Everyone Has a Story—Nancy Jasin on Memory, Forgiveness & the Art of Paying Attention

<p>Everyone has a story.</p><p>But what happens when we actually slow down enough to listen to it?</p><p>In this episode of Thought Atlas, I sit down with Nancy Jasin, a nurse, writer, educator, and lifelong observer who has spent much of her life paying close attention to people, relationships, health, and the moments that often go unnoticed.</p><p>Nancy shares how growing up in New Jersey, her parents’ artistic influence, becoming a nurse in her early twenties, working in healthcare coding, and later working in hospice shaped the way she observes the world.</p><p>For Nancy, observation isn’t just about seeing. It’s about listening, empathizing, documenting, and understanding what may be happening beneath the surface.</p><p>We explore why she believes everyone has a story—even people who don’t consider themselves writers—and why journaling can become a way of discovering things about ourselves that we might otherwise overlook.</p><p>Nancy also reflects on hospice and what being around people at the end of life taught her about mortality, forgiveness, family, and the importance of leaving something meaningful behind.</p><p>She shares how she turned old journals and notes from her teenage years into her memoir, <em>The Tire Swing</em>, and how writing became a way of processing experiences and preserving memories.</p><p>We also talk about family, her great-grandchildren, her children’s book <em>Isla and the Imaginary Iguana</em>, faith, self-forgiveness, and the importance of continuing to find “a bit of sunshine” even on difficult days.</p><p>Nancy’s message is ultimately simple:</p><p>Listen. Write. Forgive. Keep growing.</p><p>Connect With Nancy</p><p>Nancy says her books are available on Amazon, Barnes &amp; Noble, and other booksellers. Her new website contains information about her books, new covers, story synopses, more about her, and links to her social media and booksellers. She also says listeners can find a way to speak with her or email her through the website.</p><p><a href="https://www.nancyjasanensley.com/?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Nancy Jasin’s website</a></p><p>Connect With Thought Atlas</p><p><a href="https://joinpodmatch.com/thoughtatlas?utm_source=chatgpt.com">Thought Atlas on PodMatch</a></p><p><br></p>