August 31

Storytelling is giving shape to the amorphous chaos of life.

~Anonymous

When we put words to what has happened to us, we can begin to learn from our experience. We carry images within us that are the building blocks of our stories, but we only begin to make sense of them when we put them into words. Talking with a trusted friend, or speaking in a meeting, or telling a therapist about our experiences gives them a shape. The words give us a way to understand, and they build a bridge to others. We may feel deeply alone if we keep our memories and images to ourselves. When we begin to talk, as we tell our story, we learn from our own words, and they take us deeper into our truth.

We don't tell our story only once. We do it over and over again. It brings relief from the traumas and releases us from the prison of our past. Each time we talk, even recounting the same events, we are somewhat different because we have grown, and we see our own story from a new perspective. Listening to other men's stories and telling our own is one of the special tools for spiritual growth that we use on this recovery path.

Today, I will talk to someone about an experience or a feeling.

Today's reading is from the book Stepping Stones: More Daily Meditations for Men*