While
watching the Sochi Olympics, did the athletes’ back stories interest you more
than some of the events? Admittedly I watched those segments in awe, with tissues
close by. I’ve always been drawn to listening to tales. When I was younger I happily
sat at my grandparents’ kitchen tables, ready to hear those familiar anecdotes surface,
with laughter erupting at the exact same points. Through the years I noticed
how certain stories became favorites—clearly the ones that would be passed
down.
Like the
game Whisper Down the Alley I’ve
witnessed some variations of those beloved stories— facts mistaken, snippets
out of context, and parts rewritten. And it bothers me. So when I heard One
Direction’s “The Story of My Life” for the umpteenth time this week the issue of
MY life story’s inaccuracies rang through my mind.
Why should I care so
much about my own story?
Aside from writing some autobiography that no one would read,
I long to carve an accurate picture of my life, from my perspective. That is
partly why I’ve written diaries since age ten. I’ve always wanted to remember. And
have an outlet to figure out my life. And I know it’s not just me—we all shape
our own life stories by sharing photos on Instagram or Facebook, creating
photobooks, blogging, writing letters, and keeping journals of kid sayings. Why
do I take one hundred photos a month to chronicle life’s events?
Let’s go to the heart,
both literally and figuratively, of story.
I love a TED
talk by Andrew Stanton, a Hollywood insider—he describes the importance of
story, and he proclaims that the most essential nugget of a narrative is to
“make me care.” In his speech he describes creating a movie that connects emotionally
with an audience. But a slant of that would be that sometimes it’s the
storyteller who deeply cares. I know I obviously reflect on and recount my own personal
and family history.But, still, why?
Maybe it’s because my stories and photos reflect what I most value in life. They stimulate funny, sad, proud, and “a-ha learning moment” memories. Which expose us and make us real. And remind us of connections with people. But when stories are incongruent with actual events my skin itches.
Is it a control issue? Does it
matter who’s telling the stories?
In a sense
maybe my Type A issues strike a chord—it’s a matter of protecting my own brand,
character, and history. I love the connections--both interpersonal and insight
gaining-- made through stories. That’s partly why David Isay founded StoryCorps,
a featured series on NPR and PBS that tells extraordinary stories about
ordinary people. He said in a PBS interview that StoryCorps enables people to
take time to listen, to leave a legacy, and to ensure that people won’t be
forgotten. He gives the average citizen the control and opportunity to tell
their own tales.
Harness your
story if critical to you. Leave a legacy so you won’t be forgotten. Carve some
time to write in a journal, start your own blog, snap photos and videos of
those you care most about. If nothing else, the power of words—or whatever
medium-- will help to validate your own meaning in this crazy world. If doing
so makes you feel good, helps you to connect with your kids, friends, and
family, then it’s worth spending that time. We are at a perfect juncture in our
lives now to pen those memories that will be passed down at future family
kitchen tables.
Stories move
us, create connections, and inspire others. Use your own voice to properly
portray your most significant experiences. Record life as you see it. That’s
one note in the right direction.
For the
Andrew Stanton TED talk link: http://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_stanton_the_clues_to_a_great_story
For more
information about StoryCorps:
http://www.pbs.org/pov/storycorps/interview_isay.php 
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