A father used to say to his children when they were young: “When you all reach the age of twelve, I will tell you the secret of life.” One day when the oldest turned twelve, he anxiously asked his father, “What is the secret of life?” “I will tell you,” replied the father, “but don’t …Read More
Author: Dr. Joel Ying, MD
Physician-Educator-Storyteller. Integrating the power of story into medicine, healing sessions, workshops, speaking and performance.
One, Two, Three! ~ Henry Cuyler Bunner
“One, Two, Three!” by Henry Cuyler Bunner It was an old, old, old, old lady,And a boy that was half past three;And the way that they played togetherWas beautiful to see. She couldn’t go running and jumping,And the boy, no more could he;For he was a thin little fellow,With a thin little twisted knee, They …Read More
My Brain and Heart Divorced ~ John Roedel
I was just introduced to the poetry of John Roedel, and you should meet him too. When words have rhythm, I call it good poetry. My mind is entertained. When words have the ring of profound truth, I call it beautiful! It is poetry of the heart. Something deeper is touched; something beyond the words. …Read More
Zen Koan ~ Dealing with Uncertainty
“What is the sound of one hand clapping?” ~ Zen Koan When I hear a question, I look for an answer. In fact, I look for the one correct, rational, and logical answer. My brain goes into spasms when there is more than one correct answer. My brain goes into mush if there is no …Read More
Psych Ward
“Clunk.” The second set of double doors automatically locked behind me with an audible delayed electric thud. I looked up at the clerk at the nursing station. A sudden irrational fear went through my mind, “What if she doesn’t recognize me on the way out?” I’m a medical student, and this is a psyche ward. …Read More
Thick and Thin Stories
What are the stories that you are telling yourself? Does your inner voice tell you that you can or that you can’t? Lani Peterson is a story coach and workshop leader. She refers to limiting stories as “thin stories.” These stories are too thin to hold all of who you are. How can you create …Read More
The Game of Propaganda
“Every one of us is exposed to propaganda techniques every day. They’re designed to persuade us to accept ideas, buy propositions and products, or spur action. Parents and teachers use them to guide behavior. Advertisers and media sell us stuff. Religious leaders use them to inspire (and fill collection plates) and, of course, politicians rely …Read More
The Giving Tree ~ Shel Silverstein
The Giving Tree ~ by Shel Silverstein Once there was a tree….and she loved a little boy.And everyday the boy would comeand he would gather her leavesand make them into crownsand play king of the forest.He would climb up her trunkand swing from her branchesand eat apples.And they would play hide-and-go-seek.And when he was tired,he …Read More
Story Factor ~ Annette Simmons
“People don’t want more information. They are up to their eyeballs in information. They want faith—faith in you, your goals, your success, in the story you tell.” ~ Annette Simmons, The Story Factor: Inspiration, Influence, and Persuasion through the Art of Storytelling The objective thinkers are looking for cold hard facts, bullet points, and numbers. …Read More
Storyteller in Residence ~ Crookston Castle
What if every organization had its own Storyteller in Residence? In many indigenous cultures before the written word, the oral storytellers were the keepers of history. Collecting stories, the storyteller was the human library. The stories contained the tribal wisdom. The storytellers told the stories back to the people when they needed them. What would …Read More