Early memories are somehow indelible and nearly transparent. How surreal! I recall some of the images as crisp as today. The rest is faded and far away. It’s right here and just beyond the border of remembrance all at once. It all swirls into a brilliant mix of incredible and wonderful and frustrating.We have been given an amazing gift in memory. The scent of my Nana’s oatmeal cookies. Dew-kissed, purple Irises in my childhood front yard. My many pets. All of my life with family and friends lives there.

I've been thinking about memories today. I'm thinking about capturing them, and how I'm tempted to use more and more words, piling them up on the page. But it may be better to leave room for the imagination.

Writers, you offer a precious gift when you trust readers to explore the memory in their own way. Avoid wordy manipulation. Offer the gift.

Readers, unwrap it gingerly. Explore it tenderly and fully. Then create conversation in response. It's all about embracing others' story lines and treasuring them. Allow yourself to be moved, then pass along your beautiful soul transformation to others.

Have you embraced another's story today? Have you explored it deeply? Have you been changed by someone else's life experience? Have you been generous with the gift of soul transformation to others who might also be changed?

Blessings as you go...