I have put out the word on Facebook that I need your stories. I am publishing a book on those "eureka" moments, the ones that change our lives forever. Not everyone has one of these, they are a rare and beautiful gift.
I am writing this blog to share mine with you not only because there is a lesson to be learned from it, but to illustrate the kind of thing I am looking for, to show what the moment of clarity looks like and to give you an idea of how your story may be told. I have not yet decided whether or not to write a narrative using your story or to use direct quotes, I would be interested to know which YOU would prefer seeing published and which you would prefer reading. I am leaning towards having you tell it in your own words.
I was a little girl that bright afternoon, sitting on the floor in my grandparent's oppulent bedroom in McLean. I clearly remember the French Provential furnishings, the ivory rug and the smell of my grandmother's powder permeating the room. These things I remember clearly because what was about to take place was so simple, so common, and yet were to affect me the rest of my life.
I was cross-legged on the floor, my nose a couple of feet from the old television, watching what I think was an ABC After School Special. It was the story of a lonely, sad girl who had no friends and was rejected and ridiculed by her peers. I could relate already to this child, it could have been me back when I was a foot taller than my classmates, skinny as a rail and too bookish for anyone to befriend me but the teachers, adding "teachers pet" to my sins.
This lonely girl on TV finally ended up befriending a crow. This bird walked with her and allowed her to hold it and she fell in love with him. He was her only friend in the world, the only one to listen to her problems, to comfort her, he allowed her to love and nurture him and in doing so he was loving and nurturing her in return.
One day, as she walked down the sidewalk, her crow walking next to her, a group of the popular kids her age came up and became interested in the bird. They asked her questions about it and thought she was really "cool" for having this bird follow her. The little girl was delighted to finally have people to talk to, to NOT be the outcast for once. But then someone threw something at the bird and it jumped. This created peals of laughter from the other kids and the next thing I remember seeing was the group of them circled around the crow, throwing stones at it and laughing as it tried to escape. It jumped and cawed and tried to fly away but was too damaged at this point to move.
The next camera shot was of the little lonely girl, standing with the rest of the kids, throwing stones at her friend, watching him die. Silent tears streamed down her face as she tossed stones at him until the life had been beaten out of him. But she was with people, her peers, for that brief moment they had accepted her and she was no longer alone. This sad child had killed the one thing she loved to fit in with the rest of humanity.
Suddenly my surrounding became crystal clear and the sights and smells of that room burned into my memory forever. I physically felt something fundamental shift inside of me and I knew at that moment I had changed forever. I knew then and there that I would never forsake anyone, including myself, for the acceptance of others.
As I got older I, like everyone else, faced peer pressure. Pressure to do drugs, pressure to have sex, pressure to do immoral or illegal things in the name of "fun". I heard all of it. "come on, you chicken?" "what's wrong, we are all going why wont you?". But I never did unless I WANTED to. I even lost a career over this little girl and her bird when my reputation for non-conformity got me fired. My boss was afraid I would not be a "team player" and look the other way while he swindled people out of their retirement. And he was right, I did not. I reported him for it even after he fired me.
I owe who I am and what I have become to that ABC After School Special, for it gave me the heart and the resolve to never give in, be myself and protect the ones I love. Even to this day there are times the images from that old TV screen fill my head and I can feel my resolve harden when faced with a difficult choice. I am not saying I gained any moral superiority from this, hell no. I am as damaged as the rest of the world. What I am saying is that I have the courage and sense of self to say no when I mean no and the hell with whether or not anyone likes it, or likes me for that matter. I will not kill my own bird for the acceptance of others.
So there is my "eureka" moment. Simple, short, but life changing. And that is what I would like from you. A little piece of your soul. In return you will not only get a signed copy of a small book, but more importantly you will get the opportunity to share with others your story and be able to feel how wonderful it is to open it all up to the world. You also will help others learn from your special moments. I know that me telling this story to others has changed them. Even with no explaination, just relating the events of the show has helped people resist people-pleasing too much. Plus there is somethign about sharing your life changing moments that deepens them, adds dimension to them for your benefit.
If you are interested in being part of this project please email me at MyStoryInPrint@yahoo.com and I will get back to you ASAP.
(please note I will be out of town the 6,7 and 8 of this month but will return your email as soon as I get back or prior ot leaving).
Thanks.
