I’ve heard it said,That people come into our lives for a reasonBringing something we must learn. And we are led to thoseWho help us most to grow if we let them.And we help them in return. Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s trueBut I know I’m who I am todayBecause I knew you. …Read More
Category: Journal
I’m going back to school for a Masters in English
Yes, you read it right. I’m going back to school for a Masters in English! After spending the first three decades of my life training to be a doctor, I’d had enough of school, but life has twists and turns. It took more than a decade to convince myself to return to school. In January …Read More
Physician-Educator-Storyteller
In the reflective space between the old year and the new, I found three words to describe myself. It was 2018. I did not yet know how these words fit together; I just knew that they were potent. I would become a Physician-Educator-Storyteller. I bandaged the words together to create a new vision. I changed …Read More
How I created my own MFA in Storytelling
A “Master of Fine Arts” degree or MFA is a graduate degree designed to deepen a student’s understanding and skills in a specific artistic field, such as creative writing, visual arts, or performing arts. With this degree, most will pursue a career in the creative arts or teaching. When I decided to become an oral …Read More
Council Lodge ~ Sedona, Arizona
“He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche As I climb out of the valley and reach the top of these red rocks in Sedona, Arizona, a spectacular vista opens up. Behind me is …Read More
You deserve this! ~ Make your bed
I make my bed every morning. Sometimes a simple act can ripple through your day. Sometimes a well-placed word can change your life. I don’t remember the name of the motivational speaker that came to my middle school auditorium decades ago. I don’t even remember the topic of his speech. I only remember his answer …Read More
Story: More Than a Box ~ Dr. Joel Ying
In the Fall of 2020, walking onto campus again after isolation during a pandemic, I had a smile on my face. The day was beautiful, sunny but cool, which is rare in South Florida in August. I was happy to be back teaching storytelling in person and back in the classroom. I walked by a …Read More
FGCU Storytelling Summer Conference: A Huge Success
How do you measure success? I had to spend $4000 before July 1st and only two months to do it. As a non-profit, the Florida Storytelling Association had received a state grant, and some of the funds were earmarked to support University Programming. Two months to go! What do I do? An idea materialized into …Read More
Ninth Night ~ Texas Storytelling Festival
I had the honor of telling a story in the regional showcase of the Texas Storytelling Festival on March 8, 2024. The community of Denton, Texas, (just outside of Dallas) hosts this 4-day event with performances, workshops, and other community events. If you are looking to experience a well-organized storytelling event, put it on your …Read More
How Great Thou Art!
My grandmother passed away over 10 years ago, and I wonder at the memory that is beginning to fade. We have family photos. My uncle has recordings somewhere on an old video camera. I’ve crafted stories about her, and I can see her face every time that I describe her. There is a deep connection …Read More