TN10: Lisa Weinert, Literary Alchemist

Your Age: 45

Basic bio:  Lisa is the founder of Narrative Healing, a mind-body writing program, book, and (forthcoming) online course. Her program is based on the premise that our bodies hold hidden, healing stories that are meant to be shared. Her first book Narrative Healing: Awaken the Power of Your Story, published by Hachette Go, is out now. The book leads the reader through an empowering creative journey that begins with the body; it provides anyone (not just writers) a comforting and inclusive pathway to heal, help and inspire by first searching within.

Beyond the bio: I owe all the blessings in my life to letting go of dependency on outside people, places and things to make me happy or help me feel whole.

What makes you a grown-ass lady?

I’m not sure I put so much weight on my physical age. What I value most is a growing ability to trust my gut, which does get somewhat easier with age because as I get older I’m more able to pursue spiritual, emotional, and physical work to free myself — with the guidance of teachers, healers and artists. I don’t think you need to be 40 to gain this wisdom; I certainly know a lot of younger people who are way wiser than I am.

Here’s her TueNight 10:

1. On the nightstand: Go Back and Get It by Dionne Ford; Ancestor Trouble by Maud Newton, Body Work by Melissa Febos, American Detox by Kerri Kelly, Love and Rage by Lama Rod Owens, My Grandmother’s Hands by Resmaa Menakem, Night Sky With Exit Wounds by Ocean Vuong.

2. Latest fav finds: My favorite products are books from local independent bookstores.

3. First job: Ice cream scooper.

4. Celebrating birthdays: Birthdays are a nice opportunity to connect with the people who matter in my life — to share a meal, a walk, or a hug. I like to think about which relationships I want to deepen, and which ones I want to join in the coming year. I also like to spend some time communing with those who are no longer with me.

5. What you are most proud of: I’m most proud of living a life that centers around creativity, spirituality, and connection, and that my life is full of meaningful relationships that fill me up. I’m also super proud of getting to live out my dreams of being an author and teacher.

6. What do you like about getting older? I love feeling more comfortable in my skin and in acceptance of where I am, who I am with and what I am doing. I love being surrounded by deep relationships with history and new friends, meeting me as I am now. 

7. Any do-overs: Nope! If I did anything over, I wouldn’t get to be who I am today. Of course, there are things I wish I hadn’t said, or done, and I have learned from those experiences, made amends where I was able, and now I can change course as I go. I believe that my greatest humiliations, losses, and pains have been the greatest teachers in my life and responsible for the joy I feel today.

8. Best advice you ever got: Two pieces of advice: 1) Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you. 2) Keep writing.

9. Best thing that happened recently: I published my first book! Narrative Healing: Awaken the Power of Your Story. A total lifetime dream come true. I am pinching myself.

10. Looking forward to: I’m looking forward to doing more of what I am doing: writing, teaching, connecting, and growing.