What is your life's story?

 

 

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After the actress Diane Keaton died, the radio was playing some excerpts of interviews with her. In one of those interviews she was asked about her unique life.

Anyone familiar with her will associate her with her Annie Hall look. She had a recognizable style and flare about her. I tried to find the quote I heard, and found it online (albeit AI generated!). 

"When asked about her unconventional life, actress Diane Keaton said that she didn't see her lifestyle as unique, but rather saw that everyone's life has an 'astonishing' story behind it."

Indeed, she was right. Each one of us has an "astonishing" story behind our life. To us, it may not seem so astonishing, but the threads that weave together each of our lives create an interesting tapestry unique to us.

When I was younger, I frequently visited our local art museum, which had a huge tapestry that took up almost an entire wall of one of its rooms (or at least it seemed that big to my younger self.)

An interesting thing about the tapestry was that you could only see the full picture by standing back from it. If you were up close with your nose to the individual threads, you might see beauty in the individual strands, but you would miss what they created when woven together.

Keaton's comment reminded me of this. You might be stuck in a place in life that seems uneventful, but if you are only looking at yourself with a critical magnifying glass, you are missing the beauty of the totality of your life.

You, and everyone you meet, has an astonishing story. How much better we might be in this life if we make it our mission to discover another's story and be open to sharing our own. Furthermore, we must be careful not to be jealous of others who look like they have it all.

We might find ourselves less judgmental, and more compassionate, less cruel, and more loving if we recognize the beauty in ourselves, and others.

Think about this the next time you talk to someone. Take the time to really see them and pay attention. 

Surely, you will both be blessed.

Janet Cassidy

Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

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