Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash.com

Jonathan Gottschal suggests that “story is the grease and glue of society” (in The Storytelling Animal). He says stories unite people – pulling them together to connect through common values and ideas. What’s your part in that?

The first step is to share a story
When you ask people to share their story with you, they often think theirs is not significant. In truth, all stories are valuable and you can never tell how someone’s story may touch someone or what it may open up.

In a world where there is often a lot of criticism and cynicism this quote is a reminder to value human contribution:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
~  Theodore Roosevelt

Finding connection through others
The value in storytelling is not just in hearing a story. There is huge value in being asked to share a story – being invited to share a part of your life with others. In his work in StoryCorps, Dave Isay has provided an app where people can share their stories. He says in so doing …

… helps us recognise that simple truth that every life, every single life, matters equally and infinitely …
~ David Isay

Dave Isay’s Ted Talk about this is well worth listening to.

Reaching out to you
Some cultures have had an oral tradition of passing on their culture through story. I am talking about the folk tales of days gone by too.

In my blog, I am looking for stories to share. They can be yours or someone else’s. They can be about learning, lifestyle or lots more. Drop me a line and let me know.