Response to Kenny's Question #1 on Chapter 10

I agree with the arguments that Kenny posed in his question about Bruner in Chapter 10. Our lives are absolutely shaped by the "stories" and events, specifically ones that pertain to the shaping of who we are today. The issue I had was with Bruner who argues that we interpret our lives according to these lived experiences and allow us to only see things in light based on these experiences.
"There is no such thing as 'life itself.' At very least, it is a selective achievement of memory recall; beyond that, recounting one's life is an interpretive feat (188)."
It is true that when we "tell the story" of our life, we are selective and focus on key elements. While these experiences have altered our life thus far, it does not mean that we have to continue to be directed by these events although we may be even though we're not aware of it. However, I do believe that some of these events and stories might lead us to toss aside our pre-conceived notions of how life will be based on past events.
For example, a near-death experience might lead one to break out of old patterns of behavior and thinking and attempt to live a full life. On the contrary, some events may reinforce certain behavior or ways of thinking. I think it's possible that while we are shaped by certain experiences, we can always return our focus to the larger picture AND allow ourselves to hold true to the values we have learned from these life altering experiences.