there's a wound out there in the shape of your words

 

I spend a lot of time encouraging people I know to tell the stories they hold tight in their hearts. To write them down, or get them onto a canvas, or put them into movement or song. As a physician, I do this because I know that storytelling is a healing practice. Why is this important? In the words of poet Sean Thomas Dougherty:

"Because right now

there is someone out there 

with a wound in the exact shape of your words."

~Sean Thomas Dougherty~

People need to know they're not alone. They need to know how you survived. That there is hope. That their story is important, too.

We hesitate to begin out of fear. We tell ourselves we don't write well enough. We don't know where or how to get started. We are sure no one could possibly be interested in what happened to us, so we make up excuses. I don't have time to write. My grammar and spelling stink. People will never believe me.

Sometimes, shame silences us. We have been conditioned to keep secrets. We blame ourselves for what happened to us. Or perhaps we're still struggling with the issue. It's too painful, or sad, or maddening to put into words.

If you're having trouble getting started with your story, if you have no confidence in your ability to tell it, or you have no time or energy to devote to one more thing...welcome to the club! This is where we all started.

The good news is that help is available. 

"When the student is ready,

the teacher will appear."

~Various Attributions~

This week, I finished "Memoir as Medicine" by Nancy Slonim Aronie. As soon as I hit the last page, I started again at the beginning. If you need just a tiny jolt of reassurance, inspiration, and encouragement to pep you up, stop whatever you're doing right this minute, and order this book. Or run out and purchase it. Do it! We'll wait. While you're at it, pick up a new notebook or journal so you can take notes. Prepare to laugh, and perhaps, to cry. Prepare to begin writing. Get ready to heal.

"Writing is medicine.

It is an appropriate antidote to injury.

It is an appropriate companion for

any difficult change."

~Julia Cameron~

Now go to the author's website at https://chilmarkwritingworkshop.com/ to learn more.

jan