This Is Not the Story You Think It Is...

LauraMunson'sessayinthe"NewYorkTimes,"aboutthetimeshewastestedinawaysheneveranticipated,createdafirestorm-nowhere'sthewholestory.WhenLauraMunson'sessaywaspublished,"TheNewYorkTimes"wassofloodedwithresponsesthattheyhadtoclosedownthecommentfeature.Readerswroteinsayingthattheyhadsentthecolumntoalloftheirfriends.TherapistswroteMunsontotellherthattheywerepassingitouttotheirclients.WhatdidMunsonwritethatcausedsuchafervor?Lauradetailedwhathappenedwhenherhusbandofmorethantwentyyearstoldherhewasn'tsurehelovedheranymoreandwantedtomoveout.Andwhileyoumightthinkyouknowwherethisstoryisgoing,thisisn'tthestoryyouthinkitis.Laura'sresponsetoherhusband:Idon'tbuyit.Inthispoignant,wise,andoftenfunnymemoir,Munsonrecountsaperiodofmonthsinwhichherfaithinherself-andhermarriage-wasputtothetest.Shakentothecoreafterthedeathofherbelovedfather,notfindingtheprofessionalsuccessthatshehadhopedfor,andaftercountlesshoursoftherapy,Laurafinally,atageforty,realizedshehadtostopbasingherhappinessonthingsoutsidehercontrolandcommitherselftoan"EndofSuffering.""ThisIsNotTheStoryYouThinkItIs..."chroniclesawomancomingtotermswiththemythswetellourselves-andothers-aboutourlifeandrealizingthatultimatelyhappinessiscompletelywithinourcontrol.