The documentary Stories We Tell written and directed by Sarah Polley was intriguing. It really had me thinking about the stories we tell...
Each of us has our own stories, some we are afraid to tell and we have others that everyone knows. I think I am the latter. I have my stories and I am proud to tell them, not because I'm part of the story, it's more that I look back at the stories and I share a lesson, a laugh, or a tear with the person that is listening. A good friend that reads my blog mentioned that a lot of my posts are stories are about my parents. At first I denied it, but then I realized that it was true. I can't help but talk about them, or my grandparents, or the things I did as a kid. I look back and think I had a good childhood. But I also had my share of fights inside and outside the home, I didn't do as well in school as I should have or as well as my parents expected, but I did have all of the things I needed in life, I had parents and grandparents, I never went without a meal, I had support most of the time when I needed it. Now as I look around I see that so many people never had that...
Now I look back and I realize that I had so much more. This is why when I look at my life I know I need to be the best person I can be, I need to be there for my family and friends and for their kids. If I didn't have good people in my life I would not have turned out the way I am, I try to be conscientious, I try to be nice, sometimes I just try to be a sweet person. That is who I was raised to be, but that wasn't just my parents, friends like Bill, Billy and Jeff, taught me to be conscientious. Doreen, Nancy and Debbie, all taught me to be nice and sweet, and so many others made sure to tell me when I was sweet. That positive reinforcement helped me in so many ways. Those days when my dad decided to leave and do drugs were the darkest days for me, and all those folks were a ray of sunshine that I so desperately needed. Looking back at them and what they did for me I see why I try so hard, when it comes to my friends and their kids. Especially when I see both parents and kids try so hard to be good people. Even with all of the support I had, I had to try hard.
On to the stories we tell...
