”Our lives are storied. Where it not for stories, our lives would be unimaginable. Stories make it possible for us to overcome our separateness, to find common ground and common cause” (Michael Jackson: The Politics of Storytelling: Violence, Transgression, and Intersubjectivity, 2002: 245).
Some of my earliest and fondest childhood-memories are of my mum reading stories to me. Sometimes when I came across a book I hadn´t seen since I was a child I get this warm, happy feeling inside from seeing the frontpage or the pictures inside. I belive that being read to has created my enthusiasm for both books and stories in general. My friends claim that I would do anything as long as it would bring about a good story, and to a certain degree they are right. I collect good stories, and I love to share them with others.
Michael Jackson states that stories help us find common ground and cause. They bind us together because they are relational in their nature. What I cherished the most about being read to was not the stories in themselves, but the bond they created between me, my sisters and my mum, which is still there today. We often quote from these books in our family, and the inside jokes and remarks gives us a precious feeling of fellowship.
When I studied social anthropology I started doing research on stories and their impact on our lives. I realized that both imagined and lived stories, are very valuable and powerful. A story can change the world, give light where there is darkness and bring understanding, friendship, love and respect. We need stories to succeed with our relationships, our business and our lives in general.
I believe stories are very important but sadly underrated, that’s why I started this blog. I will write about stories from many different perspectives and hopefully inspire you to tell your stories, pay attention when someone share theirs and understand what stories can do for us as individuals and as a society.