Storytelling

The people closest to my heart know I LOVE a story with an interwoven message about life. Wait, no. It's more simple than that. I'm the daughter of a New York Jewish mother. I LOVE a good story, PERIOD. And I love being the storyteller of them. It connects people in a positive way. And my WHY in life is to connect people in a positive way that would have not otherwise connected. So storytelling is in my DNA and my purpose here on Earth is dependent on it too.

But I stick by the statement: words don't teach. I believe participating in life does. For me stories can help someone navigate life, but it will never be a substitution for a lived experience and what you take away from those moments. But man, a good story goes a long way. If ever a place where words could teach: it's in a story. Maybe that's why I also LOVE a good podcast. And the books, "The Alchemist" and "Illusions" are two of my favorite reads. Both places have taught me MANY life lessons. And hell.... I grew up watching VHS tapes of Rocky and Bullwinkle. If there ever was a show with hidden life messages, it was there.

So it's not uncommon for my dearest friends to send me random proverbs, quotes, and/or stories. I've have been spending a lot of time with two particular stories lately, thanks to my amazing friend Shanna. A LOT of time. When I find myself reading and rereading something, it's probably my sign that something is going on within me. Maybe it will have the same effect on you. The more I reread, think and share, the more I come to befriend these stories.

Let's dive in.

“A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her cross to the other side. The two monks glanced at one another because they had taken vows not to touch a woman. Then, without a word, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, placed her gently on the other side, and carried on his journey. The younger monk couldn’t believe what had just happened. After rejoining his companion, he was speechless, and an hour passed without a word between them. Two more hours passed, then three, finally the younger monk could contain himself any longer, and blurted out “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?” The older monk looked at him and replied, “Brother, I set her down on the other side of the river, why are you still carrying her?”

I am definitely not here to tell you what it means for you. Everyone has their own brilliance and insight to make for themselves. Let's talk feelings! I can feel this story in my soul. Is that just me? Such a simple story. Simple message. This stirs up the feeling and question for me:

What am I carrying that doesn't serve me? What would help lighten my load/capacity/bandwidth; mentally, physically, and emotionally if I loosened/released my grip?

Again, no answer. That's personal for me. And I'm working on it. I definitely have things I knowingly carry that do not serve me. Why?? In my head I know they should be set down. I'd thrive more in their absence. Yet I cant seem to break those actions. The visual I've learned from Abraham Hicks comes to mind simultaneously while thinking about these questions. She often describes being on a rapid river, paddling upstream. Knock it off. Nothing wanted is upstream. Nothing. Let the current take you. That's where the magic lives. But I'm over here paddling like a 20 year old CrossFit Games athlete for some reason. Action = change, right? Ugh. Maybe not. So this story stirs up so much within me. And that's the point: I cant resolve unsettled feelings if I don't acknowledge their existence within me. Without knowing they stir up something I can't start to change. And my evolution to my best and happiest self is the journey I want to be on eternally. Maybe you do too. Revisiting this story and the questions has helped me discover unwanted burdens along the way.

Ok.... Next up:

Simon Sinek is personal favorite place to challenge my thoughts and actions too. I have range, right? Bullwinkle and Paulo Coelho. And many others too. But this story hits a cord within me... especially in the times of struggle.

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Once there was a farmer in the central region of China. He didn't have a lot of money and he used an old horse to plow his field. One afternoon, while working in the field, his horse dropped dead. Everyone in the village said, "Oh, what horrible luck." And the farmer said, "We'll see."

The farmer was so at peace and so calm about this tragedy, that everyone in the village got together and, admiring his attitude, gifted him a new horse. Everyone reacted, "What luck!" And the farmer again said, "We'll see." Later, the new horse jumped a fence and ran away. And everyone in the village shook their heads and said, "What bad luck!" The farmer smiled and said, "We'll see." Eventually, the horse found his way home, and everyone again said, "What great luck!" The farmer again said, "We'll see."

Years later the farmer's young boy went out riding on the horse and fell and broke his leg. Everyone in the village said, "Oh poor boy. What bad luck." But again the farmer said, "We'll see." Several days later the army came to the village to draft new recruits for war. When they saw the farmer's son had a broken leg, they passed him by. And everyone proclaimed, "What luck!!" Yet the farmer just smiles- and said "We'll see."

This feels EASY for me to accept and acknowledge when it's for something good. But for me, it is WAY more challenging in times of struggle.... burn out.... and need. And what I'm sitting with most is the concept that this story has no ending. No pretty bow to wrap up the story and say Ta-Da! Done. Nope. We will forever say, "we will see" to everything. So accepting this feels essential to really understanding life. Easier said than done. Duh. I'm still carrying certain aspects of life I'm seemingly not willing to shake yet. Not for a lack of trying... but maybe because my beliefs are my beliefs. We all have them. We develop those through our life experiences. They happened. They are our truths. So to question a truth feels conflicting. At least it does for me. How can you question a truth? When I do that, it's like saying: my beliefs don't serve me, things have changed, or worst of all in my mind, "I might be wrong". And that feels yucky.

But the relentless optimist in me also feels hopeful in challenging my beliefs. My optimism frames my brain to have the expectation that the universe is conspiring WITH me for my greatest life. If my expectation is that, everything serves THAT purpose. And that's the happiest life worth living. And that feels good. The "we'll see" feels like fun, excitement, anticipation of something greater to come. I like that thought a lot!

So I hope these sit with you in a special way too. Keeping it short and sweet this week! Just over here working on living the best way I know. And I wish that for you too! And if I can fulfill my WHY of connecting people in a positive way who might not have otherwise connected, well that makes my heart even fuller. I think these stories really help to do that. Ain't nothing better for me!