the blog
When you play – does it mean you’re smiling?
When we think of play, we often imagine ourselves or someone smiling or laughing. But one of the first things I noticed when beginning my story work was that I could also feel sad, satisfied, lonely, happy, irritated, intrigued, frustrated, joyful, angry, curious, etc. while playing with stories. My emotions were real and yet if you’d asked me what I was feeling overall I would have said I was feeling playful …
Storytelling Tip # 9: Shadow Play
My shadow waves back at me as if to say hello. It beckons me to be playful, to stop and share, to consider and reflect, to become more open minded. Shadows are varying shades of grey, they are metaphorical, they follow you and they light the path. They are long and short. The distort and they eccentuate. Shadows ask us to drop assumptions, or see or do something new – they invite inspection.
Listening Tip #1: If you are the listener – own the role fully
When it’s your turn to be the listener, own it fully. What does this mean? It means remembering that we have responsibilities too. For example as listeners we can choose to ….. pretend we are listening, nod our heads, say uh-huh or yes in the right places, etc. Pretending might fulfill …
When you can think of nothing to say
Don’t force it. Leave it be.
When someone we love chooses silence
I like silence, there are times I love it. Silence is often beautiful, but it can be perplexing. Especially when it comes out-of-the-blue and there is simply no answer to a text, a call, or why the silence is so loud and long lasting. I have a loved one who has stopped talking, gone their own way. And the thing is I’ve actually benefited from their choice to be silent … What has helped me is to look at what I really want …
Field Notes: To mask or not to mask? Is that the question?
To mask or not to mask? Is that the question? I gassed up my car the other day … wearing one or two masks, a face shield … I walked into this place and the first thing I saw was a person stocking shelves and their mask was hanging from one ear. Their face was totally exposed …
Storytelling Tip #8: stories don’t have to have words
I'll tell you the truth. I thought this picture was a bit of an embarrassment at the time I posted it, because it had no polish, no technique. But actually that is the point of it. We don't have to know how to draw like "the artist" or paint like "the painter" or...
Storytelling Tip #7: Tell the stories that you have a passion for
I have a lot of stories on my imaginary shelf. Some have been there for a very long time. I’m sure a new one or two will pop in today. And, some disappear and then are those that pop in and out. I learn something from all of them … What about that passion we have for a tale that has nothing to do with love, the ones that provoke a passionate revulsion – a strong feeling of wanting to turn away – shut the door. The stories that produce those kind of – what some call – negative feelings can be treasures in disguise.
Storytelling Tip #6: Consider the listener within
When we tell stories we are listening too. I remember telling a personal story where every time I shared it I referenced coffee and how much I loved it. I was giving it up and had been for a while …
Storytelling Tip#5: consider the personal story
Are the stories you’re sharing and listening to personal stories? What stories do we share that are not personal?
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