To be a person is to have a story to tell. 

—Isak Dinesen

I don’t ever remember not knowing how to read.

Earliest memories are me, a stack of Little Golden Books and a glass of chocolate milk–Bosco–and making fast friends with a poky little puppy, a red hen and of course, three little kittens.

Fast-forward a few years and there I am again, a stack of Nancy Drews and a bowl of chocolate ice cream.  Closing my eyes and remembering on purpose, I see Robin at 11, blanket-shrouded and four-eyed atop a floor heater grate behind the wing-back chair.  Woolen and scratchy, I wonder who would ever buy a magenta-on-one-side, pink-on-the-other satin-trimmed blanket…was it a gift to my parents?

These were my reading rituals, comfort food and nesting place.

Not a lot has changed since then.

And yet everything has.

* * * * * * *

I’ve always been drawn to the story of, well…everything.  I don’t want to see a pretty face, I need to feel beating heart, smell peppermint on breath, hear buried secrets, taste laughter and divine.

With an insatiable appetite for learning “the rest of the story,” I’ve been accused of asking too many questions; but is there even such a thing?  I sincerely wanna know more about things, more about places, more about people.  Not only for the sake of knowing, but to construct a frame of reference, connect on a deeper level, establish and grow relationship.

Come to think about it, Story must be pretty important.  It’s how God chose to reveal Himself to us beginning with the narrative of Creation; and goodness knows, Jesus was always telling stories, too.

* * * * * * *

Your life is a story; it’s told in each daily step.  For the sake of your own forgetfulness, but mostly for the sake of your children and theirs, you need to preserve it in written form.  You might not think you’re a writer, but your life would indicate otherwise.

* * * * * *

Megan Jordan tells wonderful stories.

I discovered her blog Velveteen Mind years ago and fell in love with her brilliant mind, her compelling wordsmithmanship, and her passionate championing of those things she held dear.  First impressions were also favorable and lasting–the natural association with one of my favorite all-time stories, The Velveteen Rabbit, and the tagline I wish I had penned (“Relish the Velveteen.  Revel in the threadbare.  Life of a Mom Articulate”).

When she created an online space to breathe new life into the work and words of writers and creatives, and to introduce them to a broader audience–Blog Nosh Magazine–I was thankful to join her editorial team.  That was a few years ago.

Over the summer Megan re-imagined Blog Nosh; Story Bleed is the result:

“A re-imagined literary magazine celebrating essays and art that move and enlighten.  More importantly, connects through storytelling.  Story Bleed aches for you to discover yourself where the lines between our stories bleed together, unexpectedly resonating.”

Culling her editorial staff from 50 to five and holding onto a managing team of three, I’m beyond thrilled to continue our collaboration.  Really, somebody pinch me!

Tonight, please join us for a chat on Twitter, 9-10 EST made possible by our sponsor Proctor and Gamble’s Thank You Mom campaign.  There will be wonderful conversation about writing, thinking, thanking, and being moms and daughters.  Be sure to follow @StoryBleed and use the hashtag #storiedTYM.

I hope to see YOU here!

Your turn:  What are your reading rituals?  Why do you think it’s important to capture thought in written form?