TELL ME A STORY

Many years ago, I read a quote by the poet, Muriel Rukeyser that ultimately shaped my career as a public radio producer and writer. “The world isn’t made of atoms, it’s made of stories”, she observed and I knew instinctively she was right.

We learn about ourselves from the stories of others.  We laugh, cry, empathize, sympathize and somehow through hearing or reading of the other’s experiences, we gain insight and wisdom into our own situations. It may be a story in a magazine, on television, a tale that someone relates in the waiting room of a doctor’s office, or a story that someone sitting next to you on a bus shares with you.  In the sharing of a personal and poignant narrative, someone totally unrelated to our own situation may offer us an unexpected source of comfort and inspiration.  We can gain insight and wisdom from someone we don’t know and may never meet.  Such is the power of a story.

Last week I wrote a piece entitled, Let’s Celebrate Age. Several people wrote back to me and told me how they personally celebrated the changes and challenges of their aging.  I’m going to share pieces of their e-mails, short insights from their stories.  Thanks to each of you who wrote of your experiences and philosophy. Even short glimpses into the thoughts of others can offer us the possibility of new awareness and ignite an inspiration from someone we’ve never met and probably never will. 

I too am tired of being made to feel useless and not good enough if I don’t look like the half-starved twenty-something models/actresses in publications and on the screens. What happened to appreciating people for what they are on the inside and the experiences and knowledge they have to share? I am soon turning 52 and guess I am going to have to start searching for a new group of acquaintances who aren’t looking for never-ending youth!.....Lenore

I am convinced that I have more creative juice at this age than ever – new ideas, lots of courses to take, adventure happen to keep me alert and with it.  I would not go back one day of my life. Well maybe if I could know at 20 what I know at 83…..Betty

Here I am feeling old at 48.  I need to change my attitude and be grateful for all that I can do I love to exercise, read and talk to people.  I need to focus on all the world has to offer…..Heidi

Life can have its toll on our spirits and bodies – if we let it.  We lose loved ones; our bodies reach their thresholds, but are we not still beautiful?  Even the faintest light at sunset contributes to the beauty of the day. The emphasis of our consumer culture is youth.  However, collectively, we have the power to define what “youth” means.  “Young” in heart and spirit sounds good to me.….Luz

I feel each day I must get up, look for something beautiful in this very troubled universe and try to do something positive in my small corner! This is how I am trying to handle this stage of my life….Etta Fay

The power of story is universal.  Never underestimate how our attitudes, as we face the years ahead, can be influenced by even a glimpse into another’s story. I offer you a last thought, one that comes from a children’s book, Crow and Weasel by Barry Lopez.

                                    “If stories come to you, care for them,

                        and learn to give them away where they are needed.

              Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive.”