Last week at work, we hosted a two-part memoir writing workshop called, “The Healing Power of the Personal Narrative.” 21 people, ranging in age from 28-94, came together to learn about the benefits of sharing their stories.

Everyone has a story to tell. Most of us have many. In the room that day there were hundreds of stories, each one unique and at the same time, common threads were everywhere.

A year ago, I wrote a piece about telling our birth stories. I had just had Sada and I realized how much the story of her birth meant to me, and how meaningful it was to share it. I still love to tell that story. And now there are also stories of her antics, milestones, and of her and her sister’s blossoming relationship.

Our stories place us in the ever changing context of our lives. They define us and connect us. Our stories make us stand out and at the same time, they are what help us relate to one another. Through telling our stories we may gain strength, insight, and perspective. We are seen and heard, and hopefully understood.

I am so lucky that in my job, I get to bear witness to amazing life stories. And each week on Wednesday mornings, I continue to be inspired by the stories that are told, and that unfold, at our sweet little class. These are the stories of life right now. Of motherhood. Of babyhood. Of womanhood. Of sisterhood.