For as long as humans have existed, we have been telling stories. Before there was written texts, there were stories orally handed down. Stories are time-honored as they never get old or go out of fashion. Children can listen to the same story over and over and over again. Why? It is not so much the story itself, but stories stir up a set of feelings and reactions in the listener. Humans are also emotional beings and our emotions are brought out through stories. Think about any famous – or infamous – event in history and there is a story around it. The fastest way to connect with people, no matter the age, is through stories.

I come from a long line of Native storytellers. Whenever we came together, it was to share stories. Most were the same stories, but each generation was privileged to hear them. Telling, sharing, and keeping stories is in my blood; though it only burst forth when I had to share my own story of grief and loss. This was when I really knew the importance and the power of telling the story. This theory was further proven when the horrific events of September 11, 2001 took place. As a nation, we all grieved together and we shared our stories of that frightening and unforgettable day.

With the advent of the computer and the video games, the time-honored tradition of bedtime stories has lost its luster. This is sad in two ways: the rapid growth of isolationism – the child and the video game; and the loss of family connections. The time spent together telling stories and enhancing those stories with commentary and conversation.

What has come out of this sense of isolation is living and telling false stories about ourselves. Because we live in a belief that we are not good enough – this has become the faulty cornerstone of our stories; and our reality is based on not being good enough. So we do not go for our richest dreams and our deepest desires. We remain on the outside of our own lives trying to look in.

As long as we can stop and take a breath, we can change our lives by creating new stories – stories more aligned with our authentic selves. Ask what are my deepest desires and what story would I tell about those desires. We can re-write our life scripts and change our lives. It is never too late to begin living the life you were meant to life. Get out your pen and journal and Mind Your Own Story now!