This summer I have been taking a storytelling in education class. One of the assignments was to create a life map. How hard can making a picture map of one's story be? For me at least, its not as simple as it sounds. I went right to work looking through old photo albums, sorting through loose pictures, and papers. 46 years of memories and pictures takes time to sort through. I began to feel that this was an impossible assignment. How could I possibly make a map of my life stories?

I knew that I should start with my birth, after all, that IS when my story began. I then listed out events, things that happened to or around me that I felt contributed to making me who I am today. Wow, that was a huge list. Well... maybe not a huge list, but a fairly long one. I eliminated events that were not significant, and or did not really have a story. I left one or two seemingly story-less events stay on my list, such as my advancements through public school. I left off my list the deaths of my grandparents, nephew and stillborn children, because these event, while they are part of my story they are too depressing. Once I got my list of life events/stories, I was finally able to proceed.

My finished Life map

 I have enjoyed this project, I'm sure I made it harder than it real was. However, in creating it, I got to relive each moment. Some I only know through the stories of others, for instance at 22 months old, I had an intestinal issue that caused me to go into a comatose state for about a day and a half.  Other stories, bring a profound feeling of gratitude. For example, I am grateful for a neighbor who without complaint, or thought of the inconvenience it would cause her took six children ten and younger into her home, that was already filled to capacity with her own seven children under the age of ten all afternoon and past bedtimes, the day that my dad had a Grand Mal seizure. I am grateful for doctors and other medical staff that preserved my dad's life, so that he can be pat of my life now.

I can see me integrating life maps into my curriculum with my future students. This was and is a great way to find personal stories, and a great way to preserve those stories for others to enjoy.