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Sunset's reality impacted my thoughts as retirement from a most active medical practice approached. I had sat with my mother and recorded stories from her young days, but had not done this with my dad. I missed him. I realized that my children and grandchildren might have similar regrets if I neglected my own rich stories. I began to write. It became fun. I learned much more than I anticipated. You will also as you tell your stories.
Here are some of the things I learned:
With a versatile imagination I could simply load my grandkids into our "Greyhound Cheese Bus"* and take them right back through time to accompany me in doing those things of years before. Such fun!
We got to devise a new word - "Mudwatching," and found memories generate more memories. Even "hard times" can bring wealth as they create love, fun and laughter.
The wealth of these stories can easliy be shared in a group and become a source of understanding, healing and strong community. Families, businesses, church groups and many others will find huge profit in doing this.
In our culture stories are not revered as they are in many. Age and its wisdom are often overlooked. Telling life stories can add much meaning for both listener and speaker - especially near the end of life. What a great gift!
I found that stories teach us. They are what we remember. An article written in "The American Journal of Medicine" titled "The Primer Never Written," by Terry Wahls, M.D., states: "Now that I am one of the professors giving lectures to medical students, I see them diligently memorizing my words for the test. However, once they move on to the next unit, my words are soon lost in the maze of facts they must learn. Hearing and being part of our patients' stories is how learning really occurs. Words alone are dry, brittle and without meaning. However, words telling stories show us reality."
What are your thoughts? Read "MUDWATCHING" and then answer that question.
* Read MUDWATCHING to find out about "Greyhound Cheese Busses."
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Thank You,
Ken Magee