Taking The First Step

Most people freeze up when they are asked to write something longer than a paragraph. And here I am asking you to consider writing your life story! I promise you, if you can talk, you can write. And even if you can't talk, more than likely you can think. And how do you think? Typically in words, right?

But you continue with your frozen determination and ask, "What if I am not good at putting thoughts together, or do well in grammar and spelling? And what if I am not creative?"

I totally understand the fear factor and allowing it to immobilize you. We all have participated in giving over to that illness at some point in our lives. The good news is, I do know there is a cure. And it begins with simply taking the first step. How did you learn to swim? or walk? or talk? or anything? You had to start somewhere. And that first step does not have to be huge.

FROM THE CRADLE
Let me give you one tiny step to work on today. Carve out a few minutes, and find a quiet place by yourself with a nice cup of coffee, tea, or beverage of your choice and relax. Now for a few minutes take a peek into your past. Let's begin with the beginning. Pretend I came over to sit by the fireplace with you and you are telling me what you know about how you came to be on this earth! Who are your parents? When did they get married, if they did? Did they have any children before you? What was your birth order? When were you born? Do you know anything about your birth? Where your were born? How much did you weigh, etc.? What did they name you? Was there a reason they gave you that name?

That's all. Now tell me a flood of thoughts didn't just jump through your head?

AN EXAMPLE:
I'll go first as sometimes hearing another person's story sparks our memory.

My parents were Everette and Pauline. They were married in 1945. They had two sons before me. I was the baby of the family, yet in many ways I was like an only child since I came so many years later than my brothers.

I was born in May in a town in Virginia. My mother told me I was ready to be born, but the doctor refused to come in to work until 7AM. Like I knew that? No one sent me that memo!!! So I was pressing to enter this world...but the nurses would not let me arrive until doc was there (I guess legal issues). Mom said the nurses were cursing him saying,"Where is that d_ _ _ _ doctor????" Imagine the struggle Mom and I both went through. At least I don't remember. Well, maybe in my subconscious.

I was a whopping 10 lbs and a few ounces. Tell me I didn't have a reason to want to get out of those small quarters!? And my mama was tiny. One other quick note of interest: While pregnant she ate banana splits every day at the local malt shop. No wonder I weighed in over 10 pounds. And to this day, I do NOT like ice-cream and definitely NOT banana splits.

They named me Ellen Marie though that is not what my dad originally wanted to name me. Are you ready? He decided that my name should be "Precious". What on this earth was that man thinking? Mom flat told him, "No way!" What was it that she knew? Hummm. Anyway, he finally gave in and his second choice was Ellen Marie. Nellie was his sister's name and her middle name was Marie. Hummm, wonder if that had anything to do with it? Too, I was always told I looked like my Aunt Nellie. I have thought more than once that Mom probably wishes she had let him name me Precious...because maybe I would have mirrored the name. Oh me. You can't blame the guy for trying.

By the way, my name is an old name for my generation. I have had people to tell me that I don't look like an Ellen. I'm not sure what that means. I didn't ask. My husband's great aunt told me I should go by my second name, because she didn't like my first name. While that stung a little, I had to remember she is senile and almost 100. So I guess at that age you should be allowed to say whatever you want. I remember once in elementary I decided that I wanted to be called Marie instead of Ellen. That didn't last long. No, I never got "Ellie", or "EL". My husband did introduce me once as "Elaine". Now that was an interesting moment. When I was in jr high school, I did start signing my name LN and still do to this very day.

Ellen, by the way, means Light or Bright Shinning One, a derivative of Helen (Greek). Marie is a derivative of Mary (Hebrew), it means myrrh (a bitter spice), and I believe has the connotation of healing. I have come to appreciate Ellen as I like what it means. I would like to think I have brought some LIGHT/healing into this dark world. Often times people do call me, "Ellen Marie".

I love the meaning behind names, and I picked my children's names with that in mind. April means "A New Beginning" or "Opening" and she was for me. Stephen means "Crowned One" and is he ever!

WHAT'S YOURS? CHECK IT OUT: www.babynamesworld.com

I just went to that site, and it also says Ellen means Torch! I love it. You would have to know me to appreciate that! I can hear my husband laughing now! (He better be careful because his name didn't even have a derivative, origin, or a meaning. ouch.) Too, while Ellen is not a popular given name in America, in Sweden (2006) Ellen was in the top 20 popular names given to girls. The year I was born only 85 of us little chickies were named Ellen.

So you see, how one question can lead you into another story or subject of some sort?

HOW DO YOU PUT IT INTO PRINT?
You can write out your answers in sequence and leave it that way. Or you can put it together in story form or prose. You choose. Just begin. Please don't be afraid of it not being perfect. Most of us are not English professors, so don't let that impede your journey to writing your life story. You can always go back and edit it or even have someone to look over it and edit it as well. Just don't let them change the content of what you are saying.

Kudos to you for being one step closer than you were yesterday!