“I want to, but how?” All the what if’s and I don’t know how’s kept swirling around in her head...and kept her from taking any step at all. It was like being stuck inside a giant box without a clear path out.
Something about the shadows on the walkway catches my eye. The random shapes are intriguing. I don’t really know why, but my mind tries for a moment to make sense of them.
When I let go of trying to think of them in a certain way, I realize which trees’ leaves are casting the sun’s rays down in those beautiful designs. Now I can just enjoy them and the fun of looking for more along the way.
Crossing the street, I notice my own shadow in a big square cut in the pavement. That’s when this month’s Jottings Tip starts to become clear:
JOT OUTSIDE THE BOX
Preconceived notions of what reminiscence is all about and how it “should” be done put a damper on the fun of it. Expectations of who you are or aren’t as a jotter can come into play too.
Have you found yourself thinking or saying any of the following?
“I’m not a writer. I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t I need to research who the people are in these photos and where they were taken?”
“I’m too sentimental. I’d be embarrassed to share what I really want to say.”
“Nobody will want to read what I jot down.”
“I don’t have time to get it all done right so it looks and sounds good.”
That’s a lot of restriction being placed on our mini-story writing before we even get started. It’s time to try a more energizing approach and remove the limitations we’ve put upon ourselves.
The truth is you can jot down whatever you want, however you want to, and you get to decide if and how you might share it with others. It’s all your choice.
Want to join me in opening up to all the infinite jottings possibilities that are waiting for us to enjoy outside the box?
Just take these simple steps:
Say to yourself “I’m letting go of expectations, judgments and hesitations that have been holding me back. I can easily capture what I choose to and say it MY way.”
Choose 1-2 personal or family moments (with or without photos) that you already KNOW you want to preserve and pass on.
Have fun jotting down a bit of the story.
That’s it.
Give it a try and let me know how that feels…
AND GET READY for next week’s 3 DAY JOT A FAMILY MINI-STORY CHALLENGE!
We’ll be meeting LIVE in our StoryJotters Facebook Group at Noon (12 p.m. EDT) on October 12-14 for about 30 minutes. You can catch the Replays if you can’t make it there LIVE.
Interested in learning more?
I’ll give you a clue...by the end of the 3 days, you’ll have started something that you and your family will love reminiscing around?!
Put “CHALLENGE” in the Comments and I’ll send you the Link for more details and your worksheets.
JOYfully jotting,
Katie
Family PhotoStory Organizer
Mini-Stories Writing Coach
Your Legacy of Memories Mentor
Capturing Moments that Matter…
Energizing & Connecting Families for Generations!