What Will Your Story Be?
The last week of January is National Storyteller’s Week. At first, I thought this couldn’t possibly relate to stationery and cards. However, we are the authors of our own stories. We write a new chapter every day. To me, this is full of opportunity – the opportunity to decide how we want our story to play out. Let’s face it, our time is short, so why waste it? Sharing a little of yourself, and leaving behind your story the way you want it to read, THAT is what storytelling is all about.
Life coaches tell us to craft our own lives – don’t just experience life as it happens and accept where it sends you. Are you “crafting” or “accepting”? You can craft a new chapter whenever you want. You are the author of your own story. If your current chapter isn’t working, re-write it, don’t accept it! And while we can’t re-write our past, we can certainly get out a clean sheet of paper and write the heck out of our future. Your next page is blank – how do you want your story to go?
How will future generations know your story? Better still, how will the people in your life remember your story 15-20 years down the road? Write it down! Share the day to day, the exciting and the mundane. Write about the good and the bad. Share your life, a little at a time, in the cards that you send to your friends and family. Spread it around, you won’t run out of things to write.
The Tradition Of Storytelling
Traditionally, storytelling reflects, questions and guides. It highlights what’s important to us, and what’s important in our world at a specific time. Storytelling provides insight into our day to day lives, showcasing relationships and pitfalls, great wins and heavy losses. It will always be an vital part of our society, and its relevance will always be profound. Storytelling will be pivotal in understanding you and your life. Will you help others to define what was important and appropriate during your life? At its core, storytelling is sincere and honest, and the best way to understand a place in time, a person and a life well-lived life.
Your Family Tree Tells Only Part Of The Story
Anyone who has looked into their family tree inevitably wants to know the stories that go with the names and statistics on paper. It’s an important component to pulling all the pieces together and painting a full picture of someone’s life. Do actual pictures exist to put with those stats? Well, that is just treasure. Even better? If those pictures have handwritten notes about who is in the picture and where it was taken. A handwritten note from the past is irreplaceable!
This curiosity about our story will not wane. There has always been a desire to know where you came from. A need to know about the people who came before. To learn how you became the person you are. That interest will always be there. How do you want that to play out for future generations?? Do you want to leave them wondering or do you want them to learn your story in YOUR words and in YOUR handwriting, so there is no doubt whatsoever? What a gift!
Make Your Life More Meaningful
A meaningful life is not being rich, being popular, being highly educated, or being perfect. It’s about being real, being humble, being able to share ourselves and touch the lives of others. Provide that insight into deeper relationships and all that comes with those relationships within a family – the good, the bad and even the ugly – yes, we all know it’s all mixed in to every family.
My hope for you is that your handwritten story reflect more hopes than fears. That your words have power. May they inspire and teach and even bring about change. Writing to the people who are important to you through letters and cards, what a great way to show up in people’s lives even when you can’t be there in person.
Do you need a fresh supply of cards to begin writing your story? You’ll find just what you need HERE.