I just read a moving memoir written by my niece, Summer, for her college psychology class. As I was reading it, tears began to fall down my face. Summer captured her intense emotions and feelings with her words, as she captivated her readers.

The writer. Summer's piece portrays a perfect example of writing and healing to me. She expresses in her paper, the emotional release that she experienced as she wrote the details of some of her life—about people, places, and events that continue to pull at her heart strings.

The instructor. As a writing instructor, I've often observed this phenomenon as students write about their passions, experiences, or a subject very close to their hearts. Plus, as other people read their work, the healing continues. Even when I made editorial remarks, or I just acknowledged that I'd read a student's work and understood what he wrote, the healing continued.

The reader. It's amazing how this writing and healing process spills over to the reader. As I read Summer's piece, my heart was touched. Memories began to flood my mind as I identified with her story.

Then, as I share my experience with Summer about reading her story, I know she will be blessed—and the healing will continue. And I'm hoping she allow me to share some of her story in our BLESSED Journal.

I continue to be amazed at the power of words to heal—not only spoken words, but words penned from the passion within our hearts.

Keep writing,

Karen

Writing prompt. Have you ever experience the power of writing and healing? When? Think of one memory you could write about today that would touch the hearts of others.