Speculations on Storytelling

Our culture was built around storytelling; our history, our destiny has all been built upon the stories we tell. From cave drawings to Native American tales, from Aesop’s fables to religious writings; our lives revolve around these stories. Stories define us. Telling stories has long been recognized as an important part of healing, self-knowledge, and personal and spiritual vehicle for connecting us to other people.

My first goal in relation to storytelling was to experience enough life to be able to have stories; I wanted to be an interesting person first and foremost. Now, I have set a (formally private) goal of writing a story about my experiences before I die. Many people listen to my stories, laugh and say you should write a book. They are probably kidding but it has become a dream of mine.

As I lay awake an hour after I tried to go to bed, I decided to read an article about how the story we tell others about ourselves becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. After being somewhat down on my luck for a little while I realized that the story I tell people does define me. This worried me. Maybe I should reframe my story? I like to retreat when my story is not so happy, I don’t like to answer the question how are you doing and frankly I just don't socialize much.

That being said, let it be known my story is a comedy, sometimes tragic but always funny. It aligns with my philosophy in life, sometimes you just need to laugh at yourself. I am afraid often times people find me to be a serious person. I am focused to the point of recklessness; it sometimes overcrowds my personality. But we need to face the facts, I was fired dressed as a life sized crayon and now I smell like micro waved rice and icy hot. I may make fun of myself quite often but in my story I am the hero. I inspire and encourage, I am the underdog and that’s alright with me.