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Your Life is Your Story, Issue #212– Let There Be Greenery
April 30, 2024
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

April 30, 2024
Issue #212– Let There Be Greenery

From Tom Gilbert – Editor and Writer, www.your-life-your-story.com

In this Issue:
Opening remarks: Remembering the Pandemic Heroes
Featured Article – Let There Be Greenery
Featured Resource – True Stories Well Told

Opening Remarks: Remembering the Pandemic Heroes

It was four years ago about this time that the Coronavirus pandemic was raging. Covid 19 was a very deadly disease at that time and the need for medical supplies was critical.

I was reading the newsletter I put out that month and I was reminded of the brave and selfless acts of many who dealt with working in the early and very dangerous days of the pandemic.

I had come across a news story about 42 workers at Braskem petrochemical plant in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, just finished working 12 hour shifts every day for 28 days in a row to produce the raw materials that are used in PPE (personal protective gear worn by health workers, such as masks and gowns). The need for more of this product was crucial at the time. Their dedication inspires me to this day.

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: Let There Be Greenery

Let There Be Greenery

Springtime renewal brings about an abundance of green, new growth which inspires new experiences and memories.

I am always amazed and impressed when suddenly over just a few days my backyard becomes an explosion of green. Plants with their bright green shoots thrusting up from the soil. Buds bursting into green leaves. It all screams new life!

Appreciating new life is important. It helps us to see that renewal is part of the cycle of life. Seasons happen in nature, but also through the years of our existence.

After Hard Times Comes Renewal

As sure as the sun rises and sets we also have ups and downs in our life journey. It is inevitable. And the hard times, as difficult as they may be, can help us grow. We deal with challenges and face our fears and just like the long cold winter if we persevere we may experience a spring-like rebirth.

In the midst of struggles I do not usually enjoy the experience. I don’t like pain and I also can easily get distressed or discouraged when things don’t go according to plan. Of course, what I mean by that is when things don’t go the way I want them to.

The life lesson that usually results from facing life’s challenges is that we are more resilient than we might think.

I’ve bounced back from many hard times. And I certainly have grown as a result. In order to appreciate that I must keep my memory green. There is nothing wrong with reminiscing about past experiences, including the tough times. The key is to view them with clarity, a willingness to grow, and with a bit of grace. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

To Thine Own Self Be True

You have probably heard the expression, “To thine own self be true.” It’s a line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet. That’s advice for the ages. And it certainly is important in memoir writing.
Read other helpful articles.

Featured Resource: True Stories Well Told

True Stories Well Told is a blog by Sarah White, a life story writing coach, university instructor and a past president of the Association of Personal Historians, a group that I belonged to for many years. She’s rightly been recognized for her many skills, including an award for excellence in life story practice from ICLIP - The International Center for Life Story Innovations and Practice, an academic center of University of Connecticut.

I like the blog. Good honest writing. Some remarkable posts from guest writers. Truth about life and life experiences. So the blog is well named.

Being someone who also writes and coaches others on their life story journey, I relate to Sarah White. It’s great that there are others doing this important work. For more information about True Stories Well Told visit her website.

Closing Information

That’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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