Because of my own experience of finally opening that old chest of secrets i carried around, heavy on my back, for half a century, my words to others are “write it down and let it go.” Write about the events in your life that you don’t talk about, that your try to smother and not even think about yourself. Write it down, talking about it isn’t enough. The writing of it, even if you don’t plan to publish or even share it, begins to put a scab on your hurts so they can heal. Write it down.
Add the funny things that may not have been so funny when they happened. They will lighten up your piece and will remind you that it wasn’t all bad. Those little moments that happened kept you from going over the edge. I think our journeys must be planned that way.
Keep in mind that you don’t need anyone’s permission to tell your story the way you saw it happen. It may be a different version than someone else’s but it is the way you saw it that makes it your story. You are not responsible for anyone else’s vision. If you are concerned someone else may be upset at what you are writing about them, they should have behaved better. It isn’t your fault if they behaved badly. Start anywhere. It doesn’t have to be from the beginning. You can always go back in time and add it when you think of it. You can edit your writing later. Just get it out and get it down. It goes much easier once you begin. Remember that the more you write, the easier and better your writing becomes. Your writing will amaze you. You will also see what a wonderful person you are. After all, if it is in print…
