The Power of Shared Experiences

The memoir The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls is a deeply emotional and vivid portrayal of growing up in extreme poverty, overcoming emotional and physical difficulties of an unstable childhood. Her story of resiliency provides readers with courage of facing hardships an

While reading the memoir The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, I was enamored by her resiliency and courage despite the hardships she encountered while growing up in extreme poverty and overcoming emotional and physical difficulties of an unstable childhood. Reading her story provides into

When we read about (or hear) the stories of people who have overcome adversity, we are often struck by how similar their experiences are to our own struggles even if the specifics differ. Whether it is a memoir of someone overcoming an illness, experiencing grief, or a historical figure rising above oppression, these stories offer valuable lessons about the human capacity to endure hardship. 

Reading about how others navigate through difficult times can validate our own emotions by serving as a reminder that pain, suffering, and setbacks are part of the human experience. Though life can feel so isolating at times, we are not alone in our struggles. These stories make us hold to a mirror to ourselves to reflect on our own fears, doubts and challenges, while showing us that resilience is possible even during our darkest moments.