Personal. Philosophical. Daring. A good legacy read!
Summary
Joanna Gaines, co-founder of Magnolia, was first inspired to write her story after moving to New York City at age 21. Doing so helped her see the beauty of being different. She discovered lost parts of her and rewrote painful memories with truth. Two decades later, she felt led to write her story again—to retrace some steps—not only for her benefit but to encourage others. In The Stories We Tell, Joanna models how to reflect on your life, learn from your past, and grow from your experiences. Now in her forties, Joanna stands in the fullness of her story to advocate for storytelling.
“There’s infinite value in a life that seeks a meaningful story and is willing to be shaped by it.”
Storytelling
Stories connect us and are a fundamental way of communicating. They inspire, teach, encourage, and entertain us. Joanna has always journaled. She hopes sharing her soul work will stir something in you. It’s never too late to start a journaling practice. And it’s never too late to write your story.
“Without writing your story down (as it’s happening), we miss the perspective of knowing what’s worth carrying forward, where we’ll go next, and who we want to become when we get there.”
“As you write down your story, pay attention to the moments you’ve kept close. Dig deep to where you store bits of beauty and wonder.”
“Being a good steward of our story means trusting that how we cultivate our lives today will matter for who we become tomorrow. Trust that a new beginning is beyond an ending.”
“Endings don’t make stories. A good story is earned in the middle, in that sacred space of becoming.”
Why It Resonated
Being about the same age as Joanna, I could relate to much of her story. In this book, she grapples with vulnerability, fear, intentionality, and perfectionism—all things I struggle with.
“There’s something woven into my very DNA—a craving for everything to reach its potential. It’s a drive I’ve always felt, and it runs deep, desiring a life marked by a strong sense of purpose. I want to be useful. I want to write something worth reading. I want to create something worth beholding. The list goes on forever of all the ways I could be and do better in my mind.”
Me too, Joanna! Me too. The struggle is real. She’s a kindred spirit.
We both firmly believe that
- your story is one of a kind, and there’s value in it
- the part of you that is different and unique is the most beautiful part of your story
- if even one person hears part of your story and it helps them in their own journey, it’s worth sharing
- fear can derail your best intentions
- empathy connects us and gives our pain purpose
- our pain has a lot to say about our purpose
- every piece of your story matters
- we must feed our souls with grace and truth
- pausing to be thankful is centering
- the rhythm of having something and letting go is essential (e.g., seasons, children, expectations)
- you have to be intentional about being present
- personal growth is sometimes walking away from an unmet expectation
- your identity isn’t measured by external things
- we can rebuild our lives as often as we want
- humor, joy, and silliness dissipate fear
- every day is a page worth writing
- freedom is synonymous with truth
“For me, God is the deepest anchor in my life. He is my constant, the way I orient everything around me.”
Unique Elements
Speaking as a line editor, this book is beautifully written. I’m very impressed. Not only that, it’s brimming with good takeaways. Pink pages at the end of each chapter mark quotable thoughts.
The partial dust jacket over the cover conceals a photo of Joanna as a little girl. Joanna’s handwriting lines the inside covers (perhaps a journal entry). Her sweet dedication is handwritten too.
I initially listened to this book on Audible, where Joanna narrates. I love it when authors, especially celebrities, read their own books. She did a great job.
I highly recommend The Stories We Tell. The hardback would make a great gift, especially for a milestone birthday (30, 40, 50). It’s also available as a paperback and e-book.
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