5 ways to start capturing your own homegrown lessons
It took me less than a year to write and publish my book, but prior to that, for almost 10 years, I wrote segments, statements, short stories, and more along the way. At the time, I didn’t consider myself a writer. I was journaling and taking count of what my life entailed and the lessons I had learned along the way. What struck me in the year leading up to writing the book was the distinct need to no longer talk about doing it but rather do it. It was the fear of not doing it that drove me to finally commit to thinking about the lessons that mattered most, the order of presentation, and the format for how to share them. It was a process to assemble and describe stories, make connections to my life, and translate them for all to use. But it was equally liberating to share the stories and see that the collection reflected back to me was my personal core values.
I sign off this newsletter each week with a reminder to everyone who subscribes that “homegrown lessons are within you.” I believe it so deeply that I’ve often commented that if we took our combined experiences and lessons, that would be the ultimate life guide for all of us to refer to. I know this because when my lessons strike a chord with you, you reply and let me know, and many times you share a short story of your own.
What if you wrote about your own homegrown lessons? What insights would writing provide you? What could you learn about yourself? Let me help you get started.
5 ways to start capturing your own homegrown lessons
Choose a tool. Whether you prefer pen and paper or typing on your laptop, choose a tool that works best for you. When I write, I type in Google Docs. It helps me organize as well as have everything easily accessible online.
Make the time. Are you a morning person? Or do you find free time later in the evening? Start by carving out 15 minutes in the day and write. I find it most helpful to do this consistently and in my house, the best time is early in the morning before others wake.
Set up the environment. I’ve written about the importance of freeing your space of clutter, both physically and mentally. Creating a good environment to write goes hand in hand with this approach. Choose a place where you feel at your best, most comfortable, and free from distractions. I usually write in my office but when the weather begins to warm, I will take it to the deck or patio outside.
Use prompts. I find prompts help when writing and I use two kinds: questions and photos. There are a number of websites that have lists of writing prompts/questions. Here’s one to get you started but even a quick search online using “writing prompts and questions” will yield you a number of free resources. Additionally, I use photos from my life. If a concept or recent story isn’t coming to mind, I’ll scroll through photos on my phone to find inspiration or I’ll go through older physical photos I have from my childhood. It’s fun to reflect and reminisce. If you’re fortunate to have older photos in your possession, I highly recommend this activity from time to time.
Write first, edit later. Too many times we can get caught up in writing the final output and focus too much on editing. To get started, you just need to write. No wordsmithing is required. Depending on your personality, this may be a bit of a challenge. But do your best to give yourself permission to write and not spend time correcting. I’ve even closed my eyes while writing to accomplish this task. What you can’t see, won’t prompt you to go back and fix an “I” here or “too” there. But after you’re finished (and open your eyes) you’ll be able to crack the code and decipher words or phrases that need fixing.
Writing is an act of expression and it can help you in a number of ways. From clearing your mind to making sense of a situation, to recalling fond memories, and more. Don’t overestimate the commitment when these quick and easy ways can help you get started. And sharing your final output is up to you.
Happy writing.