The experience of preparing and delivering a presentation that shows how your values shaped your responses to the story that you shared:
While working on this project, where I had to self-reflect on many intangible ideas like my core values, my work ethic and my emotional quotient in various life situations, I realised that I had learned most of these things from my mother. This process of identifying my key qualities, became a torchlight that began to clearly reveal just where I had modelled these ideas on. It was a natural leap to recognising that she not only rubbed off on me but actually inspired me. And so this realisation shaped my desire to interview her and shaped my questions for her.
My personal connection with her suddenly felt more than genetic. I was a living example of nature AND nurture. I felt excited to hear her answers and proud to share them. Her story barely touched on personal adversity, migration or loss, even though I know it was woven through the fabric of her life, her account of her working life was positive and focussed on resilience, adaptability and persistence. This alone was reflective of the qualities I admire in her but the presentation was more focused on career.
As stated in my video, my mum would be the highest ranking member of the club of life. Michael White (1997) depicted the notion that people’s identities are shaped by what might be referred to as a “club of life” and brought the term “re-membering” into narrative therapy. This metaphor of the “club of life” offered the notion that each of us has members in our club of life who have contributed in different ways to how we have come to feel ourselves. These people who are a part of our “club of life” frequently held positions of varying authority or prominence. As an illustration, we give one person’s opinion of us more weight or attention than another. My mum whose opinions matter the most to me has the greatest impact on my identity and is on the highest level of my club of life.
Furthermore, re-remembering dialogue focuses on interpersonal ties based on common commitments, beliefs, life knowledge, and skills. According to White, examining membership in the club of life allows for the exploration of knowledge and abilities in the context of their particulars and the rich description of numerous major discoveries, learnings, realisations, conclusions, and problem-solving techniques. This relates directly to why I chose my mum – my exploration through interviewing and presenting her ‘story’ represents a part of my story and how I attempt the future of my work.
References
Carey, M & Russel, S 2002, “Remembering: responding to commonly asked questions”, The International Journal of Narrative Therapy and Community Work, no. 3.
http://narrativepractices.com.au/attach/pdf/Remembering_Common_Questions.pdf
White, M 1997 ‘ Narratives of Therapist’s Lives’ , Adelaide, South Australia; Dulwich Centre Publications
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