Peering into a journal can be like exploring pages of history. Sometimes we are privileged to understand the brilliant thinking of a famous scientist or entrepreneur; other times we inherit stories through the writings of a loved one.
I am fortunate to have my mother’s travel journal, which she began in 1962 when we left the United States to live in East Africa. On January 10, 1964, she wrote from Moshi, Tanganyika (now Tanzania):
Arrived in Moshi to attend the YMCA Staff Conference of East Africa. The drive to Moshi was most beautiful. The beautiful mountains and lots of animals. The sight of Mt. Kilimanjaro was thrilling. Moshi is one of the smaller towns in Tanganyika but is growing rapidly.
Stories are a journey of the mind, body and spirit. Everyone uses them. They are also used to persuade others that products and services have a special role and impact in health, abundance, or happiness. And stories are used to prompt and direct action, whether through inspiration or fear.
Mother’s journal inspired us and left footprints that filled in some of our history. Fifty years to the exact day she wrote the above quote, we stood on top of the very mountain that had thrilled and fascinated her. Her timeframe led us to plan our hiking expedition and celebrations around the story she shared. Through the capturing of our collective past, she inspired our future.
There are many ways you can leave an imprint, or a blueprint, through your stories and observations. Days or even years from now, your story could help guide someone to take that leap of faith into the unknown.
Be the author of history. It’s never too late to begin …
