Life is in the Transitions book report

 I just finished the book "Life is in the Transitions" by Bruce Feiler.  He's the same guy who did the Life Story Project.  He interviews thousands of people to hear their life stories.  He interviewed many older people and also young ones, and people at all stages of life.  

Here are some of his conclusions taken from his data that I found fascinating.  It really got me thinking about my own life and how important our stories are.  These are my notes:

ABC of story. Everyone's life patterns fit into these buckets. 

Agency

Belonging

Calling

We need to sit down and talk to each other more.

1: The telling of a life story generates the meaning you need at the moment. Retelling our story accelerated recovery. 

2: Stories connect. Interaction of teller and listener. Any age works with this. Everyone has a story the sharing is what brings out the surprise 

3:  Meaning-making.  Meaning makes us more human and more humane.  Our society needs to return to the front porch and campfire.   Meaningful experiences. 

What shape is your life?    He found out when he asked this question at the  end of each interview these also fell into 3 buckets that closely aligned with the ABC of story.  The Agency shapes all had movement with no end in sight... siz zag, mountains and valley, arrow etc.   The Belonging shapes were definite bordered shapes like a heart, star, box, cup, house.    The  Calling shapes all varied...like a tree with roots or bird wings or...just anything.  

Telling your life story is so healing as we grow older.  

Healing power of story for older people.  Review your life. Tell stories. Make sense of past. Construct a narrative of life well lived.   Telling your story is good for young people as well. 

When asked "What’s Theme Of your life? "   He could categorize it down to 5 areas:   

1. Struggle. Ups and downs.  50/50

2. Self actualization - true to self. Independence. Accept self. Be genuine. 

3. Service. Making the world a better place. Make a difference. 

4.  Gratitude. Lucky. Joyful. Happy where you are. Everything is possible.  God’s Grace. 

5.  Love. Built around relationships. Dedication to family. Err on side of love 

We all think we want and need a linear life...where it all makes sense and we know what we are supposed to do next.  But that's not true.  We experience so many things and feeling alive - uncertain, uncomfortable, ready for what's next in our lives happens in the transitions.

5 truths of transitions:

1.  More plentiful. Linear life is misleading. 

2.  It’s connect the dots. Free style.  Coping mechanism. Life time sport. 

3. Takes longer than you think but not longer than you need 

4. Auto biographical occasions.  Narrative breaches.  Revisit and revise 

5. Essential to life.  Rebrand transitions.  See has fertile ground instead of hostile.