Today is Day 26 of the March Slice of Life – the daily writing challenge hosted at Two Writing Teachers.
Y is for Yesterday
When I think of my yesterdays, I think of two quotes that point to two aspects of one’s yesterdays:
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning. Albert Einstein
Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present. Bill Keane
Yes, yesterday is the past, but we do need to learn from it.
When I turned 65 in January (just writing that makes me feel old), I decided that I would start writing a memoir by recording my memories.
I had read Natalie Goldberg’s Old Friend From Far Away and was very taken with her book about writing memoir. Throughout, she shared her own memories/stories and provided 10 minute exercise to prod our memories and get our stories down.
As she said in the intro:
Write down who you were, who you are and what you remember.
I really like that notion of growth – who we were and who we are now.
Her first exercise was to just pick up a “fast” pen and write for 10 minutes, using one of several sentence starters:
I am looking at…
I am thinking of…
I remember…
And then, to do this several times.
Over the past month or so I have been using the last sentence starter and have created a long list of things I remember. Some I have expanded – some even for this year’s SOL. I am always amazed at what I unearthed.
But at times, the memories are so faint or even non-existent, it scares me. I want to remember and I want to learn.
I aim to keep turning to Goldberg’s book for inspiration as I continue to write about my yesterdays.
Beverley A Baird 
Those yesterdays are so important because they are what shaped us and made us into who we are today. Keep remembering, Bev.
Thanks Bob. one thing Natalie stressed was that you van nudge your memories until you can remember more fully.
I have not looked at this book – thanks for the idea. I reach that birthday in June and am wondering about it. At times it feels old and other I feel I still have so much to learn and do. Thanks for your post today.
I feel the same Joanne. Sometimes I can’t believe that I am now a senior. I feel young inside.
Sometimes those faint memories become stronger as I poke around at them–the smell of propane gas in our rented cabin brought a niggling anxiety–what was it reminding me of that made me anxious? Couldn’t put my finger on it. So, I just started writing about the odor and the tightness around my heart. Eventually, a memory began emerging. Lots of times, though, nothing comes of it but a page full of throw away. Keep plugging away. 65 is young today.
I know Dianne. That’s what I’ve been trying to do with some of the earlier memories – and it’s actually working.
I too, reached that milestone in January. I share similar feelings. Thank you for sharing the book, I plan to order it.
Happy belated birthday! I really enjoyed it and I’m slowly working thru the writing exercises.