ALLENDER JOURNAL – INTRODUCTION 1
Allender Journal – Introduction
Kendra Smither
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
ALLENDER JOURNAL – INTRODUCTION 2
Allender Journal – Introduction
The introductory chapter of Allender (2005) talks about our individual life stories and
how we should be reading them. As I continued to read the chapter it really sat heavy with me,
being that I may not be looking at some aspects of my story that matter the most like that God
wrote it for me, or that I need to write it and claim it too. I liked how the chapter provided a
realization for me, and I think it was very eye-opening to think about our life stories in this way,
as well as how hard it can be to just take the time to dive deep into our own life paths.
When it comes to the journal prompt, a lot of things come to mind regarding different
experiences I’ve faced, and the significance behind each one of them. To start, an experience in
my life that absolutely thrilled me was moving out of my childhood home at seventeen years
old. This was such a challenging yet freeing moment in my life, in which I was filled with a rush
of diverse emotions. It thrilled me because I felt so much weight lift from my shoulders, and I
felt that I could truly begin my life. At the same time, however, I felt a deep rush of sadness and
anxiety. I was afraid for my siblings who I left behind and my thoughts were scattered of what
might happen next. Not too long after, I moved two hours away for college and lived in an
apartment with my boyfriend who is now my husband. Making the choice to leave a toxic
environment and choosing myself and my goals really felt empowering, and although it was a
rocky process, once I got through the toughest parts, it truly thrilled me.
ALLENDER JOURNAL – INTRODUCTION 3
Next, an experience that amazed me the most throughout my lifetime was becoming a
mother. The entire process of pregnancy and birth was like nothing I could have ever expected.
It truly amazed me to grow and deliver a human who means the absolute world to me. It felt
like everything bad had faded from my life, and I was given a new beginning and purpose
becoming a mother. The unconditional love and the instant connection shook me to my core,
and looking back on those moments, I’ve realized that that pivotal moment in my life
completely transformed me and redirected my story for the better. It still shocks me when I look
back at how my story got completely rewritten on the day I found out I was pregnant, and this
truly came to life when I got to meet the light of my life and my newfound purpose.
Lastly, an experience that has sobered me, and still does every day, has been to see my
parents both struggle with addiction. Seeing loved ones go through this kind of hardship has
sobered me more than any of my own pain could. This aspect of my life has had an immense
effect on the entirety of my life story, and it has been extremely difficult dealing with this and
trying to navigate the limits of my ability to help and support without doing further harm. I love
how Allender (2005) points out that we must know our stories to be able to tell them, and that
we may not like them, but we must own them. This really helped me to see that we can
discover deep meanings in our life stories by coming to know them, accept them, and tell them.
References
Allender, D. B. (2006). To Be Told: Know Your Story, Shape Your Future. National Geographic
Books.
