Stories Reflect our Humanity

I’ve been sitting with the phrase, Pockets of Community. Although I teach in different spaces, a community is formed in each one. It may be for an hour or over a span of weeks where we come together and share the stories of our lives. These pockets are secured by strong threads of emotion and theme. They are opened by the need to be heard.

At a recent workshop, I offered a prompt to write a letter to yourself about a time when you were brave. I appreciated that this prompt was well received because it focused on a positive emotion even if the experience might not have been a happy one. It encouraged a preferred way of being.

During the writing, a woman with many years of lived experience suddenly packed up and said she couldn’t stay. Her eyesight was failing and even though her stories were painful, there were good times. Although I couldn’t find a way to help her visually, I asked if she wanted to share her story with this writing community.

She told us her brave story as she wove other story threads through the main one. It’s not my story to share as it stays in this pocket.

Yet her brave act led to love opening up possibilities in her life. It led to legacy, joy, heartache, and resilience. She needed her story to be heard and it’s now securely placed in a community pocket where it will be treasured.

Her story moved me in a couple ways. It inspired my passion to bring people together to share their unique stories and sew a community one story thread at a time. I’m incredibly conscious of creating these working spaces of word weaving, honoring stories, and whole-hearted listening.

I am also moved to make sure that my classes are accessible to all to the best of my abilities. To strive to include everyone who wants to write and share their stories.

I thank this brave woman for weaving her words to our group. I know I’m better for hearing and absorbing them.

Stories Reflect our Humanity

Sharing them Connects us and Creates Pockets of Community