from the moment we are children, we experience the power of storytelling. each night before bed, we are captivated by the simple words on paper that transport us to far away lands with mythical creatures and magic potions.
when i look at my son’s interests and obsessions, i am amazed at how seamlessly they flow from justice league superheroes and harry potter to the mythical gods of greece or pharaohs of ancient egypt.
though he knows, logically, that some are “real” and the others are not, there is no distinction—in his imagination. epic battles between good and evil, mischievous plots and benevolent heroes: all in a days work for zeus or poseidon, hawk girl or superman…all in a few chapters of reading before turning out the light and drifting off to bed.
as we get older, the appeal of great stories remains intact. one only needs to look as far as the harry potter books and movies to see--and feel--the power of a story to draw you in and move you. great storytelling can stir your imagination, make you feel emotion, and inspire you to act, to change and to keep coming back for more. it engages all the senses, with beautiful imagery and detailed descriptions—of sights, smells, tastes and feelings.
when the words are personal and authentic, they hold the power to transport you to different times, places and states of mind. leonardo da vinci once said “feathers shall raise men even as they do birds, toward heaven; that is by letters written with their quills.” great stories change the way you think, feel, act. they can transport you. and transform you. open your eyes to new perspectives, undiscovered experiences, hope in the face of adversity, escape in the drudgery of everyday life.
as a writer, the words, to me, lie at the heart of a great story. but i’m equally captivated by the stories being told through the eyes and camera lenses and pixels and paintbrushes and whisks and ladles and needles and thread of people expressing themselves through their passions.
what fuels the fire in your gut? are you squelching it? nurturing it? or simply trying to find it? whether you consider yourself “creative” or not, you are telling a story—your story—with each day you are on this earth. never underestimate that power. to tell your narrative. with courage. to transform. and to inspire others in the process.