Pull Up A Chair (eBook)

Charlotte MacGregor, Denise Noddin (Autoren)

eBook Download: EPUB

2022 | 1. Auflage
222 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
978-1-6678-0517-7 (ISBN)

Infos

Endless stories have been told wherever people are gathered. Whether they're sharing a meal, a cup of coffee or simply some time together, there is conversation and connection. We all have stories to tell: tales of the adversity we've faced, the adventures we've discovered, the joys and successes that give us reason to celebrate. This compilation of short stories and essays will make you cry and at times, smile or laugh. Enjoy the emotional journeys and perhaps see a bit of yourselves within the pages.

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When we're apart from the people we care about, there's a desire to find ways to feel connected. The Covid-19 pandemic of 2020 kept families and friends separated, fearful and uncertain about what lay ahead. These stories, developed from video interviews, were just one of many ways to remain united and not feel so alone, in the face of this incredible challenge. We all have stories to tell. Some tales are told to share the experience and the knowledge that comes from it. Other stories are intended to share pain and struggle, with the hope of finding strength to go forward and a little understanding. You should be engaged with each story, they're captivating and sure to pull at your heart strings. Follow along on this journey of trials and triumphs. By bravely sharing their experiences, these people allow us all a glimpse into their lives. We learn about the hurdles they've faced and how they've conquered them. We can see ourselves in their place, facing our own adversity. We're not alone. There's always hope. Life may not be about happy endings, but situations can improve and move in entirely new directions. Change can be a good thing. We all fall. Sometimes it's hard to get up and continue on. In our social circles, surrounded by people we care about and trust, we can unburden ourselves and find support. The process of sharing allows us to spread the support to others. Communication matters. Share your stories. Reach out, connect, draw on your inner resources and heal.

Textauszug

Introduction

 

 

Come in. Welcome. Pull up a chair and stay for a while. We have stories to tell, battles to share, triumphs to celebrate.

 

When Covid-19 appeared in the spring of 2020, Canada and most of the world shut down. People were isolated in their homes, fearful and alone. Charlotte, my daughter, was north of Toronto and I was in southwestern Ontario, about a five hour drive between us. As days turned to weeks and then to months, we yearned for the family connection, we had always enjoyed. Birthdays, anniversaries and holidays were spent at home, with very limited family interaction. We were relegated to our bubbles, long distance relationships relied on technology.

 

In September of 2021, we dared a visit. My son and his family drove me north. They stayed over the Labour Day weekend and I was fortunate, to extend my stay another ten days, when Charlotte was free to drive me back home. She spent a couple of days, before heading back to life with her husband. During our time together, there was plenty of opportunity to talk. So many people we knew were facing challenges. We picked up bits and pieces of their stories on social media. Both of us wondered, how our friends and family could face such obstacles in their lives? More importantly how could they carry on? They were still smiling, posting pictures and updates, evidence of the resilient human spirit.

 

Charlotte confided that some of her fondest childhood memories, came from the late night visits I had with my friends. They started dropping by, once the kids were in bed and their households had settled down for the night. Our conversation was fuelled by coffee or tea and sometimes liquor. She lay in bed, surrounded by the darkness, listening to the anecdotes and descriptions of family life. The simple style, the honesty and the gift of being able to share with each other had great appeal. The stories that tumbled out, shared among friends, were told in confidence, in safety and in the company of women that cared about each other. The gentle rhythm of the voices and the hushed tones wove tales of joy and fear, laughter and celebration, frustration and anguish; the narrative of Charlotte’s lullaby.

 

She’s a grown woman now, with a household of her own. We discussed the incredible gift she had received, in knowing that her home was filled with such a warmth between friends. She slept soundly, comforted by the familiar voices of her mom’s buddies.

 

Why not share that cozy sense of peace? By telling the stories of other people; the adversity they faced, the strength they had gained in the journey and the hope that came with success, perhaps we could inspire others. They could be encouraged by this small collection of essays. There are resources available that may help. Hope and optimism can build the foundation for positive change and redirection.

 

We pull up a chair to visit, to relax, to rest. Consider it an invitation to join us.

 

First, we compiled a list of people that we could approach about participating in our project. We knew so many men and women that inspired us, from the tidbits that we gathered, in scrolling through online posts. Once we had the list, it was time to begin contacting people.

 

Initial outreach was more difficult than we had anticipated. It’s hard to deal with the potential for a negative response. I assure you, we developed a thicker skin from our interactions. Some people read the messages that we sent them and chose to ignore us. Other people politely declined. To our good fortune, many more were supportive and agreed to an interview.

