To Smile Again: A memoir.

摘要

"To Smile Again" is an inspirational autobiographical collection of stories, thoughts, and realizations conveyed through poetry and prose. My thought process initially focused on two elements in my life that often seem parallel - Then and Now - and extended to examine the points scattered around and between these specific two. The closer examination of the pivotal points changed "Then" and "Now," from shaded gray areas, to colorful markers of the life I live. The focus on those two specific points as separate elements changed to an attempt to understand the disassociation of myself.;These stories are the result of a personal mission of healing the two separate selves and mending them together as a whole. One of the most important elements that caused the disassociation was the inability to smile, truly smile, from the inside out. This is an ability that we often take for granted. Sometimes we think that finances, relationships, fine wines, club memberships, cars, and fulfillment in external areas will compensate for the void that is internally present. The truth, as I came to find out, is that the void continues to worsen as it remains unattended. Over time, this void came to infect other areas of my life and was indeed powerful enough to stop me in my tracks.