In recent times, I have become a huge fan of Wally Lamb. He is a best-selling author famous for writing books that explore the themes that I am attracted to. He wrote a fictional account about the impact of the Columbine shootings on a particular individual and her husband in "The Hour I First Believed". He is also famous for exploring the impact of mental illness on a family in "I Know This Much is True". My most recent Wally Lamb book is a book of stories written by women who were serving time in York Correctional Institution for Women in Connecticut. Mr. Lamb served as a teacher for these women. He taught them how to write. Then he supported their efforts to find their voices, and write their stories. Then he edited and published their work. It was a wonderful collection of stories, giving me insight into these women. It shows how they allowed abuse and other issues to lead them to make wrong decisions. For these women, those decisions led to prison.
In his forward for the book, Mr. Lamb said the following: "That's the funny thing about a labyrinth. What's baffling and illogical on the ground makes perfect sense when you rise above it". For me, that's a wonderful summary for what has occurred for me as I have written. When I look at Maxine and how she has impacted me, I am able to rise above the experience and see it for what it really was. And how it has impacted my life. It's an amazing exercise. In many ways, I also see more clearly how I am connected to other human beings. When we are focused on our own stories, it is easy to begin to see ourselves as somehow different. Writing allows me to see myself in all of my humanity. With my faults and with my strengths. It allows me perspective on what happens in my life. And gives me the opportunity to explore new ways of thinking and behaving.
Reading my own words is a challenge. I always feel that my best self sits down in front of the computer to write. I am focused on the person who sees possibility and works hard to deal with the biochemical issues connected to my depression. It is the time that I am TRULY not my illness. I may explore the negative, but I look at it in the most hopeful way that I can. It helps me to create a new way of looking at the worst experiences of my life. Writing is my peace. When I first started writing about Maxine and her illness, it was very emotional. I remember thinking about one blog article and writing it in my head...as I drove and cried. Thank goodness it was a short trip! When I parked, I sat in the car a few moments to compose myself. And I realized that was the first time that I've actually cried since my Mom died. I was grieving her loss. Many years later. In a way, I felt like I was grieving for the Maxine I lost when she became ill.
What am I saying to you? I really do believe that there is healing in writing. Now, you don't have to publish what you write to make it valuable. The act of sitting down and writing is what's healing. In your efforts to journal, you can explore feelings. You can let go of anger and pain. And you can begin to move on. We all have stories. But not all of us are able to gain perspective and figure out the puzzle. I think that putting our thoughts down on paper (or on computer screen) can make a huge difference in coming to peace regarding our lives.
What do you think? Can you see yourself journaling? How about writing fiction? How can you use a story to heal? Not all of us have the advantage of having Wally Lamb in our corner teaching us how to write, but we do have a voice. We have a story to share. We have the ability to put our thoughts down on paper. And it may help all of us to move forward. I hope you choose to begin writing. It may be your salvation. I believe it has been mine.
In his forward for the book, Mr. Lamb said the following: "That's the funny thing about a labyrinth. What's baffling and illogical on the ground makes perfect sense when you rise above it". For me, that's a wonderful summary for what has occurred for me as I have written. When I look at Maxine and how she has impacted me, I am able to rise above the experience and see it for what it really was. And how it has impacted my life. It's an amazing exercise. In many ways, I also see more clearly how I am connected to other human beings. When we are focused on our own stories, it is easy to begin to see ourselves as somehow different. Writing allows me to see myself in all of my humanity. With my faults and with my strengths. It allows me perspective on what happens in my life. And gives me the opportunity to explore new ways of thinking and behaving.
Reading my own words is a challenge. I always feel that my best self sits down in front of the computer to write. I am focused on the person who sees possibility and works hard to deal with the biochemical issues connected to my depression. It is the time that I am TRULY not my illness. I may explore the negative, but I look at it in the most hopeful way that I can. It helps me to create a new way of looking at the worst experiences of my life. Writing is my peace. When I first started writing about Maxine and her illness, it was very emotional. I remember thinking about one blog article and writing it in my head...as I drove and cried. Thank goodness it was a short trip! When I parked, I sat in the car a few moments to compose myself. And I realized that was the first time that I've actually cried since my Mom died. I was grieving her loss. Many years later. In a way, I felt like I was grieving for the Maxine I lost when she became ill.
What am I saying to you? I really do believe that there is healing in writing. Now, you don't have to publish what you write to make it valuable. The act of sitting down and writing is what's healing. In your efforts to journal, you can explore feelings. You can let go of anger and pain. And you can begin to move on. We all have stories. But not all of us are able to gain perspective and figure out the puzzle. I think that putting our thoughts down on paper (or on computer screen) can make a huge difference in coming to peace regarding our lives.
What do you think? Can you see yourself journaling? How about writing fiction? How can you use a story to heal? Not all of us have the advantage of having Wally Lamb in our corner teaching us how to write, but we do have a voice. We have a story to share. We have the ability to put our thoughts down on paper. And it may help all of us to move forward. I hope you choose to begin writing. It may be your salvation. I believe it has been mine.
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