Category: Life Stories Diary

Life Stories Diary Why I write

Why I write

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The point about writing is the belief that I have something to say that might help others see an issue more clearly, understand something in greater depth, and bring comfort to the broken and bereft. In my years of journalism, a cynical way of looking at what writing does is...

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Anorexia Breaking chains and building bridges for all of us

Breaking chains and building bridges for all of us

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At the age of 11, the earliest traces of my eating disorder (ED), specifically anorexia, started to emerge. A significant factor behind this struggle was my family environment. For most of my early life, I grew up with a half-sister, eight years younger than myself, and a single mother who...

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advocacy The importance of reframing ‘terminal anorexia nervosa’ as end-of-life care

The importance of reframing ‘terminal anorexia nervosa’ as end-of-life care

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Whether or not to define ‘terminal anorexia nervosa’ is being vigorously debated in the eating disorders field. In an article published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, August 25, 2023 edition, Andrea Phillipou writes: Although I disagree with the terminology of ‘terminal AN’ and believe that establishing criteria has the...

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Life Stories Diary Story-sharing in a safe and supportive place fosters self-growth

Story-sharing in a safe and supportive place fosters self-growth

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Writing my story and sharing it with anyone feels a bit risky and involves a certain amount of bravery. I imagine others feel the same about sharing a narrative hitherto private. Life Stories Diary seems like the perfect place to take this risk. The private Self-Paced Life Stories Course within...

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Life Stories Diary Write your story with self-paced memoir mentoring

Write your story with self-paced memoir mentoring

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Postscript: I apologise if you have received a “Demo!”newsletter  – sigh, I’m  still getting used to the new functionality available on this wonderful new website.  Writing a memoir is rather like running a marathon. Success requires time, dedication, preparation, planning, and perseverance. Between us, I think that holding your own...

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eating disorders Look, listen and write – there are stories in everyday life

Look, listen and write – there are stories in everyday life

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Supermarkets are more than a place to purchase groceries. They are also a place to gather stories. And the extra good news is that these stories, which nourish our soul, are free. The stories won’t be found on shelves. They will be found in the aisles, in many shapes and...

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advocacy Welcome to Life Stories Diary

Welcome to Life Stories Diary

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The Diary Healer has transitioned to this new site with a new aim and a new name. Building on The Diary Healer’s accomplishments, lifestoriesdiary.com is here to encourage story-sharing and help you write your story. Are you one of the many people who say, ‘I will write my story one...

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advocacy Sharing our story gives others permission to share their story too

Sharing our story gives others permission to share their story too

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As I ‘came out’ and began to share my story publicly through my memoir, A Girl Called Tim (2011), an amazing thing happened. Shame, stigma, and secrets that had been the bane of my life for decades, were quelled. Rather than remain quiet, my diaries ‘came out’ too. For instance,...

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Dear Diary The story behind this website

The story behind this website

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The story behind this website began when I was 11 years’ old in 1962. Early that year, I developed an eating disorder but a gift of a diary at Christmas seemed to offer a reprieve and give me comfort and hope. Writing helped me to feel better. Words were like...

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