Often, when we hear the word memoir or life story, our minds immediately turn to others—people we think have something important to share. We assume they must be older, public figures, or have led particularly “interesting” lives. But the truth is, no matter your age or background, you have a story to tell. You don’t need to be an elder or a celebrity. You don’t have to have lived in five different countries or endured a lifetime of hardship. Even what you might consider a “simple” life can hold something powerful, something meaningful. In fact, more often than not, beneath that simplicity, there’s a deep, beautiful story waiting to be uncovered.
Growing up, if I was asked to introduce myself, I would typically stick to the same things, "My name is Summer, I'm from Atlanta. I love to read and write. I'm family oriented and also love hanging out with my friends. I love to travel and be in nature, but I don't like bugs. And no, I wasn't born in the summer." Simple. The things I told other people, was also pretty much how I saw myself. I mean I knew there was more to the story, but for the most part, how I viewed the essence of me, did not go too far beyond those five lines.
It wasn't until 2020, during the pandemic, that I began to see more of who I was. I had spent the last two years living in a house with two roommates. But during the pandemic, I started grad school and was barely making any money. My grandma opened up her home to me and I lived with her for the next 3 years.
During this time, it wasn't a lot to do. The Pandemic was in full effect and hardly nobody was outside. Even my film grad school program was virtual my first year, which was so weird because it's like, this is a film program, filmmaking is meant to be collaborative, not isolated. So that was weird, but I digress.
I spent a lot of time between my grandma's house and Piedmont Park (for my Atlanta folks). Living with my maternal grandma made me realize a lot about myself and our relationship that I had never noticed or understood before. It was incredible. Even shocking at times. Like how had I made it to 23 years of life, and not realized I had these shadows. These aspects of my identity that were imperfect and flawed. It set me on a journey of deepening my innerstanding of myself. Hence, the weekly (sometimes I would go twice a week) trips to Piedmont Park. I spent hours journaling, making voice notes, reading. Piecing together the puzzle pieces of my life and myself. Understanding that for years, I carried feelings of inadequacy along with the pressure of trying to appear perfectly put together.
Throughout our lifetime, we will meet multiple versions of ourselves. Some versions, when looking back, will feel so foreign and distant, while other versions, we may find ourselves reaching for again. Throughout my journey, I have learned that we all have a story to sift through, unpack, innerstand, and heal from. Even me, the girl who always loved to read and to write, but never thought her own story was enough.
Writing your story is more than just recounting events—it's a process of discovery. Through reflecting on my own journey, I’ve come to realize that what once seemed like simple, surface-level details about myself, were actually the starting points for a deeper exploration of who I am. My time in isolation, living with my grandma and journaling in Piedmont Park, gave me the space to uncover hidden layers, confront old wounds, and embrace parts of myself I had long overlooked.
Each version of ourselves is a stepping stone, leading us to a more complete innerstanding of who we are. And while some chapters may feel distant or even unrecognizable, they are all part of the same story. What’s important is that we give ourselves permission to write it, to reflect on it, and to heal from it.
No matter where you are in life or how you view your own story, remember: your narrative is worth telling. It has the power to illuminate your path, unlock buried wisdom, and transform how you see yourself. So, don't wait for the “perfect” time or the right circumstances. Start where you are, and let the process of writing your story help you discover who you were, who you are, and who you’re becoming.
Summer J. Robinson
Publisher. Filmmaker. CEO. Building Silver Bangles Productions, a multidisciplinary storytelling agency committed to telling and elevating stories that inspire Afrikan diasporic intergenerational healing. We do this through book publications, TV, Film, and Documentary productions, programming, and education.
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