Life as a Story
Many very wise people have said some beautiful things about what life is. Here are a few of these poetically worded quotes and statements:
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.” - Langston Hughes
“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.” - Lao Tzu
“Life is not a series of gig lamps symmetrically arranged; life is a luminous halo, a semi-transparent envelope surrounding us from the beginning of consciousness to the end.” - Virginia Woolf
These astute words of wisdom hold so much truth. There are many threads that tie these words of wisdom together. And there is room to add ideas. So here is the idea that is being offered in this post. It may not be unique and others may have thought of this as well, but it deserves to be shared.
“Life is a story that we write, draw, or dance each second, each minute, each hour, and each day. It is up to us to determine the words, colors, style, chapters, pictures, movements, nuances, and plots that appear on the pages or stage.” - Kimberlee Bow
In the morning when the world wakes up, everyone is writing their story through their actions, choices, and interactions with others. This conjures up the image of a pile of beautiful books being written that vary in how they read and what they say. Wouldn’t that be a treasure? A treasure to read each story and find connections with the “characters” as we find ourselves in the pages. We are all connected by a common thread. That of humanity.
Here comes the questions that everyone then needs to ask themselves at some point. What is your story? If someone was to read your story what would you want them to read? These questions may not have an easy answer. And maybe they shouldn’t have an easy answer because it asks us all to reflect on our lives as a whole and in the moment. That is a skill that we are constantly developing throughout life. To develop our capacity to listen to our own inner witness and find our truth.
Everyone needs to begin somewhere. The number of times we have heard that starting something can be the hardest part is probably beyond what we could count on two hands. And there is some kernel of truth to that idea. Starting asks people to begin something that can be out of the normal pattern, making it feel harder. And yet, if people are able to move past that place of being uncomfortable they usually find they can keep going. This feels applicable to us as stories are written. It is time to begin. Begin to write your story. Write it word by word. Draw it picture by picture. Dance it movement by movement. However the story takes form, own that it is your story. Write or draw a story that you can be proud of when you look back on it. That doesn’t mean that everything has to be perfect. Far from it. It means that it isn’t perfect and there are stumbling blocks and messy places along the way. It means that there are places of joy and places of sadness. It means that there are places of hope and of loss. And above all, it means that it was a life lived and not observed.
So maybe the quote specifically for this post from above needs to be altered.
“Life is a story that we write, draw, or dance each second, each minute, each hour, and each day. It is up to us to live and embody the words, colors, style, chapters, pictures, movements, nuances, and plots that appear on the pages or stage.” - Kimberlee Bow
Book being held open on a cover with lights in the center.
take action today moment:
Decide for yourself which quote feels better for you. Does the small difference in wording make a difference?
Now go out and write, draw, or dance your story. Find a way to start documenting your story. It can be a journal, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be quick video clips or a drawing. Be creative and let your imagination decide what would be best for your story.
Read More Amazing Quotes:
Learn More About the Power of Story:
How Stories Connect And Persuade Us: Unleashing The Brain Power Of Narrative