Stories I Tell Myself
Linda Brody Bakst on Brooklyn, growing up, identity and more
Category: The Writing Life
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Apparently, I set goals for 2024. Who knew? I didn’t remember that I had done that until Facebook brought it to my attention as a memory. It was interesting to review! It probably helps to keep them in mind if one hopes to achieve them! That is probably the first step in successful goal management…
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What do you do when you are sad? Do you go about your business with a heavy heart? Do you take steps to cheer yourself up? Maybe it depends on the source of your sadness…if you can even identify it. When I’m feeling down, I often turn to writing. This explains the fact that many…
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Historically I am not one to set goals or make resolutions. I think that reluctance stems from the recognition that we mostly fall short and then have to deal with the failure. The other day I was watching, of all things, House Hunters and this guy in the couple made a point of needing to…
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I often begin blog posts by referring to an interview or podcast I listened to. This one is no exception. George Packer, a journalist and novelist perhaps best known for his writings on American foreign policy, was a guest on Preet Bharara’s Stay Tuned. Most of their discussion was about the status of the United…
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I’m not sure what happened exactly, but something has crystalized for me. I have been writing this blog, participating in writing groups, taking classes online and in person and spending countless hours thinking over the past 7 ½ years, but it is only in the last month that it has become clear to me that…
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A snippet of conversation overheard: “I can’t think of anything worse than finding a picture posted of me on the Internet without my permission,” he said. “I don’t actually remember if he asked before he posted,” she replied. She didn’t sound perturbed by it. “He may have asked, I don’t remember…..I mean, I don’t like…
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It’s funny how things come full circle. I find myself returning to the beginning with this blog. I named it “Stories I Tell Myself,” because I wanted to explore the narrative of my life. I began writing almost five years ago with the belief that we all tell a story about ourselves; we curate or…
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I woke up and grabbed my phone, as I usually do, from the nightstand. I quickly flipped through various apps, just checking to see if anything momentous happened overnight. Nothing of note, just the usual craziness inherent in living in TrumpWorld. Then, the last thing I do before I get out of bed is look…
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It is Monday again – I know that much. Time is hard to get a handle on, especially these days when each day varies so little from the one before. For the first time in 14 weeks I don’t have a new blog post ready. I was on a roll! It isn’t surprising that I…
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Accumulation of debris Layers of particulate Remnants of experience Threads of memory Reminders of disappointment, joy, hurt and love Bury it or stir it up? Worn pathways Channels in my brain Seeking expression Patterns of thought and belief Like grooves in a vinyl record Can I fill in, smooth over, or redirect? Should…
