this ‘zine and tell me what you think!

Until next time, – keep your story alive!

Tom Gilbert