Send us a Text Message. In this episode, I have a heartfelt conversation with award winning author, Linda Joy Myers. Linda Joy Myers has always been haunted by the power of the past to affect people in the stream of time. She learned about World War II through her grandmother, a passionate Anglophile who would rhapsodize about the unfairness of war. Together they watched stark black and white documentaries about the war when Linda Joy was thirteen, and later this led to a passion about history which she integrated into her own struggles with intergenerational trauma and her work as a therapist and a writer. As founder of the National Association of Memoir Writers, Linda Joy is the author of four books on memoir writing. The Power of Memoir and Journey of Memoir help writers find their way to their healing stories. Her two memoirs Don’t Call Me Mother, and Song of the Plains have won the Bay Area Publishing Association Gold Medal award and the 2018 Next Generation Indie Book awards. Linda's perspective as a therapist, for over 40 years, added another layer of depth to our conversation. She  expressed how writing can serve as a therapeutic exercise, and a pathway to self-discovery and healing. Her encouragement for others to write their stories, regardless of publication intentions, emphasizes the profound value of storytelling for personal growth. I'm finding in sharing my personal story in my solo podcast episodes has at times, been painful as I touch on wounds that I believed from which I was fully healed. This  subject actually came up during our conversation.  Linda  left me inspired and deeply appreciative of the transformative power of writing. Her wisdom and encouragement will stay with me as I continue on my own journey of self-expression and exploration through my podcast and writing. All of Linda's published works and the link to her SubStack account can be found on her website; https://lindajoymyersauthor.com Linda Joy’s memoir links: www.namw.org and www.writeyourmemoirinsixmonths.com. Takeaways Writing can be a therapeutic exercise and a tool for personal growth.Understanding history is important to avoid repeating past mistakes.Memoir writing allows individuals to share their stories and potentially help others.Family dynamics and personal experiences shape our lives and can be explored through writing.Writing about both the dark and light moments in life can create a balanced and impactful narrative. In order to grow we must reveal our truth and stand in it. I am brave. It doesn't mean I 'm not afraid. I love myself for where I was and where I am. In a world where women of a certain age are often overlooked, April Pruitt is on a mission to flip the narrative and redefine what it means to be middle-aged. Are you wanting a life you’re not living? Do you want to connect with like minded women who are curious about what the future holds? With humor and compassion join April Pruitt; greeting card creator, writer, podcaster, and professional nerd, as she dives into honest conversations about her personal journey along with a variety of guests whose own stories can help cultivate a community of support and understanding. We all have are own struggles and ways of coping. April reminds us that no one is walking this path alone. Don't we all want to be loved? To be seen? To be heard? Join April as she tackles various issues to help us live our best emotional life. Get ready to bloom!