 

We used a video chat feature online to make contact. With Covid-19 quarantines, it allowed us all to remain safe, yet still have a connection. Before the actual appointments, we carefully prepared questions and a plan. Not everyone is immediately talkative and bursting forth with private details about their lives. Lighthearted and casual conversation usually led into the more serious and focused direction we hoped to take.

 

Charlotte and I were not ready for the emotional aspects of the biographies. Knowing the details doesn’t prepare you for feeling someone else’s pain and suffering. Together, we laughed and at times, we shared the anguish and tears. After the contact, we carried the weight of doing justice to this personal record. There were sleepless nights and more tears, in putting the words together, to compile the chronicles.

 

The subjects of the interviews had their own emotional agonies to deal with. For some, old pain, long since buried, had resurfaced. For others, they revelled in the fact, that they had been through so much and come so far. People were feeling vulnerable, scared to expose themselves and in the process, didn’t want to hurt other people. We didn’t push anyone to share details that they weren’t comfortable with. All of the stories were approved before being included. As the authors, or the brave storytellers that we featured, none of us emerged unscathed or untouched.

 

Writing was a much bigger challenge than we ever thought. Trying to schedule time for the interviews, to compose the stories, to edit and waiting for the approvals; it all took time. The months passed and it became difficult to keep the momentum. Like with everyone, life got in the way. Still, we shouldered on.

 

There was so much power in the release of telling their stories. These accounts could belong to any one of us, or all of us. We’ve all struggled, faced pain and loss, marvelled at our triumphs and celebrated our moxie.

 

People know your name, not your story. We find the strength to get out of bed in the morning, when we thought it impossible. Small steps, one foot in front of the other, pushed us forward. When we wanted to give up, we kept on going. At times we’ve all been exhausted. We lose ourselves in every day life. It’s hard to accept that we can’t be all things, to all people. When faced with obstacles, we question if we can go on. Our confidence can wane; hope can fade.

 

We search for self confidence, we seek answers. The endless cycle of meals, dishes, laundry, going to work, going to bed can overwhelm us. Then, we get up and start all over again. We can feel lost, alone in a world full of people, or in a house where everyone’s needs, shove our own into the background.

 

Remember your worth. It’s alright to cry a little; it’s liberating. Then, dry your eyes, take three deep breaths and carry on. While we’re here, there’s an obligation to make the most out of our time. Connect to people, visit attractions, make memories. Believe you are strong enough for whatever happens next.

 

We’re all flawed. It’s a difficult truth to face. To strive for perfection is admirable, but not realistic. If you change your perspective and aim to be the best version of yourself, it’s much more satisfying. We’re all mosaics: fragments of the experiences we’ve had, of the people we’ve loved and who have loved us, the places we’ve visited and the things that have brought us joy.

 

Thankfully, we don’t end up where we started. We develop with our experience and in building knowledge. Life isn’t about being an expert; it’s about the journey. If you have a dream of going back to school, do it. If you think it’s time to change careers or relationships or homes, make your plan. If you want to write or dance, or paint, choose whatever makes your heart happy and try it!

 

The voice in our heads never ages. Eight or eighty, we may ache from playground injuries or aging, but inside, we’re still the same. The human spirit is eternal.

 

Charlotte is my daughter and I’m so thankful to have had this entire experience with her. Mothers and daughters don’t always get the opportunity, to spend so much quality time together. Today, as I write this, we’ve made meatballs and homemade spaghetti sauce for a beautiful dinner we’re planning with my son and his family. We’re able to talk during the preparation and we’ll continue that over our meal, our communion, our ever grateful connection to each other.

 

I’ve come to discover and appreciate a new dimension to my daughter; a deep compassion for other people, a dedication to completing projects and her focus on learning about the writing process. From her earliest days in school, I knew she had a gift. Her grade one teacher called me in, for insight into Charlotte’s abilities as a storyteller. The daily journals are meant to encourage writing and most kids talked about their pets, their parents, their dinners. My daughter had compiled a collection of the most interesting fiction; tales of saving puppies, witnessing accidents and finding homeless boys living in boxes. I didn’t know if I should ‘spill the beans’ to the teacher about the fabrications or let her think we had an incredibly busy and interesting life. I...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 1.3.2022
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Biografien / Erfahrungsberichte
• ISBN-10: 1-6678-0517-7 / 1667805177
• ISBN-13: 978-1-6678-0517-7 / 9781667805177