To fulfill my brother's request, I started to list off business and charitable undertakings. Having been self employed in a variety of food related startups for the last 33 years, I have never needed a résumé. Unsurprisingly, that's how it turned out – like a typical curriculum vitae - a dull, boring and most of all, very forgettable list!

 

It was time to take stock.

 

What mark will I leave? What will be the story of my life? Where is the knight in me? What will make it memorable and hopefully inspiring to future generations?

 

After some serious soul searching, I concluded - if there is ever to be a story, I have to write it myself!

 

Knowing nothing about plot development, my simple 2-step plan of attack was to:

1. start a diary;

2. research the makings of a memorable story.

 

Daily posts consisted of creative writing tips uncovered in my readings and random inspirations on every conceivable topic. I left nothing to memory.

 

It soon became obvious that the progression from keeping a daily diary to composing a captivating narrative was a bigger leap than anticipated. I needed assistance; some literary bridge to cross over.

 

Fortuitously, through my searches, I discovered the 'monomyth', a popular style of metaphoric storytelling in literature. Think of the adventures of a mythical hero setting out on a journey ... venturing out on a quest. Its influence is evident in countless bestselling novels. Who knew? Hollywood follows a formula!

 

According to the stages of the monomyth, the bridge I was looking for to establish plot was some provoking incident to motivate me to set out on my quest; on my own hero's journey. (see Chapter 5 and Acknowledgements )

 

I live a quiet life, so a call-to-take-action is not an everyday occurrence. It became a roadblock. Months passed. It wasn't until further studies of the monomyth that I realized that the active pursuit of any goal fulfills the definition. I already had that from the start ... to publish the story of my life! How better to be remembered than to have authored a bestseller! - so I dreamed.

 

With this newly found insight, remarkably, purpose and direction surfaced in my daily posts - in other words, plots and subplots started to emerge. Before I knew it, writing became my second passion in life, winemaking being the first. Disappointingly however, recognition was not as forthcoming. Where my wines have stood out on the international stage, being published, even to this day, still eludes me. Multiple manuscripts wait to be uncorked. 

 

Thomas Monson once wrote: 'We can't direct the wind but we can adjust our sails.' During the pandemic, the word used is 'pivoting'.

​

Not to be discouraged, I continued to post. Over time, I noticed the frequency to which I referred to my ever expanding compendium of writing tips. In the words of the monomyth's Stereotypical Character Roles, my handbook had become my ally suggesting which routes my story could take. It basically became my sidekick like Donkey* to Shrek*. 

​

A final stage in the monomyth describes how the hero returns at a new equilibrium with revised life goals and insights because of the journey. Although my quest is far from complete, I have already adjusted my sails from the experience - from narcissism to benevolence (a theme materializing here). By repurposing my lists of writing tips, I offer up this site, MHdiaries.com, as a sidekick to provide users possibilities in composing their own hero stories.

​

As for my manuscripts? May they offer inspiration and energy to future growth on the family tree, as well as, a family account of life during the pandemic.

​

Ron The Wine Guy

RS, 64, Kitchener, On, CAN

​

​

* Rights owned by NBCUniversal

​