28/07/2023
At the age of 12, I began to be brave and courageous to pen the stories of my ancestors, my paternal grandparents.
Iâd read the book and seen the movie the Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. I really resonated with so much of Amyâs storytelling, I turned my mind to ââŚhow can I write my story, but just like this?...â
This began my obsession with reading because Tan always explained to be a good writer, you need to read. A lot. I read all of her books, curious to uncover, what I needed to, in order to write my own story. I read other books that told of family and generational stories.
Never once did I think about writing my own life story. I only saw value in writing the story of my grandparents.
You see, one day, I was overwhelmed with anger, frustration and sadness at not being able to experience a relationship with my paternal grandparents because they passed on before I was able. However, the only reason I knew I was missing this relationship, was because I had a very connected, loving, kind relationship with my maternal grandmother, my popo.
So began my journey to understand myself that day, by writing. I overheard a singer songwriter on the radio say that songwriting was a cathartic experience for her. That interview and her words resonated with me. At first, I thought maybe I needed to be a songwriter but hold on I donât know how to write songs, and I asked myself well do what you know to do and then I decided I would translate her message across to my writing. I told myself, I want to write, perhaps through this journey of writing, I will heal my heart, the same way this singer songwriter healed hers through songwriting.
You too have your own version of this. A story that is waiting to be untold. A story that is waiting to be unravelled. A self enquiry that is and has been your lifeâs journey and purpose.
I just didnât realise even for myself until now, just how important these moments were for me. A loss of a loved one has granted me with the muscle to flex. Itâs now or never. When will you just get on with telling YOUR life story?
You donât know who is waiting to hear it. You donât know the impact on that person waiting to hear it. And it could save someone elseâs life, for them to read, see or hear your story, as a book or as a movie.
It could lead that person on their own lifeâs journey to fulfill their own lifeâs purpose. And it could bring them meaning, purpose and a will to search and find the things most important to them.
What are you waiting for? if you need help to find the milestones in your own story, you just have to be willing to observe and listen to the quiet of your mind. Use the experiences in your life to navigate you closer toward the things that are most important to you.
If you are like me and you have children, you have even more of a reason to leave a legacy behind you. What will you leave that will connect them with you through time and space? Whatever you create, will be this. But your deep reason, is to become this person who trusts yourself and listens to your heart.