Stuart Brown wrote the book on Play… literally. Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul by Stuart Brown “When we play, we are engaged in the purest expression of our humanity, the truest expression of our individuality… we feel most alive…” ~ Stuart Brown Play is a profound biological …Read More
Category: Journal
Changed for Good ~ feat. Wicked
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
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