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Continued from page 34<br />
Write in a place where you feel comfortable and<br />
safe. I’ve used a spare room in my home, a bench in a park, a<br />
quiet coffee shop.<br />
Listen to comforting music as you write. I like<br />
smooth jazz, but many people like pop instrumentals or classical<br />
favorites.<br />
Use props – photographs, recipes, keepsakes, even articles of<br />
clothing. Set one in front of you to jog your memory as you write.<br />
Be honest. No one is always the hero or heroine. We all have<br />
flaws, and even villains have some good points. A balanced<br />
story is more healing than one with cartoon-like characters.<br />
Let the words flow. Don’t even think about editing yourself<br />
until you’ve done a first draft. The real meaning of my stories<br />
often appears at the very end, surprising me with an insight.<br />
Set a timer for an hour and stop writing when it<br />
goes off. Ruminating endlessly is not healing.<br />
If you feel sad after writing, be kind to yourself.<br />
Take a walk, play with a pet, have a cup of tea. And if your sadness<br />
about the past interferes with your life, seek help from a<br />
pastor or therapist.<br />
At the end of each writing session, reflect on the<br />
meaning of your words. What is the moral of your story<br />
What message would you like to convey Write this at the bottom<br />
of your piece.<br />
Look for the positive aspects in your story. Even the<br />
worst experiences can be turned into a work of art on the page that<br />
heals your own soul and inspires others to go on when life is hard.<br />
When you are ready, share your story with someone<br />
you trust. You may find that your words evoke similar<br />
memories in others. You will feel understood and help them to<br />
heal as well.<br />
A truly wonderful thing can happen when you write about your<br />
life. You begin to see how miraculous it is just to have lived it.<br />
Having the ability to look back and learn from events that used<br />
to paralyze me emotionally has changed my life in ways I could<br />
never have imagined. I write for a newspaper, teach memoir<br />
writing at a community college, and belong to writing organizations<br />
that support and encourage my work. Best of all, I know<br />
that every event, whether happy or sad, has within it, an important<br />
truth about being human and alive, a truth that grows in<br />
beauty when shared.<br />
I wish the same for you!<br />
Linda C. Wisniewski writes for the Bucks County Herald and<br />
teaches memoir workshops for Bucks County Community<br />
College. Her first book, Off Kilter, has just been published by<br />
Pearlsong Press and can be ordered through Amazon, your<br />
local bookstore, or the publisher at<br />
www.pearlsong.com/offkilter.htm. Visit Linda’s website at<br />
www.lindawis.com. Contact Linda at Linda@phillyfitmagazine.com.<br />
36 I <strong>PhillyFIT</strong><br />
March/April I 215-396-0268 I www.phillyfitmagazine.com