“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
Category: Journal
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
Feels Like Family
We’re back together again. It’s summer, family vacation with the cousins. My cousin, Alicia, is my age. We’re in those pre-teen years, and we’ve been together almost every summer for as long as we can remember. Including the year that she refused to eat the green macaroni. We see each other across the parking lot. …Read More
Positive Aging ~ Carl Honore
This semester, I’m teaching a course called “Storytelling for Positive Aging.” Studies show that a positive attitude, a growth mindset, towards the process of aging leads to longer and happier lives. In this course, I explore the questions: How can we tell ourselves better stories of aging? How can we respond to cultural attitudes of …Read More
For a New Beginning ~ John O’Donohue
“I want to be able to do that” I still remember the moment that I first heard someone perform a story. I was expecting an ordinary speech where I could learn something about public speaking. Instead, I was immediately captivated, pulled into the vivid images that story created in my mind. The storyteller transformed herself …Read More
Honoring Sacrifice
Sacrifice, verb Last week, I toured a local health center run by a non-profit. They offer healthcare to underserved populations on a sliding scale basis. There are many ways to give, including the monetary donations of the many names that cover the walls to make the mission of greater healthcare access possible. While many at …Read More