Thursday, August 27, 2015

Why I Keep Doing This

by Suzanne Morgan Williams

This recently came across my feed on Facebook:

The planet does not need more successful people. The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds.” The Dali Lama.

I believe that by being storytellers we have the possibility of becoming peacemakers, healers, and restorers. Sharing stories, at its best, is a manifestation of love. Deciding to share stories is as simple as pouring a glass of wine for a friend and saying, “Let me tell you something.” Or it can be as complicated as creating a manuscript, finding a literary agent, and crossing fingers hoping for the enthusiasm of an editor and the commitment of a publishing house. But the outcome can be the same – shared experiences that bring out the best in each other.


As for sharing history, the primary form is oral history. Generations have passed on their family, tribal, and religious stories by word of mouth. They have danced to them and set them to music. They have painted them and later, carved some in stone, set pages in type, sped them through high speed wireless connections. We keep telling stories. They are the basis of culture. Our cultures can divide us or delight us. They can cause wars or set the stage for peace. They can inspire, empower, heal or create hatred, prejudice, and cruelty. The stories we tell matter. What stories we tell matter. Who listens matters.
So today, I recommit to being a storyteller. And I hope someone will listen

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