Before we talk about story telling, I want to thank you for the profound work you do every day. The love you're pouring into each small person amplifies into the world and we can all feel it. I see you in the grocery store and the park.
I see the encouragement, the tenderness, the patience and the love. It warms my hearts.
It reminds me of raising my own daughter, and how my mother raised the six of us girls. From my earliest memory, there were stories. Mama told us stories to entertain us and to comfort us.
And to keep us quiet during dinner.
When there was entirely too much talking and not enough eating (always), she only had to utter "once upon a time" and a hush would fall over the kitchen table as we waited for the words that followed.
Stories are powerful things.
They form the very fabric of who we are and who we become. They help us make sense of life. They teach us to communicate and develop our social, emotional and cognitive abilities.
They help us understand ourselves and others. They help us cope, inspire us and give us a shared culture in our families and communities.
From them we learn empathy, courage, and problem solving. Stories enrich us, guide us and help us remember.
Learning to create and tell stories helps us to work through problems and aspire to heroic ends.
Stories are joyful, fun, delightful and draw us closer to each other. I love, love, love stories and storytelling.
I've told stories my whole life, to myself, my siblings, my daughter, my nieces and nephews and to classrooms full of children.
And you know what? There are still many stories waiting to be told and many children to hear them.
And this is where you - wonderful you - come in! You are a storyteller, too. And once you know it, and let the stories you already have inside pour out, you're going to feel the magic they create.
Your children will magically jump into you car and put their seatbelts on.
They'll sit, eating dinner quietly, hanging on your every word.
They'll brush their teeth and jump into bed so they can hear your story.
And they'll remember.
You'll create wonderful traditions and memories. "Remember the time you told that story about the elephant and hahahahahahaha!"
If you've read this far, you already know the many benefits of storytelling.
But probably my favorite thing about telling stories is the instant bond and affection that exists between the teller and the listener. It's magical and magnificent and meaningful.
So join me for these three fun days. You'll learn who you are as a storyteller, and you'll leave with a story not just on your heart, but on your lips.
Don't hesitate. Your children are waiting, but time won't.
Wishing you fantastic journeys and happy endings always,
Jane
P.S. The Storytelling Challenge is happening in a private Facebook Group. When you click the button to join and enter your email address, you'll be taken directly to the group. Just click "join" and I'll let you in! Can't wait to see you on the inside!
