Session One: Personal History - Diane DeBella and I Am Subject

Healing Stories Project with Diane DeBella
Session One: Personal History

Session One Podcast

After you have listened to Podcast 1, consider revisiting letters, photos, scrapbooks, mementos – any pieces of the past that you feel comfortable and safe exploring. Record any reactions you have or memories that manifest in a journal to revisit as you move toward creating your healing story. If you are comfortable making journal entries, consider the following questions:

What are the things you wish you had received in your childhood and did not?
What did you receive in your childhood that you are grateful for?
What do you feel bound to, and why?
What can you let go of?
What can you embrace instead?

Session One Exercise: I Am From

Sit comfortably in a quiet place with your favorite writing utensil and journal. In your journal write the words I Am From.

And then just let your history flow. Enjoy exploring where you are from.

The I AM FROM Template

I am from _______ (specific ordinary item), from _______ (product name) and _______.

I am from the _______ (home description… adjective, adjective, sensory detail).

I am from the _______ (plant, flower, natural item), the _______ (plant, flower, natural detail)

I am from _______ (family tradition) and _______ (family trait), from _______ (name of family member) and _______ (another family name) and _______ (family name).

I am from the _______ (description of family tendency) and _______ (another one).

From _______ (something you were told as a child) and _______ (another).

I am from (representation of religion, or lack of it). Further description.

I’m from _______ (place of birth and family ancestry), _______ (two food items representing your family).

From the _______ (specific family story about a specific person and detail), the _______ (another detail, and the _______ (another detail about another family member).

I am from _______ (location of family pictures, mementos, archives and several more lines indicating their worth).

Session One Readings

Note: When you click on each selection below, the text will open as a PDF. If you’re reading on-line and the text is vertical, just right-click on the file and select “rotate clockwise.” If you have a Mac computer, click here to learn how to right-click, if you don’t already know how to do so.

Gloria Steinem, “The Child Within”

Gloria Steinem, “Reparenting Ourselves”

Pam Houston, “Waltzing the Cat”

Pam Houston, “In Pursuit of What I Don’t Do Well”

Pam Houston, “Epilogue”

Amy Tan, “The Most Hateful Words”