Gone By But Never Gone

Anne laughed and sighed. She felt very old and mature and wise---which showed how young she was. She told herself that she longed greatly to go back to those dear merry days when life was seen through a rosy mist of hope and illusion, and possessed an undefinable something that had passed away forever. Where was it now---the glory and the dream?

~ L. M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island

Even the best of childhoods are filled with moments of anxiety, tinged with pain. Many, many moments and much pain for some: I've got something to say to you. Others were fortunate enough to have been largely carefree in their small lives: I have a reminder for you too.

Whatever, your story, don't let the weariness and hurt so often ushered in by adulthood scar the past. Don't let it mar something beautiful as if it didn't matter. Or let it point the finger of justification at the experiences of your younger self. And don't let the past wound the present, as if it could somehow reach out and harm you now---whether to remind you in that little voice of old of how magical things were, beckoning you away from contentment in the difficulty of now, or to remind you of how awful things were and assure you that it's wholly okay to be bitter.

A continual thought process and a recent reflection. Perhaps because I often feel like a child myself, fumbling with the shoestrings of adulthood, struggling to tie the knot so elementary to others.

Been kicking around a project idea---no, I'm not putting off my other adult responsibilities, why would you assume that?---centered around childhood. Its humor and adventures. Its beauties and losses. Would love to be able to tell some of your stories and share some of my own. Although we're by no means defined by our adolescent years (thank you, God), there's a weight to the "formative" years that's hard to deny.

Maybe you were the child that noticed the "little" things. Maybe the one who found something to laugh about in every situation. Or perhaps the fearless leader amongst your friends. The instigator. The shy one. The curious child. The quirky kid. Maybe you still are. I firmly believe everyone's got a bit of child left in his soul no matter his age.

What I really love to hear about are the things that people remember. Our lives careen in streams of days, hours, and milliseconds. What sticks in your mind? Why those memories?

So tell me a story.

That is the title of this site, after all. :)

Tell me a story about your childhood.

Type it into the survey below (not to worry, only one question!).

https://forms.gle/WVUqj4w9Cka6Rkn88

Perhaps I'll share your story here. Or write about it in my own words. Or share insights from the responses I receive. Either way, I'd love to hear from you, whether anonymously or with your lovely name identifying your story. Might come up with a more detailed survey at some point, but this is as good a place to start as any. As always, feel free leave me a comment with your thoughts or to start a discussion.

As the Zoom kids would say, "We want to hear from you! Come on, give it a try!" And yes, I mean the TV show. I'm that old. Or young. However you want to look at it. ;)