It seems fitting to use November, the month of Thanksgiving, to send a note of gratitude to my clients over the years. I never forget how lucky I am to hear these stories, to bear witness to these diverse lives. I've learned about cultural traditions different from my own, about growing up during a time much different from my childhood. I've heard about wartime, hunger and struggles. I've also heard about lucky breaks, hard work, and success. I've been introduced to parents, grandparents, and favorite aunts and uncles. Stories about the joys of parenting and the spoilage of grandchildren. I often leave these interviews feeling a bit like a long lost family member.
So, to my current and past clients: Thank you for sharing your lives with me. Thanks for your honesty, your vulnerability, your humor, your candidness, and your light bulb moments. Thanks for the connections, the laughter, the tears, and the thoughtful reflections. I hope you love the end result of your life story book, but know that you have also given me so much in return. I carry a piece of all your stories with me and for that I am thankful.