The Book of Me

Publishing a memoir hasn’t appealed to me. 

As egocentric as I may appear due to my many blog postings, I don’t feel that I have experienced and survived any world events worth mentioning nor accomplished anything extraordinary to a curious purchaser.

Alpha cat may agree.

Miss Geneva Tabby wants me to stop writing

Besides, I may only be half-way through my earthly existence.

I have met many a writer who has interesting stories and memories because yes! each survived life altering events and was able to share cautionary tales or seasoned wisdom.

There have been plenty of opportunities to attend memoir writing workshops over the years but I always declined.  I was not ready to share my bittersweet losses and life altering events with strangers. Those are still locked inside with only an occasional revelation to a good friend, my professional listener, or as a reference in my novel.

I respect the fact that everyone has a story.  Unless there is a connection, a similarity or something extraordinary to share, I am not willing to invest time or money in someone else’s memoir. That attitude may seem unkind and has caused a few awkward moments at book fairs.

Yesterday’s window shopping at a local mall presented the perfect motivation with a do-it-yourself approach.  While exploring a book store and gazing lovingly at their journals, I came across one so plain yet so attractive.

It was The Book of Me, a Do-it-yourself Memoir.

Do It Yourself Memoir from Peter Pauper Press

The Book of Me Table of Contents

It has been said that when writing, you should “write about what you know”. I’m still getting to know myself so I think this do-it-yourself approach will come in handy. Heck, if I complete it, the contents will be of value to my children – and eventually, my grandchildren.

Who knows how much of a person’s life that a web search will reveal in twenty years?  Can we rely on private information gathered by corporations, governments or security agencies when it may be taken out of context or not represent the truth? Do those provide a complimentary or different perspective to what an individual has written about their own life?

What concerns me as well is that one’s evolving thoughts, ideas and declarations may be at first revered yet later twisted to suit the cause of the day.

Why bother?

In the cosmic picture, we are merely specks of dust.

Some will add that we are “star dust” or spirits occupying human bodies and put on this earth for a special purpose.

Regardless of all the different resources and self-appointed gurus, we just got to figure that part out on our own, to find the Truth.  I just hope that people will choose to base their actions, their life’s work on the teachings of a few, gentle guides.

Thanks for dropping by.

T

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