Here’s something I’ve learned as a Life Stories workshop facilitator: when we gather to share our life stories, and have them witnessed by others in a safe space, something profound happens. Across weeks of reflection, shared memories, and careful listening, women who start as strangers build a deep, confidential trust. And this is true whether it happens in person or via a hosted Zoom call.
That is why I am thrilled to share some wonderful news with the People Equation community: our story circle is heading to the international stage!
On November 15, 2026, the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies will publish its international juried anthology Becoming Ourselves: The Moments That Shape Us. The collection brings together personal essays from Guided Autobiography (GAB) instructors and their workshop participants from around the globe, each capturing a pivotal turning point or decision that reshaped a life.
Standing My Ground: “Poking Back”
My own featured essay in the anthology, “Poking Back,” takes a look at a defining moment from my early post-college years. It recounts the moment I finally broke a lifetime habit of “good-girl” silence—a pivotal shift that marked my transformation into a confident self-advocate. Writing this piece reminded me how powerful it is to look back at our younger selves with compassion and recognize the exact moments where our strength took root.
Celebrating Our Circle Writers
What makes this milestone extraordinary for me isn’t just seeing my own work in print—it is sharing the pages with two remarkable writers from my Guided Life Stories circles. Connecting across American state lines in my virtual workshops, Julie McCormick of Michigan and Staci Miller of Pennsylvania, both earned places in this international collection. Julie and Staci developed their selected essays during The People Equation’s six-week Introductory Guided Life Stories small-group workshop.
To watch stories that were first read aloud in our virtual gathering room earn a place in an international collection is a testament to the courage, truth, and craftsmanship present in our community. Holding space for women to write and reflect together truly transcends physical distance. I’m so honored to have been a part of their journey.
Looking Ahead to 2027
As a certified Guided Autobiography instructor through the Birren Center, my passion is creating welcoming, non-critique spaces for women navigating major life transitions. Women who’ve joined my writing circles share diverse backgrounds and life experiences–and many of them don’t consider themselves writers. As one of my recent participants remarked, “I didn’t think I’d enjoy the writing process as much as I did, but it was an unexpected joy to reflect on my life and capture my stories.”
If you’ve been feeling the pull to pause, reflect, and make sense of your own story, I invite you to join us around the (virtual) table for my upcoming 2027 workshop gatherings.
Becoming Ourselves: The Moments That Shape Us will be available on Amazon beginning November 15, 2026.
To learn more about upcoming 6-week virtual Life Stories workshops or to reserve your spot on the interest list, visit us at people-equation.com/guidedlifestories.
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