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The
"Your Life is Your Story" Blog Archives
© Tom
Gilbert
Read
about
quality family history and life story news, views, methods, products,
links, services
...and whatever else catches our fancy of personal
historian
February,
2018
current
blog entries
blog
archive
index
Writing a First Draft of Your Memoir Is Really Possible
February 27, 2018
So many people have thought about writing a life story or memoir. They
agree it is a good idea to help process their life experiences and
share their values and lessons. They understand it is good for their
emotional and spiritual health and development. They recognize it as
one way to leave their mark, to let others know who they are and what
the life journey has been for them.
At the same time many of these people, and many others besides, think
it will never get done. Too hard. Too expensive. Time consuming. How to
start? Who can help?
I get it. It is true that making a commitment to writing a memoir is
not easy. But many of the above excuses are similar to what I hear the
fifth graders I teach say about their writing assignments.
But when they just start sometimes the creativity, imagination and dedication take over.
What a sense of accomplishment when you finally do have a written narrative about your life!
I have helped many people with their life stories. But to be honest, I
have limited time. Someone who does it better than me is starting up
another of his excellent programs. The Memoir Network with Denis LeDoux (writing coach, mentor, instructor, writer) has something called Write Your First Memoir Draft. The WYFMD Program (for short) is well designed and well worth the investment if you really want to get a memoir written.
The program will start up on March 16. Great early bird savings are available now! The answers you want are laid out here on the FAQ page. It costs you nothing to take a look.
Writing a first draft of your memoir is really possible. Getting the
guidance you need from someone who has taught many others and written
several memoirs himself makes a lot of sense. Take a look - it could be the start of something great, the memoir or life story you know you want to write.
Students are Speaking Out About Gun Control and Safety in Schools
February 22, 2018
I do not personally know anyone who has lost a loved one in a school
shooting. Not Columbine, not Sandy Hook, and not most recently at
Stoneman Douglas High School. Yet, I realize the pain and sadness run
deep.
The sad reality in America today is that school shootings keep
happening. And there seems no way to make our schools completely safe
against these tragedies.
But something can be done. Something must be done.
While many adults can't seem to come to agreement on solutions we are
now seeing some students stepping up. A town hall meeting in Florida
drew 7,000 people to speak out and many of them were students, some of
them survivors who lost friends. Follow this link
to watch some short videos posted on CNN by some of the students
speaking up after the February 14 shooting in Florida that took the
lives of seventeen people.
When I hear students bold enough to speak out about the need for love
and change and calling for real action I am impressed. I am a teacher
and every day now that I go to my classroom I want to help young people
discover, learn and enjoy a full life. I don't want them to be consumed
by fear or worried about their safety.
The stories from these students are powerful, just as stories from
parents, teachers, law enforcement, medical professionals and all
family members and friends whose lives have been impacted by these
tragedies have powerful experiences to relate.
Let's have the dialogue. Say what needs to be said. Come up with doable
plans that will reduce the possibility of more senseless violence and
killing. Money is never more important than life. I commend
the brave voices who are speaking out about the need to ban assault
weapons such as the AR-15 rifle. And let's face it, there is a need to
make background checks stronger.
Beyond that we really need to have some growth about how we live with
and among each other. There is way too much "us versus them". It's time
for more love and support for our common humanity.
Love, A Matter of Heart
February 13, 2018
Happy day before Valentine's Day. Tomorrow many hearts will turn
towards romance. Some of it will actually be sincere. But let's face
it, some will be a reaction to confectionary, card-giving,
guilt-induced, and overly commercialized pseudo romance.
Still, love conquers all.
And when all is said and done, your life is a measure of the love you
give. It's a matter of heart. The Beatles said it well with The End, "The love you take is equal to the love you make." They also said, "All you need is love." Some pretty good sentiments.
Love is a matter of heart. And love can take many forms. Eros, ludus, philia, mania and agape, to name a few.
Love that lasts is built on a sturdy foundation of true friendship.
Romantic and erotic love get the most attention, but agape, love
that is selfless, is where it's at.
Most of us know that love is what we need and what will change the
world. Still, it is easy to get beat down or cynical. But don't. Don't
give up on love.
 Love
is what matters. And love is a matter of the heart. Hearts beat to keep
us alive, and I mean that in more than the physical necessity of
pumping blood through our bodies. The heart is more than a
muscle. According to William Hazlit, "The seat of knowledge is in
the head, of wisdom, in the heart."
Tomorrow is not just Valentine's Day. For Christians who commemorate
the importance of repentance and change of heart, of giving, fasting
and praying, this year's February 14 is also Ash Wednesday. Interesting
coincidence.
It is never too late to change, to be more loving, more selfless and
more forgiving. Here's to a love that is truly a matter of heart.
Pioneering Internet
Freedom Advocate and Grateful Dead Co-Songwriter John Perry Barlow
Passes On
February 8, 2018
John Perry Barlow met Bob Weir in high school in Colorado. They were
both at that particular school because they "had difficulties" or "were
difficult". When Weir was kicked out Barlow was upset he also was not
booted, so he quit in protest.
They remained friends and songwriting partners for many years. Barlow
came from rural roots which influenced many of the song lyrics he
penned for Weir co-compositions. Some of the best loved Grateful Dead
songs, in my opinion, were the result of Barlow's wordsmithing. Estimated Prophet, The Music
Never Stopped, Weather Report Suite, and of course, Cassidy.
But Barlow
was much more than an excellent songwriting partner. He was an early
advocate for free expression and creativity on the Internet. Just visit
the Electronic Frontier Foundation to see the tribute they have posted to him. Or better yet, watch this reading of The Declaration of Independence of Cyberspace,
which he wrote 22 years ago today. It should give you pause to think
about how we often take the Internet, and all it affords us, for
granted.
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