~ I believe everyone has a story to tell. I want the society to hear my story

Never have I thought that my journey as a divorcee will become an open book... but it did... 2 times over!

I chanced upon a Facebook post by The Human Library Singapore (HLSG) calling for people like you and I to volunteer as human books. Curiosity got the better of me and I submitted the story of my journey as a divorcee. Well you can say the rest was history because I was selected to be one among the 40plus other human books to be “on loan” at the 2nd HLSG Reading Session which took place at The Red Dot on Sunday, 5 March 2017.

To prepare us for the event, the volunteers from HLSG organized a briefly session for all “human books” and gave us very detailed guidelines on how the reading session will be taking place.

The warmth and sincerity of the HLSG volunteers were clearly displayed through the way they managed and handled all of us. They made us feel right at home and always remind us that if the “readers” asked questions which were too personal, we can chose not to answer or if the “readers” were rude, the volunteers will be on standby to assist.

Book Reading Day

I was allocated 5 reading sessions. Each session of 30 minutes have a maximum of 6 “readers” though I recalled having closed to 10 “readers” at one of the sessions. I even had Ms Rachel Mui, a writer from Business Times sitting in at my first session.

To be honest, I really didn’t know how to kick start my reading session. But I decided to just be my authentic self and simply share my story.

I started by asking my “readers” why did they chose to “loan” me and from there the conversations just flow seamlessly.

My “readers’ were varied. I had students, couples, social workers, people who had parents; loved ones or friends who are divorced or pending divorce, those getting married but have the fear they might end up divorced and even an undergraduate who was writing a paper on marriages in Singapore.

Their reasons for “loaning” me were also varied including “why did you divorce”; “if you had children will you divorce”; “how did you overcome your lost”; “do you believe in love again”; the questions go on.

There were also some “readers” who simply want to know the mindset of divorcees so that they know how to deal with friends or loved ones who are divorced.

Another Book Reading Day for Youth Corps Singapore and Etch Empathy on 30 April 2017

After the first reading session, the Human Book bug kinda bit me and I gamely volunteered to be a human book again for the reading session organized by Youth Corps Singapore and Etch Empathy.

This was a more cozy affair with just about 12 human books and each book being allocated some 2 to maximum 3 readers. The sharing was a little more personal though the questions posed were pretty much similar.

As this reading session was less hectic, I had the chance to connect with some fellow books!

There was Jainee who was a Body Image Consultant which recently moved to Singapore with her husband and 2 young kids. Tharuka is a volunteer Play Personnel with Children’s Cancer Foundation whose role is really to play and engage with the cancer stricken children. Atikah is another amazing young lady who had travelled solo to some 30 odd countries!

There was also Kevin who is passionate about Solar Energy and Eleanor who champion elderly issues!

Overall it was another amazing Sunday spent with amazing fellow books and readers!

My Experience

My book reading experiences had been enriching and empowering and at the same time it was a relief.

Enriching and empowering because my story inspired my “readers” to look at divorcees in a different light. It also triggered some thinking process among the “readers” that marriage should be for life and it is important for the couple to share the same value system and beliefs.

At the same time I was relieved because I know I am finally healed... I no longer feel the burden of my failed marriage weighing down on me. And as I shared my story, I also realized I no longer felt resentment towards the man who was once my husband and now my ex.

Will I be a human book again? DEFINTELY! I can’t wait for my third reading and more!

What is Human Library?

The Human Library is a concept from Denmark in 2000 and is now organized all over the world.

In the Human Library, real people are on loan to readers, giving readers the opportunity to listen to their stories first-hand. In Singapore, Human Library hopes to break down social barriers by providing a safe platform for individuals to challenge the stereotypes and prejudices that they may have.

This is a guest post written by:

Annie Chan, Founder of The Madame M