Own Your Personal Story

August 16, 2010

Road in the Mojave Desert by stevecadman, on FlickrI was running down the road today and got to thinking about owning your personal story. (Yeah, don’t ask. I daydream while I run, don’t you?)

Your story is your story. Embrace it, appreciate it, love it, own it. So many folks are ashamed of where they came from, of the mistakes they might have made on their journey to where they are today. Why? Isn’t that what MADE you who you are today?

Why don’t more people create great stuff out of the story of their journeys?

Could you even go so far to say that without your mistakes and whoopsies and stupid decisions you would not be in the position you are today? That you wouldn’t have come up with that business idea or you wouldn’t have met the person you did or you wouldn’t have appreciated what you now have or you wouldn’t have been open-minded to that new idea that transformed your life?

If I hadn’t spent 7 painful years working against my personality in corporate, I would not be where I am today. Hands down. Not professionally, not financially, not personally. In fact, you could even say that I wouldn’t have met my husband. And I know for sure that I wouldn’t have met the gal who I first went into business with and failed, and then went into business with again and succeeded, which in turn allowed me to financially be ok with leaving that job.

(Side note: Life is scary-cyclical sometimes, yeah?)

Whatever your beliefs – that everything happens for a reason or part of a master plan or whathaveyou – you are who you are today because of your experiences. You might think you’re better off because of them, or perhaps worse. Or maybe it should just be a neutral balance. Better just meaning stronger – more experienced, more lessoned.

Whatever the label you choose to identify its impact, use those experiences and share them with the world. Embrace your story. Because if we aren’t a better person today because of what happened yesterday, what was the point?

What say you?

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  • http://twitter.com/mikeshippey Mike Shippey

    Annie – this is a GREAT post!
    I too believe that we should embrace ourselves. After all, WE are WHO we are!
    All experience makes us wiser, and if we pick ourselves up after our mistakes and failures, learn the lessons and keep moving forward we can accomplish anything our heart desires!
    I like to say, “everybody has a story”.
    The timing for my reading your blog today was perfect! I was thinking this morning of how we need more REAL people, who are genuine and authentic!
    So, I say to all, “embrace who you are and tell your story loud and proud!”
    Thanks for sharing!
    MS

    • http://www.anniesorensen.com Annie Sorensen

      Ohh, Mike, loved that you touched upon the authenticity point. I didn't really think of it that way, but it's so true. Thanks for stopping by, friend.

  • Rod Villagomez

    As a kid my family used to go to church and I always found myself wishing I had those glamorous, “I used to be a crackhead crimelord until I found God” type testimonials. I guess they just seemed more flashy and sexy than my, “my family has been going to church since before I was born and now I am too,” story.

    But now, SEVERAL years later, I have learned that despite my seemingly boring background, I managed to live a life full of moments that have shaped who I am today. Be it my years in the Army, my divorces, my kids, my recent failures, or any of my now millions of past experiences, all of them make for a crazy roller coaster thrill ride of a tale, one which I will someday immortalize in print (or whatever the mode of delivery is at that time).

    I have learned to embrace my story and with the help of social media, my blog and the other tools of this trade, I have learned to share it with others in the hopes that someone may learn from it, or even share in the still-being-written part of my story.

    • http://www.anniesorensen.com Annie Sorensen

      Rod, this is awesome. Thank you for sharing YOUR story. :)

  • http://pedalwithpurpose.com Saybob

    great post on owning your story. As It has been said I am responsible for my life my emotions and every result that I get

    • http://www.anniesorensen.com Annie Sorensen

      Precisely!

  • http://pedalwithpurpose.com Bob Carter

    Hey Annie:

    Thanks for sharing your post on owning your story. As It has been said I am responsible for my life my emotions and every result that I get.

    Life takes on new meaning as we take responsibility. Another thing taking responsibility or taking ownership of our story does it eliminates the blame game. You may delete my post below as I changed my profile so folks know it is me posting right off. hmmmm taking ownership?

    • http://www.anniesorensen.com Annie Sorensen

      Eliminating the blame game – love that, Bob! Agree 100%.

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