Research from the field of narrative psychology shows a link between narratives and well-being. Exploring personal stories, reflecting on them, changing these narratives, and sharing them might make us vulnerable, but also helps us heal and grow.
Barbara Field, medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD, “How Storytelling is Good for Your Mental Health,” at https://www.verywellmind.com/how-storytelling-is-good-for-your-mental-health-5199744?print (November 17, 2021)
For as long as I can remember, I’ve found comfort and relief in writing and drawing. I’m grateful for the mentors who helped me do so: my mom with her attention to detail, my dad with his sense of humor, my high school English teacher with his dare to dig deeper, the judge I clerked for with his eloquence, my years in Al-Anon with their call to faith and my education at the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine where I dove deeper into spiritual and religious approaches of all kinds.
Writing and drawing have helped me through all sorts of challenges: a year teaching in China, at-home parenting three kids, losing my dad when they were young, caring for my mom when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It was after my dad died that I wrote and illustrated The Douglas the Rabbit Adventure Series; it was while caring for Mom that I started to blog at thejoyofcaring.com which later turned into Living Is for Living: A Caregiver’s Story, a writing process that helped me sort through long-held grief to pass along what I’d learned.
During the pandemic, when Rock Steady Boxing for people with Parkinson’s Disease went remote, my role as coach evolved into co-editing a newsletter which shared athlete interviews. Before long, I found myself helping new friends write and record their stories too.
Terry writes in a clear, simple narrative form – no judgement, no cover up. I keep my life story on my computer desktop…only a click away. I read it often…I shake my head at my admission that “I had not one ounce of maternal instinct”and then took on 4 step-children.
Susan A, 74, ROCK STEADY BOXER
While I was living in Maine, I wrote and illustrated another children’s book, A Seal Named Sunshine, which captured the experience of discovering a stranded gray seal pup and witnessing her rehabilitation and release by Marine Mammals of Maine (MMoME). Recently, back in Wisconsin, I published Hair Hair Everywhere, a children’s book about my favorite Great Pyrenees, Tula.
I enjoy how story-telling provides opportunities to reflect, connect, heal, and have fun. In this spirit, I am eager to offer my books here.