The Story I Never Heard

I often ask people, “When are you going to tell your story?” Leaving a legacy is not just about leaving royalties to your children, it is about sharing those stories that craft our beliefs and change the trajectory of our lives.

In 1989, I was in a multigenerational living arrangement. My grandmother had fallen victim to chemical dependency caused by uncaring medical practitioners, who had over medicated her to a level that mimicked early dementia. Of course, we did not know at the time that it is a condition that can occur when using medication that blocks neurotransmitters.?

But this story is not about unscrupulous over medicating of older people. Rather, it is about the story I yearned to hear, but was never told. A story of immense courage, planning and overcoming.

I first got a hint of this story when my grandmother and my grandfather moved in with us. Grandpa Aubrey was a quiet, reflective man. I would often find him gazing out the window, silently puffing on a cigarette. But besides the fact that he had a talent for growing roses, a habit of blaming his passing of wind on the dog, and a silly poem about Jack and the Glory, I really knew nothing about him.?

One afternoon when I was goofing around, I accidentally used the wrong key in a lock which jammed the mechanism. As most teens, I exaggerated my prediction of my parents’ reaction, and I thought they were going to kill me. But my grandfather, in his quiet, competent style, asked for my father’s tool kit and eliminated the source of my terror.

Elated, I cried, “You are a genius.”, to which he responded, “This is nothing. I escaped a prisoner of war camp.”

In my self indulgent teenage mind, this comment was meaningless. But when I started my own business, and I faced those screaming WHAT IF terrors in my mind, my grandfather’s words came back to haunt me.?

I wondered if I had my grandfather with me, what he could teach me about silencing that inner voice. I thought of him mulling the plan over quietly in his mind as he did when he was gazing out the window. Did he share his plan? If he did, how did he know who he could trust? How many weeks or months had he been planning? This was not a story about going bankrupt, it was a story when failure equaled death. A story that my adult self really wants to hear.

Memoirs, when well written, are not just a recounting of events. They are a passing on of wisdom that shapes the hearts and minds of those who take the time to read them.?

You may have a story in your heart that someone in the future needs to hear. Write it. Write it well, and you will leave a true legacy.

Kim Vermaak is the MindSet Whisperer

Kim is a multi-talented South African author, speaker, trainer and bookstore owner who has been helping authors, entrepreneurs and knowledge workers build their brands for over 20 years.

With a passion for bringing wisdom back into the art of storytelling, Kim has touched the hearts of many with her medieval fantasy series, while also empowering aspiring authors to turn their dreams into reality.

Kim's super power lies in using crushing events to transform not only herself but also the hearts and minds of others.

Tap into her wealth of knowledge and expertise in building successful book-preneur businesses. Whether you're an aspiring author, entrepreneur or brand manager, Kim's insights and experience will help you create a strong foundation for achieving your goals.