Polka-dot gift bags with crinkly tissue paper lined the table as a giant balloon in the shape of the numeral “9” swayed under the air-conditioned breeze just enough to elicit excited barks from our Golden Retriever puppy, Autumn. Atop the “Happy Birthday” paper plates enveloped in pastel hues and dotted with confetti was a slice […]
“Grandma, tell me a story…”
Some of us grew up without grandparents. Some of us never knew our grandparents. Some of us had grandparents who lived just down the street. Some of us had grandparents who lived far away. What was your relationship like with your grandparents? A woman I interviewed recently said a family secret kept her from ever […]
The Journey is Important
Stories of my relatives, their neighbors and friends have always been a part of my world. Often thestories were humorous or awe-inspiring but always, they were instructional. Often, I’d ask individuals inmy classes or otherwise encountered, “what’s your story?” hoping they would share something beyondtheir name, professional position and the other niceties that tell you […]
Overview Effect: Space, Stars, and Stories
After reading a news story about William Shatner’s space mission with Blue Origin last year, I added Shatner’s memoir, Boldly Go, to my reading list. I finally got to it last month. Not only did the book give me some insight as I prepared for an interview with a man Shatner’s age, but I also […]
How Video Moves Us
It’s weird how things happen in bunches. I spent time the other day talking with Whitney about her work with Sacred Stories. That evening I got a notification from my Google Photos with the “ 4 years ago today” pop-up. Four years ago, my mom was at our house for dinner, and, after dinner, I […]
Sharing Stories with Our Children
It’s summer….and, for some, that means kids are at home or around more often. The pace of summer can be a great time to develop new skills, and studies show that storytelling can benefit a child’s language development, communication, empathy, coping, and meaning-making skills. The summer season (or any season!) is also a great time […]