How to make it matter: share your story

We never had a dog when I was growing up. There were a few cats, a snake even, but never a dog.

I can't even recall knowing any one dog all that well, but there came a day when I wanted one.

So I went looking for one, talked about getting one, did my research on bringing a dog home, and finally got one. A basset hound.

Why a basset hound? I think it was the ears. They have big, beautiful ears. Velvety ears. And they are solid dogs, well-tempered, and laid-back.

Unfortunately, they are not great about walking in a straight line, moving along from here to there ... at least not Agatha. Nope, she'd walk a few paces and stop. Sniff, move on, and stop again.

After reading the most popular and recommended books about having a dog, I understood the importance of daily exercise, and made sure we went out. Every day. We went in the woods and around the neighborhood, but it was always the same ... a herky-jerky trek from here to there.

Now, granted, I wanted a dog that was easy-going, but when it was time to get her out for some exercise, it became an exercise in frustration. For me and the dog.

The frustration, I realized, came from expecting Agatha to power walk, get moving, and do what I wanted her to do ... to go against her nature. Bassets are after all, scent hounds. Sniffing is what they do. Once I figured that out, I enjoyed our time outside.

What I learned
I learned to take myself for a walk first ... alone. And to accept what Agatha was teaching me ... to slow down and notice things.

In the coming weeks, I'll be releasing a new picture book, Things I Notice When I Walk The Dog.

It's a picture book memoir. Agatha's legacy ... and part of mine.

Think memoir's not for you?
If you think memoir is not for you, think again. People love stories and you've got some good noes.

Stories you can share in a collection or how-to book.

Remember, memoir is not an account of your entire life. It's the account of an experience or event where some kind of understanding, lesson, or insight occurred.

How did you get started doing what you do? What does someone entering the field you're in need to know? What do you wish you knew? Share it and help someone in the same position.

Have you completed a self-initiated challenge where you learned something you didn't expect?

What do you do in your spare time? Are you a mast chef, a marathon runner, or member of a band? What's that like? Let us know.

Your insights and experiences are unique. And that's why we want your take on how it's done and why it matters.

Once you get started, you'll be surprised a what you can share.

Resources
Writing about your experiences can feel self-indulgent or out of reach in the beginning, but you tell stories all the time. The challenge is putting them down on paper.

Want to ease into writing? Check out these new tools.

The Hello Dahlia! printable stationery and journal papers.

---