The power of “YOUR STORY”

@weRgenerationZ #YOURstoryMAtters #ThisIsABQ

Sue Monk Kidd author of The secret life of of bees wrote

“Stories have to be told or they die, and when they die, we can't remember who we are or why we're here.”

This months podcast is called “THE POWER OF "YOUR STORY!”

Have you ever hear a really good story that changed you in some way?

Do you have a story that has made and difference in your life?

It is clear that we have all heard stories that have the ability to make us feel sad, scared, or inspired.

it is amazing to think of the power that stories have in our lives.

If you haven’t guessed it yet, today we are talking about story telling and not just any story, we are talking about telling "YOUR story."

And the power it holds.

What does “YOUR STory” mean? When we say “YOUR STORY” we are referring to an account of real life incidents or events from your life and your point of view.

“Writing and telling one’s story not only boosts self-esteem and reduces stress and anxiety, it is also a powerful tool for anyone—to visualize and create their future,” says Mike Brozda from the article of The Power of Telling Family Stories

Stories have the power to bring us together, unite us, make us believe again. Stories have the power to make us feel heard. Often when we stay silent for too long, we can forget we have a story.

Story telling is something that anyone and everyone can do. It only really takes two people to make a story come alive…one person to tell the story and one person to listen. IT is almost impossible to tell a story to an empty audience. However it only takes one person to listen for a story to come alive.

The reality is that wether you know it or not, Everyone has a story to tell. What is yours? It is easy to forget that although EVERYone has a story to tell, not everyone has someone to listen.

"Seniors, families and caregivers are increasingly recognizing the value of reminiscences and life reflection." One of the first researchers to appreciate the power of life stories was Dr. Robert Butler, founder of the New York-based International Longevity Center. In a 1963 paper, he coined the term “Life Review.

Capturing the life story of a senior can often be an activity that benefits both young and old.

“It’s very important for seniors to retell their stories,” says Dr. Wendy Scheinberg-Elliott, Professor of History at California State University Fullerton. “It is equally as important for families to be interested in and heed these stories. Much is lost if the younger generation doesn’t take the time to hear them.”

This week we want to encourage you to leave this podcast and do two things.

Number 1. BE bold, tell your story.

Number 2. BE wise, listen to others tell theirs. Especially the elderly in our lives.

Often we young people, forget the older people in our lives have amazing stories hidden inside. Unless we ask questions and really listen, the stories will go untold.