http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog Hundreds of Essays and Interviews to Help You Read and Write Memoirs Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:39:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 2006-2007 jerrywaxler@yahoo.com (Jerry Waxler) jerrywaxler@yahoo.com (Jerry Waxler) Self-help 1440 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/LearnMemoirCoverFront-small.jpg http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog 144 144 Reading and writing memoirs. Record the Stories of Your Life, tips, how-to, memoir book reviews, by Jerry Waxler memoir, writers, self-help, book-reviews, essays Jerry Waxler Jerry Waxler jerrywaxler@yahoo.com no no http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/memoir-commune-civic-engagement/ http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/memoir-commune-civic-engagement/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:24:03 +0000 jerrywaxler http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/?p=524 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/memoir-commune-civic-engagement/feed/ 7 0:08:33 Frank Schaeffer's memoir reminds me that the solution may already be locked away in the memories of millions of boomers who at one time were an idealistic bunch, trying to find new ways to work together to solve the world's problems. By resurrecting[...] Frank Schaeffer's memoir reminds me that the solution may already be locked away in the memories of millions of boomers who at one time were an idealistic bunch, trying to find new ways to work together to solve the world's problems. By resurrecting our former passion for groups, we may be able to solve Robert Putnam's civic disintegration as well as the boomer drain on society. 60's, Boomers, Philosophy Jerry Waxler no no http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/hardship-stories-strength/ http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/hardship-stories-strength/#comments Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:48:20 +0000 jerrywaxler http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/?p=509 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/hardship-stories-strength/feed/ 0 http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/memoir-writing-is-a-step-along-my-spiritual-journey/ http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/memoir-writing-is-a-step-along-my-spiritual-journey/#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:19:36 +0000 jerrywaxler http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/memoir-writing-is-a-step-along-my-spiritual-journey/ http://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/memoir-writing-is-a-step-along-my-spiritual-journey/feed/ 4 0:00:01 by Jerry Waxler (Listen to the podcast using the player control at the bottom of this post. You can also download it using iTunes.) Now that I’m 60, I am facing an age when the end of the story seems to be shimmering out there on the horizon. [...] by Jerry Waxler (Listen to the podcast using the player control at the bottom of this post. You can also download it using iTunes.) Now that I’m 60, I am facing an age when the end of the story seems to be shimmering out there on the horizon. I’ve always been obsessed with who I am and where I’m going, and now I feel like I have a deadline. People often talk about the urgency of living each day as if it’s their last. This perspective is especially compelling when someone we know has recently departed. I too find a desire to live each day to its fullest. But my pressure arises from a slightly different reason. I ask, “What if I’m here until I’m 90? How will I live a meaningful life for another 30 years?” That’s a daunting task. And it turns out that memoir writing has become the center piece of my plan. By delving into the inner journey of who I’ve been, I’m learning more and more lessons about where I’m going. I recently gave a talk at a gathering at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethlehem Pennsylvania about using life stories to build a sense of purpose at any age. I didn’t give the talk during a worship service, and I’m not a preacher. This was an open meeting before the service, when people from the community come to listen to guest speakers talk about all sorts of topics. It was a perfect audience for my eclectic views on life, on memory, and on meaning. And during the three months I spent preparing the talk, I developed a neat way to explain how my life journey makes more sense than ever. It was ambitious of me to try to explain the meaning of life in 20 minutes, but I think I did a decent job. I’ll post the written version later. For now, I’m attaching the audio version. I’d be delighted to know what you think. — To see the written version of the talk I gave about how memoir writing enhances my faith in the future, see my blog entry by clicking here. To listen to it, click on the podcast link below. Podcast version click the player control below: Aging, Idealism/Meaning Jerry Waxler no no