The Power of a Story

Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today. ~
Robert McAfee Brown

I spent most of this day listening to stories. I met with a retreatant this morning who told me her sacred story. I am still amazed at what I heard. In the afternoon, I went to a workshop by the Amani People’s Theatre, which was part of the Annual Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival this weekend. This was a hands-on workshop from two men from Kenya (Amani means peace in Swahili) that used theatre to tell stories of conflict resolution. From there I went to church to tell part of my own story about raising funds for Naomi Foundation in DR Congo. After that, I returned to the Storytelling Festival for the closing concert which featured eight storytellers from all over the globe: Canada, the USA, Ireland, and Kenya.

The evening show began with a telling of an Aesop’s Fable, The Lion and the Mouse, an entertaining and participatory telling of the classic tale about kindness conquering fear and prejudice. A Metis woman told a story about residential schools. The Kenyan men sang and acted out a story about an African man who forgets the blessings received. A local teacher had the audience laughing at the bum clock story and the princess who refused to laugh. An American Aboriginal woman held us spellbound at the story of the Strange One while the Irish woman reminded us that perspective is everything.

I LOVE good stories, whether they are written, acted, sung, told, or danced. Listening tonight I felt stirring within me the joy of words and their meanings. Storytelling is indeed one of the most powerful ways to put forth our ideas and influence others. There is nothing more captivating to me than listening to a good story. The writer in me, perhaps even the latent storyteller, rejoices at the telling of a good tale.

Perhaps that is what this blog is really about….the telling of my story. How are you choosing to tell your story?

Peace,

Suzanne