The Thirteenth Question: Titling Your Narrative
You're the author of your own life, so what name are you giving to this stage of the journey?
I’ve always joked that when I write my autobiography it’ll be titled Life…With a Side of Fries. That’s not particularly funny of course, but something I have refused to relent on for no other reason than stubbornness.
In that spirit though, this week I want to encourage all of us to think as writers, and try to take a step back to look at our character arcs and hero journeys. Hence, this week’s question.
What is the title for this chapter of your life?
Is this chapter at an end or a beginning? Or are you in the middle of the action?
Is this title aspirational or in summation?
How is this interconnected to previous or forthcoming chapters?
What other characters have played a key role in these events? How have they impacted your journey?
If someone were to read this chapter, what emotions would it evoke?
Drop a Line
If you ever want to share something that one of our questions has brought up for you, just drop me an email or a DM with your story.
And always feel free to hop in the comments below. I’d love to take some of your journaling prompts for future editions!
Something(s) for the Week
A collection of great article I read this week for you to peruse.
The War on Poverty Is Over. Rich People Won. An interview with Matthew Desmond, author of the new book Poverty, By America. TL;DR: Poverty is a uniquely American choice.
The Tyranny of ‘the Best’. This opinion piece in The New York Times captures something we’ve all likely fallen victim to: a quest to maximally optimize a purchase, trip, experience, relationship, etc. Sometimes good enough is…enough.
Vengeance—or playtime? Why orcas are coordinating attacks against sailboats. Have you heard the stories, or seen the footage, of Orcas attacking (and sinking!) boats off the coast of Spain and Portugal? The story caught my attention this week and I appreciated this explainer from National Geographic.
U.S. Surgeon General warns social media use contributes to youth mental crisis. You’ve seen the headlines, but the actual report is brief and worth the read. If you really want to keep it brief, jump to page 13 to read the suggested policy implementations for legislators, parents, corporations, and others.
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See you Friday!