TALK ABOUT A STORY

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“She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.”

― Annie Dillard, The Living

We all love a good story, especially those that engage our emotions, that make us laugh or cry or sing out loud. The best teachers understand this; they give life to dry material through the animation of story. Mentors understand this. And members of the clergy. Parents definitely get this. How many stories did your parents or grandparents share with you? Some of them…you may remember for a lifetime. Even if slightly embellished as the steely flow of time degrades the accuracy of our memories, the stories we hold close linger, guide us, and probe history for more.

I’ve regretted not asking my grandmother more about growing up on the prairie. Born in 1889, Anna was a patient, quiet soul. Someone who seemed content and comfortable with a simple life. A garden. Her prayers. Lawrence Welk on television. Radio programs. Grand kids to spoil. Apple trees. Neighborhood bonfires. Playing the piano, her violin. She loved oranges, marble cake, and hot tea. She shared stories with me, but now, as an adult, I yearn for more–wish I had been more inquisitive when she was still able to share the details of her growing up years, her life of nearly 100 years.

Find your stories, mine them and share them. Write them down. Pass on your wisdom. Freely, frequently. Don’t we all need history to guide us–to inform us and keep us strong? Ask people about their “life story.” Dig into the realities of existence and the struggle of humanity to survive and prosper. By caring about the story of life we all carry within, we can become more empathetic, more compassionate, and even more genuine. How many people do you sort of know? Who do you want to know more about? What has shaped that person? How can being truly interested in others bring us all closer–bridge the gap of misunderstanding and miscommunication? Memoir, biography, and autobiographies are also rich sources of information. Every life, a fascinating amalgamation of genetics and life experience; every life, a multi-layered story.

Have you ever made assumptions about someone, but as you got to know them, a more realistic–more complete and accurate–impression came into focus? Happens all the time. A story from their past that touches the heart, or learning something about them you hadn’t known before, can change everything. I don’t know, but it seems to me that a story is a gift. One that gently weaves us all together. One that illuminates and inspires and encourages. One that reminds us of the complexities of the human condition–the struggles we all face at one time or another.

So begin … if not today, tomorrow. Time is fleeting. Who needs to know your story? Who can you inspire? What can you share with someone that might change their life? So begin … everyone awaits your story!