Everyone has a story. Everyone has been through something. Our shoes have been somewhere. The question is, do you recognize where your shoes have been? A lot of times we don’t realize that what we have been through can be used as a part of our story.
I was once in that position. I didn’t know my life had any true meaning or a real story. It wasn’t until I was at a retreat and they separated us into smaller groups. In those groups, they asked during a serious moment if anyone wanted to share about a time when they had been abused. I didn’t think I had been abused when I thought of my story in comparison to my friend. I almost didn’t speak up until I heard the other stories being shared. When I started to share what happened to me, the dots began to connect in my mind to what they were saying. I realized that the situation I was in was abusive.
Like me, you may be in the same situation. It may not be as severe but the beautiful thing about our story is that our story is unique to us even if some details are a little similar. The overall experience and reaction to it may be different, leading to a different story and outlook on the event.
So why does knowing that you have a unique story matter?
Your story can serve the purpose of helping someone if they are going through the same thing. I have used my story to help people recognize whats happening and been able to point them in the best way to handle a situation. If I did it, you can also do the same. Our stories matter.
So what am I saying?
I’m saying that you should share your story with whoever you can. It brings healing to you the more that you do it and healing to everyone else. If you have graduated college, share it. If you dropped out of high school and learned from it, share it. If you have been abused, share it. It doesn’t matter what your story is because something good can come from it; whether good, bad, or ugly.
JUST SHARE IT!
Too often times we have people that have survived terrible things or have done amazing things. Yet no one else can learn from them because they never share their story:
So when sharing your story remember these talking points :
How did you feel when you experienced what you experienced (or accomplished)?
How were you able to cope with it? Or how did you manage it all?
How were you able to overcome those feelings? Or overcome that obstacle?
How did that experience change your life and teach you something?