The freshwater sea was angry the entire week, especially on that fateful night when a surprise wave overtook two children during an extended family vacation. That week was rife with riptides and 6 foot waves swallowing up the beach. The one and only calm day on Lake Michigan was the planned family picture day. As the sun baked our shoulders and the sand beneath our feet that beautiful day, it was hard not to appreciate the extra 25 feet of beach that was exposed by calm waters. We enjoyed our time on Lake Michigan, swimming in the waves, playing in the sand, climbing a 700 foot tall sand dune, visiting Chicago on a rainy afternoon and eating to our hearts content. The culmination was our last sunset, where my brother-in-law, nephew and youngest daughter were overtaken by a surprise wave while we all stood there transfixed by the golden glow of the setting sun. Thankfully everyone was well but it was a harrowing moment when the children went missing temporarily only to be saved, each by their own parent. That was a vacation to remember.

What could be seen as a boring week frolicking through the sands of Lake Michigan can be put in a way that draws the reader in and helps provide a tale to share. We all have a story to tell, yes even you. If creative writing is not something you aspire to there are ways to weave a tale nonetheless. Through collections of photographs, birth and death certificates (look in the old family bible), newspaper articles and even court documents, a story can unfold that will hold the attention of the most unfocused of us all. 

The question that is brought up the most when I present my workshop “Telling Your Story” is why even bother? Did the thought of looking through an organized collection of documents of your familial past bring feelings of nostalgia? It should and can fill some holes in the stories you have heard in the past. My family is very good at picture and document collection, however the spoken stories and descriptions of who the people are in the photos is not something we have mastered. The saddest part of losing our family is losing their known history of OUR past. It is a gift to provide the amazing stories, history, documentation and sometimes the proof of a good scandal to our descendants. Don’t you agree?

Story writing does not have to be detailed or creative, like above. However, the ability to leave behind a legacy that will be around far beyond your years is a gift most priceless. If you would like to host or attend a workshop to get you started on your story writing journey, let me know, I will be happy to help.

Blessings,

Sarah DeD