Tom, I always enjoy your perspective and this one really resonated with me. After my memoir was published some people said, writing it must have been so therapeutic. I felt the same, cringe inside. THat's not why I wrote it though I hoped it would be helpful for others. Where journaling was that for me, writing the memoir came after therapy and processing. I think in order to write things we send out into the world , they are best when we have done the work with ourselves already so the reader knows we are not necessarily sending it out for ourselves, but as a way to offer a story that might help them. While I discovered things in the process of writing it, it was more about how the work of writing, the craft, than the content (being childless). All this to say, I appreciate that you are sending your work out into the world in such a helpful/healthy way.
Powerful and true. I thought of the young man who had an office across from mine years ago. Patrice
He wouldn't be who he is today if you weren't there, Patrice. It's so good to hear from you.
I've hosted a virtual men's group on Mondays at 5pm for years now. Every week, I think about you ringing the bell, and I've told them about that.
I love you, Patrice. I wish I could give you a hug.
Tom, I always enjoy your perspective and this one really resonated with me. After my memoir was published some people said, writing it must have been so therapeutic. I felt the same, cringe inside. THat's not why I wrote it though I hoped it would be helpful for others. Where journaling was that for me, writing the memoir came after therapy and processing. I think in order to write things we send out into the world , they are best when we have done the work with ourselves already so the reader knows we are not necessarily sending it out for ourselves, but as a way to offer a story that might help them. While I discovered things in the process of writing it, it was more about how the work of writing, the craft, than the content (being childless). All this to say, I appreciate that you are sending your work out into the world in such a helpful/healthy way.
Thank you so much, Jackie. I appreciate all your support.