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Your Life is Your Story, Issue #214 – Olympic Discipline July 24, 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 July 24, 2024 Issue #214– Olympic Discipline From Tom Gilbert – Editor and Writer, www.your-life-your-story.com In this Issue: Opening remarks: Olympic Discipline Featured Article – Under the Hood To Search Out Life Memories Featured Resource – BookSirens Reader Reviews Opening Remarks: Olympic DisciplineThe Summer Olympic Games are set to begin on Friday (July 26, 2024) in Paris, France. Every four years the world’s greatest athletes gather to compete for medals and prestige. The discipline of Olympic athletes is incredible. The competition at the Olympic Games is the culmination of hard work and training. Without that preparation there is no way to make their respective countries’ teams or be able to successfully compete. Being disciplined is not easy. It’s hard to maintain. But it is tied to success. This is true in your memoir writing. A regular writing schedule will help you, even little by little, to accomplish completing your life story. I think the toughest times for me are to write when I don’t feel like it. I want to be inspired. But there are ways to get there. Start with a memory list of key events in your life. Pick one and write on it; surely one of them will “call” to you. Just getting started and writing for 15 or 20 minutes can jumpstart the juices. Try it. And I hope you enjoy this issue and the feature article that asks you to check “under the hood” for some important reminiscences. 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: Under the Hood To Search Out Life MemoriesSearching out your life memories with a "checkup from the neck up"
I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car. Bruce Springsteen from "Growin' Up" 
My sister, Leslie, found this picture of me when I was in Kansas City for my father's funeral in January of 2012. It is dated February of 1958. That would put my age at two years and a couple of months. I am holding my beloved "Ted Bear" that I dragged everywhere. As you can see, I am standing under the hood of our family car, one of those big old Buicks, a big, solid car. I have never been very good at working on cars. But I certainly admire those who have the knack. My brother, Doug, is one. He’s tinkered a lot and even restored a couple of sports cars, one being a replica of KITT, the 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am from the television program, “Knight Rider.” I think he even did some kind of tech to get the car to “talk.” Paul, another friend of mine, is not only handy with a wrench and knowledgeable about cars – he actually likes working on them. Imagine that, I always look at it as a chore! At any rate, it made me feel less guilty when he offered to do some repairs that normally would be cost prohibitive at the auto shop. Sure, I paid for the parts and gave him something for his time, but nothing like the fees I’d incur at the neighborhood mechanic. There are times and jobs when I go to an auto mechanic and it is good to find one you can trust. But the bonus of getting together with a friend or family member to spend some time under the hood of your ride can create important memories. Even those you laugh at now, but caused a lot of grief at the time, like breaking a bolt or a belt. What's under "your" hood?The metaphor of standing under the hood got me thinking. What is "under the hood", i.e. inside our heads?We all have things that "drive" us. Our personal "horsepower" helps us accomplish goals and pursue dreams. Read more here. Featured Resource: BookSirens Reader Reviews
Writers are readers–it’s a fact! If you like to read and like to get free copies of new releases then you might be interested in BookSirens. They look for readers who will read new releases and give honest reviews. I am currently working with BookSirens to find readers who will read and review French Twist–A Tale of Travel, Testing and Triumph. It’s the incredible story of Janine Winters, a strong and brave woman who trusted me to tell her story. It is her life experiences and my writing. If you are interested in reading a free copy and willing to write a short review then visit this link. Thank you in advance for your interest. The book is currently available for sale on Amazon. For more information see French Twist: A Tale of Travel, Testing and Triumph. 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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