My story telling began with personal stories. I’d been unknowingly around storytellers all my life. I was officially introduced to South Mountain Community College’s Storytelling Institute several years before I joined in. Liz Warren’s Personal Storytelling class came into my life during a very stressful period and was instrumental in the processing of my father’s death, which demonstrated for me the healing power of storytelling. I enjoyed hearing other tellers share folktales but finding an appreciation for telling folktales myself took some time. Until I realized that for the teller, storytelling is a lot like dating.
First you meet the story. Perhaps you like it right from the start. Maybe something seems familiar in that initial encounter. Some qualities capture your attention and you appreciate each other. You may be familiar with their background already or you may have the desire to delve more into their origins and past. Sometimes the initial encounter is less than pleasant and thus endeth the relationship. Other times you may encounter each other sporadically and realize you have more in common than you initially thought. You decide to spend more time together and develop your relationship to a deeper level. Once a congenial relationship is developed you may come to realize a love for each other. You might discover a story is your soulmate and goes with you everywhere. Or perhaps you have many story lovers, each one holding a special place in your heart and coming out with you when the occasion arises.
Just like dating not all stories stay with you forever. Some are only for a one-night stand but may still provide fond memories. Other stories might never appeal to you even if they look good on paper they may never fit comfortably in your repertoire. You may have to kiss a few frog tales while building your story collection. It’s never advisable to poach someone else’s story without their permission, although there may be no harm in looking around at other stories. It is important to be honest with your stories if you want a lasting relationship. Connect with your stories every so often to keep the relationship fresh. It is vital to keep the stories you love close to your heart or one day you may find out you have grown too far apart.
(The image at the top of the post can be found here.)
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