Harvesting my Life
One of my wise mentors invited me to reflect on my life. The word harvesting emerged in my
psyche. What did this mean? For me it meant reaping the benefits of my life’s most meaningful,
fruitful, or valuable experiences, people, and events. It’s like reaping the harvest of a field,
separating out the grain from the chaff. But how to do it? I didn’t have the energy to detail my
life chronologically and I was a bit self-conscious about writing a whole story about myself. In
reflection I came up with an alternative option; answering a set of evocative questions and then
naming what I learned from answering them. I include the questions that I chose and a story of
one of the most surprising things I learned. I invite anyone to join me in this harvesting…
Begin this harvest by reflecting on an intriguing question from the list below. You can start
there. OR you can read these simple guidelines before you begin.
*Choose the questions you most want to answer. Perhaps one intrigues you or challenges you
more than others. That may be a sign it has special meaning for you.
*As you ponder each question, let the answers bubble up as you remember various times of
your life. It often helps to do this in a quiet setting if possible.
*When you start writing, try to answer honestly, not what you think you ought to answer�� .
Be gentle with yourself and anticipate surprises.
*Most answers will be positive and life-giving. A few answers may be negative. Consider them
but try not to let them derail you. If they do, talk to a trusted confidant so they do not block
your process. Sometimes the most challenging times in our lives yield the most growth.
*Once you have a reasonable draft of your answers, prioritize your top 3-4 answers in order of
significance. While this may be difficult, it may be the most telling result of your harvest.
* Make note of what you reaped most from this way of harvesting your life! When you
complete this experience, consider sharing it (when you are ready) with a trusted person. The
answers may take on more significance when you share them.
Here is a list of harvesting questions to ponder.
What were the major thresholds in your life, times that mark distinct changes in direction,
intention, or belief? What was the result?
What statements did people make to you that affected how you thought about yourself or
changed you in some way? How did they affect you? (They could be negative or positive)
Who are the people that most influenced your life? Why? Think broadly to include teachers,
family, coaches, therapists, artists, authors, pastors, mentors, healers.
What are the books (or authors) that influenced your life, especially in positive or healing ways?
Why?
What music has moved you or inspired you most? Why?
Which friends/family sustained you during difficult times? How?
How would you describe your spiritual journey over time?
What are the things that bring you the most joy, that touch you emotionally and, in your body,
and bring you closer to your true self and/or to your Higher Power?
What results stand out for you as you reflect on this reaping process?
My most surprising harvesting story
One of my reaping stories was a surprise to me. It was that my mother was the most influential
person in my life. It was a surprise because I was not like my mother in many ways, and she
verbalized that to me in non-judgmental ways. For instance, she said I was so much more like
my aunt that I could have been her daughter. Yet even saying that she totally supported my
uniqueness; in other words, she didn’t dim my light. Other people in my family did but not her.
In the process of harvesting my life I came upon a delightful yellow taffeta dress that she made
in her twenties. When I considered what to do with it, since it was not wearable, I decided to
spread her message of not dimming others’ lights, by cutting sixteen-inch strips of the dress and
tying them into small bows. Next, I wrote this story, printed out several copies and pinned a
bow to each copy. I sent the story to several people and heard back from many of them that it
made them think about the whole idea of dimming lights. Several sent me photos of places they
put their bow so they could see it every day! Her story became a visual reminder of how to
honor our own and others’ lives.
Janet Hagberg, 2023. Author, healer and harvester of life stories! www.JanetHagberg.com
One of my wise mentors invited me to reflect on my life. The word harvesting emerged in my
psyche. What did this mean? For me it meant reaping the benefits of my life’s most meaningful,
fruitful, or valuable experiences, people, and events. It’s like reaping the harvest of a field,
separating out the grain from the chaff. But how to do it? I didn’t have the energy to detail my
life chronologically and I was a bit self-conscious about writing a whole story about myself. In
reflection I came up with an alternative option; answering a set of evocative questions and then
naming what I learned from answering them. I include the questions that I chose and a story of
one of the most surprising things I learned. I invite anyone to join me in this harvesting…
Begin this harvest by reflecting on an intriguing question from the list below. You can start
there. OR you can read these simple guidelines before you begin.
*Choose the questions you most want to answer. Perhaps one intrigues you or challenges you
more than others. That may be a sign it has special meaning for you.
*As you ponder each question, let the answers bubble up as you remember various times of
your life. It often helps to do this in a quiet setting if possible.
*When you start writing, try to answer honestly, not what you think you ought to answer�� .
Be gentle with yourself and anticipate surprises.
*Most answers will be positive and life-giving. A few answers may be negative. Consider them
but try not to let them derail you. If they do, talk to a trusted confidant so they do not block
your process. Sometimes the most challenging times in our lives yield the most growth.
*Once you have a reasonable draft of your answers, prioritize your top 3-4 answers in order of
significance. While this may be difficult, it may be the most telling result of your harvest.
* Make note of what you reaped most from this way of harvesting your life! When you
complete this experience, consider sharing it (when you are ready) with a trusted person. The
answers may take on more significance when you share them.
Here is a list of harvesting questions to ponder.
What were the major thresholds in your life, times that mark distinct changes in direction,
intention, or belief? What was the result?
What statements did people make to you that affected how you thought about yourself or
changed you in some way? How did they affect you? (They could be negative or positive)
Who are the people that most influenced your life? Why? Think broadly to include teachers,
family, coaches, therapists, artists, authors, pastors, mentors, healers.
What are the books (or authors) that influenced your life, especially in positive or healing ways?
Why?
What music has moved you or inspired you most? Why?
Which friends/family sustained you during difficult times? How?
How would you describe your spiritual journey over time?
What are the things that bring you the most joy, that touch you emotionally and, in your body,
and bring you closer to your true self and/or to your Higher Power?
What results stand out for you as you reflect on this reaping process?
My most surprising harvesting story
One of my reaping stories was a surprise to me. It was that my mother was the most influential
person in my life. It was a surprise because I was not like my mother in many ways, and she
verbalized that to me in non-judgmental ways. For instance, she said I was so much more like
my aunt that I could have been her daughter. Yet even saying that she totally supported my
uniqueness; in other words, she didn’t dim my light. Other people in my family did but not her.
In the process of harvesting my life I came upon a delightful yellow taffeta dress that she made
in her twenties. When I considered what to do with it, since it was not wearable, I decided to
spread her message of not dimming others’ lights, by cutting sixteen-inch strips of the dress and
tying them into small bows. Next, I wrote this story, printed out several copies and pinned a
bow to each copy. I sent the story to several people and heard back from many of them that it
made them think about the whole idea of dimming lights. Several sent me photos of places they
put their bow so they could see it every day! Her story became a visual reminder of how to
honor our own and others’ lives.
Janet Hagberg, 2023. Author, healer and harvester of life stories! www.JanetHagberg.com