The story of We...

A few nights ago I met with my Tuesday night book club. We discussed the book The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. The book was critiqued in the usual manner; some loved it, some not, and of course there were those left with a feeling that fell somewhere in between. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, that of an aging man, Leo Gursky, who obsesses over his death and spends his days drawing attention to himself all in order to not die on a day and go un-noticed, what captivated me entirely was that this was a story about people's stories.

We're all of us stories. Living, breathing, working, loving, laughing, crying stories. And our stories are important, exceptional. Of course you've heard it said that "life is stranger than fiction." Or maybe more wonderful, sadder, miraculous, more amazing. I've been involved in a study of Eckhardt Tolle's book The New Earth over a course of the past 6 months. One point Tolle made (of so many) that had a profound effect on me was the idea that we are a part of every one else on the planet, and in respect, they - us. Me you, you me. The anger, love, joy and rage...mine is yours, and your's is mine. If I look sincerely, I will see me in you and you in me. It's the beauty of being human, this together/aloneness. I've always been in love with people, but what I've come to learn is that I'm more accutely aware and have a greater respect for people...their stories. And I'm even more in love with them.

So, with respect to the notion of our cosmic (if you will) connection, we are all stories and all of our stories are real. To us. Our lives are the best stories we tell ourselves. We are all authors, all writers. And the story we are creating is the story of us...your story, my story. Some days feel like a horror story, some days perhaps we're the femme fatale in a romance novel. Some days are a mystery, and some days our story could be summed up in a comic book.

I'm filled with awe as I look around me, people in cars passing me by, people I see at work, wherever I go. All these people, all these stories, and the amazing thought that all of our stories are unique, just like me, just like you. We all have "stuff" in our lives, we're all dealing with the every day. But at the same time, we're unparalleled, our story a first novel. How do you want your story to read? Is it a book that will keep you up 'til all hours of the night? Or is it one that sits on the shelf waiting to be picked up, savored? I want mine to be a best-seller. And I never want to lose sight of what an amazing library we all make, all our stories, us.

-t.

"Today You are You, that is truer than true.

There is no on alive who is Youer than You."

Dr. Suess