I’m cheating a little bit in that much of my Letter O entry for this challenge is about origin stories I have previously highlighted in my writings. I am listing several of these pieces in this post. I am sharing them with the hope that one of these types of origin stories provides a jumping off place for you to blog or write memoir.
“Tell me about when you were little.” “Where did I come from.” There are always opportunities and on-demand performance opportunities to share with children, yours and other’s. This is where your stories can shine brightest. You can turn any memory of a “before” into an origin story. Framing stories this way, by grounding them in your own growth or specific time periods can give you origin stories that can convey distinct stories about you, women, our times, really an enormous amount of tales can begin from a “this is how it started” tale.
Family Origin Stories
Imparting history through stories you grew up with gives a layering of connections. “Auntie told me about what her dad told her.” I personally love my new favorite origin story: a Hessian soldier started my family in the New World. My example follows.
Personal Origin Stories
Stories about things you have done, or discovered, or that defined certain times in your life are great origin stories. Monkeys and libraries provide great context for when as a young adult I had unique opportunities to travel and research. This article was about some of my fun times that I share about my beginnings. You have your own history you can use to encourage kids to look forward to adventures they can have.
Origin Story of Your Parents
This is one where I have fallen short. From the church gathering at which they met, or the woman Dad was rebounding from when he first met Mom, or the historic setting, Prophet’s Rock near Battleground, Indiana where Dad proposed to Mom, or the fact that they eloped and had their honeymoon in Logansport, Indiana. These are all little details that I remember from Mom telling me about her life. If I don’t write them down and share them the little bits of another time that these stories paint will be lost.
Cohort Origin Stories
We are all members of unique groups that have only existed in our lifetimes. Do not underestimate the vast changes you can document and share. I discussed some of the unique things my generation has and is experiencing in this post:
Matrilineal Origin Stories
I have written a couple things this month which relate to women’s stories or history. I am passionate about preserving women history. Every detail matters as we have such a small archive compared to what we have experienced. Tell whatever story you have whether it is long or short, about DNA or the trunk your great grandmother brought over from Sweden. Talk about your women. Record what you know about women who cam beforew.
Inspiration and Role Model Origin Stories
Stories of women who have inspired your career choice or path of study and who influenced the choices you’ve made in life should be shared. We have networks through time that are scarcely understood. I know my life would have been totally different without Jane Goodall and Gene Stratton Porter. This post talks about such influence.
Sharing how you came to be who you are, what shaped you, where your ideas and beliefs came from, if you can, is sharing what only you can. Just start with one of these aspects of your life and go from there.