"You Should Write a Book"

"You should write a book."

I have heard this phrase on many occasions; after penning an informative yet succinct letter of recommendation for a student, after sharing an inspiring story about the latest development achieved by my disabled son, after the loving eulogy I wrote honoring my mother was read at her funeral.  My gut response to the comment has always been the same, a question that quickly pops into my mind-  "who would want to read what I have to say?" 

I do have a lot to say, after all.  I am a middle aged mom, married for 16 years, working full-time and raising two children, one of which has autism.  I own a beautiful pet, a young and energetic chocolate labrador retriever.  I helplessly watched cancer slowly take the life of my mother.  I deal with the grief of losing her with the new burderns of taking care of my elderly father and my brother (who is also disabled).  I face challenges at work and at home.  I am dealing with the inevitability of getting older, evidenced by my need for reading glasses, the enjoyment I get from reading articles from "Good Housekeeping" magazine, and my early bedtime.  I have learned many life lessons in my 43 years, but still have so many questions.  I have achieved self-confidence but can lapse into insecurity and fear.  I feel content and at peace with where my choices have taken my life, but retain a constant yearning to know, feel, and understand more.

So after much self-reflection, I have finally decided that I should write...not a book, not yet anyway.  I have decided to write my thoughts and ideas, share the stories that I like to think are inspirational, impart the knowledge that I would like my sons and students to have, pose the questions to which I would like to find the answers.  I will begin to write because I have realized that when I asked myself who would want to read what I have to say, the answer is...me.