Is This Really Necessary?–Bad things…and pets

 

Go back to Lesson 7.

 

Our personal histories should be filled with happy stories. But face it, our lives aren’t always happy. Bad things happen to everyone. Do we write about it?

 

Many people will tell you not to record the bad things that happen to you. Often, we want to forget the people who hurt us; who made our paths difficult. But they are part of our story too. Without dwelling on the negative aspects, we might need to take the time to sort through the depths of our hearts to analyze our feelings, in order to write about them. The purpose of this exercise is to analyze and come out the other end, not to dwell and wallow.

 

When you are writing about a difficult subject, find the good in the outcome of the story. Share what you’ve learned. Share how you’ve grown. Share the growth that came from this particular trial. Twist your negative into a positive. One person stated his reason for writing:

 

“The day with Don Murphy when we capsized in icy rapids, lost our paddles, then our canoe, had to ford four ice-choked narrows. I discovered I could do almost anything I had to do, and that I really wanted very much to live.”

 

But this is strictly your choice. Your personal history is yours to share what you want about yourself.

 

Another questionable topic is animals. Pets and animals are a part of many of our lives. But we often forget to talk about how they have affected us. 

 

Pet stories are about love and death. The death of a beloved pet affects us as severely as losing a family member. Every pet lover will assure you these furry heartbeats are indeed family members.

 

Challenge:

 

• Search your heart and see if you are up to writing about a difficult event in your life. Analyze, then write about, what you learned, how you grew, and how you turned it into a blessing.
• Write a poem about a favorite pet.

 

Go to Lesson 9.