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Your Life is Your Story, Issue #205 – Life Transitions September 01, 2023 |
| Greetings "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." 
Your Life is Your Story Newsletter August 31, 2023 Issue #205 – Life Transitions From Tom Gilbert – Editor and Writer, www.your-life-your-story.com In this Issue: Opening remarks: Some Summer Featured Article: Life Transitions Featured Resource: Dying, or Aging with Grace Opening Remarks: Some SummerThis has been some summer. Apparently the hottest on record. Wildfires, storms, heatwaves and drought. Whew! But still people have been out doing summer things. Record crowds at National Parks. Lots of people on the roads and in the air. Travel is typically a big deal in the summer months. One of the reasons to travel is to see wonderful sights and meet up with old friends. I did that in August with a drive through Utah and a visit to my college roommate and former radio colleague in Salt Lake City. And boy did we reminisce and catch up. It was a good time. I hope you also have had a chance to travel and maybe see old acquaintances. Part of living forward is celebrating friendships, family, good memories and making new ones. Thank you so much for being part of the Your Life Is Your Story community. Thanks 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. – Tom Featured Article: Life TransitionsThere are times, both figuratively and literally, when we stand in a doorway, in that strange space where we are about to go somewhere, but we aren’t exactly sure where that is. We enter something called “liminal space” and it is often where real change takes place. Life Transitions are all about change. We age from child to adult. We grow through our life experiences in school, careers and retirement. What a journey! How often have you found yourself in that state of “in between”? Sometimes societies experience great change and transition as a result of something cataclysmic. Violent natural events, war, terrorism, pandemics – these put all of us in liminal space and for a while we are almost lost and floating in a state of fear or uncertainty. A good reflection about this by Richard Rohr gives some valuable insight. When we look back at these life transitions we might realize we’ve had big breakthroughs. We might appreciate life more and live differently. I know this definitely happens when we go through events like recovery from addictions, accidents or illness. Also things like loss of a job or changes in relationships. 
There are also times where we decide to let go of old hurts. Put the past behind us. Turn over a new leaf. Many do it at the start of the new year with reflection and resolutions. Here in New Mexico there is the tradition of Zozobra, the burning of “Old Man Gloom.” It’s quite a spectacle and something of a party, but at the heart of it all is ridding oneself of past sadness. Inside the giant puppet (50 feet tall) are thousands of paper “glooms” such as old love letters, divorce papers, parking tickets, bad habits, hurt feelings and more! They will all go up in flames along with Zozobra as thousands of spectators shout “BURN HIM!” Santa Fe hosts the event each year at this time, right at the start of the Labor Day Weekend. When you decide to tell your story, be sure to include your life transition experiences. Even sharing about the hardships. Especially about the hardships. This is where others can relate to your honesty and draw inspiration and strength. Read other helpful articles articles where there is a wealth of information on the life story process. Featured Resource: Dying, or Aging with GraceDying, or Aging with Grace,is a web resource on illness, death and dying, life, grief, and positive aging.That covers a lot of ground and Pat McNees, author of Dying: - A Book of Comfort knows a lot about all of this. She is an accomplished writer, personal historian and consultant on such matters. I consider what she does, including the work around death and dying, to be life affirming. Everyone dies and everyone deals with grief over the loss of loved ones. How we learn, grow and use our experiences to live a fuller life is important. Check out the site. Closing InformationThat’s it for this month’s issue. Thanks for reading. Here’s to telling your story. Do give it some serious consideration because I just know you’ve got a great story to tell! Be sure to see the Get Started section.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 |
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