A Christmas Gift from You to You!
The Healing Power of Writing Your Story
For unto us a child was born. In the ninth century, December 25th hallmarked the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Before then, people celebrated the end of the darkest days and return of the sun, winter solstice. Modern Christmas merriments began in the 1800s when Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and other traditions accompanied the reverence of Jesus Christ.
For some, Christmas has morphed into a time of hustle, bustle and maybe a little too much “cheer.” Do we experience anxiety at Christmastime? Is it any wonder? Apart from shopping, spending, wrapping, cooking, traveling, hosting and the inevitable disappointment on the child’s face who did not get what he wanted from Santa, are there other reasons we become anxious, particularly at this time of year?
The mission of the Inspired Writers Workshop is to encourage you to write your story and to write it well. Prior to her enrollment, I spoke with the first student of IWW. She shared her struggle with anxiety. We collaborated on the opening paragraph of her manuscript, the hook. I suggested she begin with a significant event in her life that ultimately defined her or set her on a certain course.
Through this conversation, the student realized the anxiety she has today, in her early 40’s, stems to when she was six years old. She was able to recognize and reflect on that early memory and to integrate her childhood emotions into her current struggle.
When we think of integration, we think of race. The human race was separated by the color of one’s skin. We first began to integrate the human race, to bring us back together as the whole that we are, in our schools and on buses.
To integrate with regard to emotions means to bring those feelings into the whole. A part, or parts of us, were fractured from our true selves. This usually happens by the time we are seven years old. As a result, we may cut ourselves off emotionally. Or, become emotional basket cases. To integrate these emotional imprints means to make ourselves whole again.
In that moment, on a phone call between Mexico and Montana, I heard this precious woman release the most sacred sigh. My heart leaped as my hope and dream for IWW took flight. I know, in the very depths of my soul, writing our stories will bring healing to core woundings.
Please go to Contact Jody — jodykemple.com and enroll in TRUST to receive an informative welcome letter. See if this is a gift you want to give yourself this Christmas. And remember, YOUR STORY MATTERS. Not just to your family and close friends, but to your community and the world. You have wisdom and a valuable perspective. These are important to others and to humanity as a whole. We feel less alone, less different. Together is better.
Merry Christmas, with love, Jody
