The Variable Tales of Life

On May 22nd the NYTimes printed an article in the Science Section called "This is Your Life (And How You live It). You can go to www.NYTimes.Com and search the archives to read this piece or email me at Ellen@Berkeleyfamilytherapy.com and I will send a copy of it to you. The article describest how from an individual perspective life narratives are central to how we live our lives. This week they printed a letter (see below) that includes my reflection on these ideas. Good to think that ideas about stories and their central significance to us and our world are coming forth in the popular media. To my mind they missed the key notion of narratives that they are communal in nature and individuals have only a small part in constructing them. Please send me your comments.

Letter to the Editor
NY Times Science Section
Published: May 29, 2007
The Variable Tales of Life
To the Editor:
Re “This Is Your Life (and How You Tell It)” (May 22): This otherwise fine article leaves out an important piece of the narrative puzzle. Our stories are not always composed by us, but come to us in powerful ways from others. If, as children, family members describe us in a particular way, these family stories often remain the same no matter how we change. What others believe about us, what we learn in school, in the media and from the reactions of strangers, define our stories.
In searching for alternative narratives about ourselves, we are often drawn to stories about others. Listening to these stories may offer us new possibilities, but if our new life stories are to fully emerge, we must also challenge the underlying myths and prejudices that limit us.
Ellen Pulleyblank CoffeyBerkeley, Calif.