The very first time I sat in my grade 12 English teachers class (Mr. Freitas) the other day I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and I have to share what I learned with you.
All that we are is Story
“A life without stories would be no life at all. And stories bound us, did they not, one to another, the living to the dead, people to animals, people to the land?” - Alexander McCall Smith
All that we are is story, from the moment of birth to the time we continue our journey afterlife we are forming a story of our time here. We are surrounded by stories coming from our community, family, friends, and culture. Everyone has a story to tell and these stories form the basis for how we think about the world. Depending on which stories you have been told your life will be influenced by these stories without you being aware of this. You need to understand that stories transcend generations. They create connections with others. Stories show us what we have in common with each other, and it teaches us to learn from other in spit of our differences. Therefore, stories are universal.
Stories pass down morals
Some of the most extraordinary teachers have passed on wisdom throughout time, and they have done so mainly through stories. The most influential religious books or manuscripts of all time, you’ll notice they’re mostly filled with stories. That’s because stories help us transfer
morals and even knowledge across thousands of generations. You don't need to look far to see examples of this. Think about your parents. How many times have they told you stories on a daily basis. You are influenced by everything around you and everything has come from some sort of story. Stories outlive all of us and leave the ones behind with knowledge to pass down to the next generation.
Why Stories Matter
Even as technology presents so many dynamic opportunities to create new content, humans will still crave stories so we can make sense of the world. In a world with more information than ever, it’s harder and harder to discern which information truly matters.
There are many old stories that are still taught in school because the messages in these stories are universal. A story like Hamlet has been taught to all generations because its message is still relevant in modern society. What's astonishing is that Hamlet was written over 400 years ago and is still relevant. The first six words of Hamlet’s Act III, Scene 1 soliloquy are without doubt the most famous line William Shakespeare ever wrote. It’s also one of the most recognizable quotes in the English-speaking world. Do I even need to repeat them? My point is, if you want to know how to solve specific problems you'll need precise information, but if you want to learn how to make use of your time on this planet you'll need stories. By doing this you will be living your own unique story, making countless mistakes, and learning as you go.
Stories are forever, Get Inspired!
Stories are what we arrive with in this world, but they are also all we leave behind. We need to create the best possible story we can while we're here. If we share our story with others we can get to know one another on a deeper level and turn strangers into friends. Changing the word one story at a time!
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