Today's prompt from Stream of Consciousness Sunday from AllThingsFadra.com:
What are the stories of your life that you love to tell people when you have a chance?
Last Summer a passion for Storytelling opened for me. Two months in a row, I won the Bakersfield Museum of Art’s On the Porch Storytelling Slam. I had a good idea I could tell a story, but winning those two slams told me… I can tell a story WELL, even aloud without benefit of writing and editing first.
The two stories I told were a couple of my favorites: the story of being in a Korn music video where my wardrobe would have scared the weaker thinking middle aged woman away and when I tumbled back onto the stage via an acting class I never wanted to take.
I love these particular stories, yes, but there are so many more I could also tell over and over.
Have you noticed what happens when women get together, especially women in their 20’s and 30’s who are moms? Birth stories – these tend to get told similarly to stories of soldiers, together in battle. We find we know each other through these stories. Since I gave birth four times with four distinctive stories, I can relate to most stories that are told except for cesarean stories.
I am also a natural childbirth freak, so I can’t totally get epidural stories, but I respect every birth story, no matter the scenario.
Other stories I love/hate to tell: discovering my son’s diagnosis of high functioning autism on my own, without anyone else like professionals who should have known better telling me. The story of my family perpetually telling me last or asking me, “Hey, did I tell you Grandma died?” or “Did I tell you we’re moving to California?” or “Did I tell you (insert whatever tragedy you could imagine) here.”
I love/hate to tell about my daughter’s stillbirth.
I love to tell the story of leaving the conventional world behind when I had an epiphany while standing at a slim park overlooking the ocean in Santa Monica.
I love to tell the story of the first time my son brought me flowers, wildflowers from my garden… weeds, some would say.
I love to tell the story of how my daughter, Katherine, found her way to Smith College. The fact she goes to a prestigious school 3,000 miles from home is all my fault. Why do children listen to you when you are being nostalgic for the ‘could have beens’ in life?
I love to tell the story of Emma being a natural friend of the underdog, and how after her last concert she chatted with one of the boys in the men’s choir who happens to be in a wheelchair. “Are you going to King Leo’s?” she asked him. He told her he didn’t know. When she walked away, he used his cell phone to call his mom and said, “Mom, all my friends want me to go to King Leo’s. Is that ok with you?” I imagine the mother on the other line, relieved. I know the little boy doesn’t know the Mom standing beside the mini-van wiping away the tear was incredibly proud of her daughter and filled with love for this boy I don’t even know.
I could go on and on, but time is up and I want to read about your stories.
Thank you, Fadra, for a great prompt. Stories connect us. Let’s keep ours alive.
This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…
- Set a timer and write for 5 minutes.
- Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.
- Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.
- Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.
- Link up your post at AllThingsFadra.com
- Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.
Follow me on Twitter: @juliejordanscot
Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook (THANK YOU!)
© 2012 by Julie Jordan Scott
Julie Jordan Scott has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is also an award winning Actor, Director, Artist and Mother Extraordinaire. She was twice the StoryTelling Slam champion in Bakersfield. She leads Writing Camp with JJS & this Summer will be traveling throughout the US to bring this unique, fun filled creative experience to the people wherever she finds the passion & the interest.
Did you enjoyed this essay? Receive emails directly to your inbox for Free from Julie Jordan Scott via the Daily Passion Activator. One inspirational essay and poem (almost) every week day. Subscribe here now -
Subscribe to DailyPassionActivator
Powered by us.groups.yahoo.com
Recent Comments