It has been nine months, three weeks and five days – since I published my first blog post. The beginning was a place where I held my breath in anticipation. I churned over my fears of being rejected, a failure. Yet, all that seems to be behind me now. I face the future with new clarity and new resolution.
Writing is my journey. There is no end in sight. No finish line. The path that my words travel on is lined with stories, memories and lessons. The most resounding stories have not been about me. The stories of other people, humanity and history have echoed far beyond the coffee it takes to read one of my posts.
Life is about storytelling: messages and moments transcending time and being carried forward across generations and oceans. The story of the human spirit is the most powerful story of all. The story of community is one that humbles us, achieves a sense of feeling accepted and feeling greater than ourselves.
In my little space, the most important part is you, my reader. It is your eyes, your minds and your hearts that you open so willingly each week. Gratitude pales in significance to all that my readers give me.
I believe in so many things. I especially believe in the power of storytelling. I believe in the power of humanity. Most of all, I believe in building community. Because of all these things, I am going to open my blog to your stories. Everyone’s voice is important. Everyone has a story to share.
So as my way of giving something back to that which gives me so much, I am looking for you to share your story with me.
Stories of You is open to those who do not have a voice to share their own story. The woman who is at home with her little ones and stays up til all hours late at night, baking and decorating cakes, so that she too follows her passion. The woman who sits rocking her newborn to sleep with her foot, while she crochets little hats for premmie babies and gives them away for free to mothers in desperate need. The woman who listens to the heartbreak of others, being a shoulder to cry on, solace to their wounds, then goes home and juggles children, a household and a marriage of her own.
I want to tell these stories. Your stories.
At the core of every story is a flickering flame. The flame of who we really are and how we are all truly connected.
If you would like to nominate someone or yourself to be part of Stories of You, please email me directly at josefa@alwaysjosefa.com. I’d love to meet you over coffee and hear your story.
The first Stories of You will unfold next Tuesday. I absolutely cannot wait!
Do you have a story to share?