You have stories only you can tell.

Pen to Paper: Edition 71

Feb 02, 2024

Hello Friends,

It occurred to me the other day that each time we send a picture to family or friends, we are sharing a story.

Then, just like that, I started coming across thoughts (not necessarily mine) on small stories and how they work in our lives.

In this newsletter:

Everyone has stories to share.
Stories come in many forms.
Stories are powerful.

You have stories to share.

My mother used to tell us how her great uncle or great grandfather (I can’t remember which) supposedly died from eating hot watermelon. And she always followed up with a chuckle and, “You know that’s not true. It was probably a stroke.”

Just like the above, stories don’t have to be much. A story is a moment in time.

Matt Hogan recently posted in his blog, “…we already have an ocean’s worth of insight from the hundreds of thousands of hours we’ve been alive.”

No matter where you are in your life, you have stories. Stories come in several forms: words, pictures, music, and objects.

You can tell stories about experiences, people, places, and items you’ve come in contact with. You can ask about almost everything in my house, and I would have a story about it.

The drop-leaf kitchen table was bought at an estate sale for $100. It’s a handmade Amish antique. At the sale, my husband and I cleared the table (it was in the kitchen, piled with kitchen stuff to be sold) and took it out to the estate sales manager. He took one look and said, “Looks like I mispriced that one.”

Stories surround us.

Open your senses to stories.

I was listening to an episode of The Science of Happiness podcast titled “Why We Should Seek Beauty in the Everyday Life.” The guest, Darnell Washington, talks about the daily practice of writing three things of beauty he sees in human beings, three things of beauty in nature, and three beautiful things in general. (The podcast is noted below.)

Each observation is a small story about beauty.

Stories weave in and out of our lives. They fill in the empty spaces and punctuate events. It’s just a matter of us opening our senses to receive them.

German composer Max Bruch (1838-1920), who had never been to Scotland, read a 1780s anthology of Scottish folk songs from Munich Library. From reading it, he wrote, “Scottish Fantasy, Op.46”.

From anthology to musical composition, folk tales became the beginning of connecting a people, a place, and a time each time Bruch’s composition is heard.

Your stories have power.

The stories you tell are powerful. They can change lives.

We know from reading books, listening to music, or watching current events unfold that the possibility of change exists from the experience of the story.

Sharing our stories teaches others about lessons we learned from our or others’, (as in the case of the Amish table) mistakes.** Stories have the power to change our perspective, make us part of a community, and bring an understanding of differences.

Stories help us understand the past and the present, as well as ourselves and each other.

It’s good to share your stories. You have the power to change a small piece of your world.

I'm grateful for having you to share my stories with. Thank you for being my audience.

**Perhaps not the hot watermelon story, but that story reminds me of my mother. That makes me smile.

7 Days, 7 Thoughts on Gratitude and Good:

Almost daily, I walk by the tree in my photo. This week, I studied the bark and thought, “That tree has a story to tell.” If only I spoke Tree. 🌳
A quote: “There is clarity (and joy) in seeing what others can’t see, in finding grace and harmony in places others overlook. Isn’t that far better than seeing the world as some dark place?” -Ryan Holiday
The Science of Happiness podcast episode I wrote about is 20 minutes long and worth the listen.
Matt Hogan’s post that I refer to is “Sit With The Not Knowing”. 🪑
Do you want to hear your children’s stories? Try the questions listed in this article.
I had to look up the best temperature for a watermelon to be eaten. You may be surprised at the answer. It was worth telling you the story to find there is an answer. 🍉
If your story touches only one person, is it worth it? Check out this TED Talk. Watch it until the end. 🪧

Thank you for reading.

Until next time,

💚

Susan

P.S. I have a new newsletter! It is about journaling. If you are interested or know someone who would be interested, check it out at From The Pen’s Nib: A Commonplace Book About Journaling.

Do you have a story to share with me? Leave a comment and let me know.

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