We All Have A Story

Every single one of us has a story. As we allow them to weave together, these stories make up who we are. Our life experiences often include others. Whether it is family, friends, co-workers, or strangers, our lives intersect in many ways. Studies have shown that telling our stories is important and telling family stories that link generations together is good for us.

A November 12, 2019 article in the Wall Street Journal, written by Sue Shellenbarger states, "Intergenerational stories anchor youngsters as part of a larger group, helping them develop a sense of identity. In a 2008 study, researchers at Emory quizzed 40 youngsters ages 10 to 14 on 20 family-history questions, such as how their parents met or where their grandparents grew up. Those who answered more questions correctly showed, on separate assessments, less anxiety, and fewer behavior problems."

I love this! We all have stories! All the information is in our head and ready to be shared. No props are needed. So, what is stopping us from telling our stories? Maybe you are waiting for somebody to ask or maybe, you don't think you have any interesting to say. You do have interesting stories! All of us do! 

Just yesterday, I was talking to my mom and asking her some questions for a genealogy paper I am writing. I learned that in high school, my mom's typing teacher recommended she enter a scholarship contest for a local college. The winner would receive a scholarship to the school. My mom wanted a secretary degree, so she participated in the testing process. There was a second scholarship available for advertising, and the teacher recommended to my mom that if she was going to do the one, she should do the other one at the same time. My mom took the tests early on a Saturday morning after working late the night before. The advertising test was first and included writing content for advertising campaigns. A few weeks later, she received word that she had indeed won a scholarship to the school but not for her work on the secretarial test. She won the advertising scholarship. She was able to get her secretary's degree using this money. I love this! You never know what opportunity is around the corner. You can be sure I will use this story the next time my kids "think" they know the path forward in life. We don't, and it is so important to keep all options on the table and then let things work themselves out. I would have never heard this story if I had not asked.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Family's will gather, play games, eat and, enjoy one another's company. We should not let this holiday pass without enjoying a little bit of conversation that includes sharing our stories and listening to the stories and experiences of others. Have a wonderful Holiday!