I love storytelling. Really love it. I used to think that storytelling was a frivolous thing. A way to pass the time, pure entertainment. Like a jester in the medieval faire. He would always recite stories but be the fool doing so.
Now, I think differently. I realize that storytelling is really the communication of our lives. I hear and tell stories every day. My daughter tells me what school is like, a story. My guys tell me about their classes and auditions, a story, and my husband tells me about his work, a story. I hear stories about my parent’s lives, and my beautiful nieces. Our everyday life is made up of stories both good and bad.
My dad just called. He is in Lake Placid, New York, watching our amazing nieces in their school play. It was a great story. He told about how our oldest niece really shines when she is performing and the younger one was the best dog on stage! He also said that it is hard to be there in Lake Placid. That everywhere he goes he thinks of my youngest brother Kevin, who passed. (See my past blog The Gift of Giving Can Be Given in Many Ways) Lake Placid is a beautiful little town and nothing is far. He told me how hard it is to drive by Kevin’s school where he taught, and the hockey rink, where he coached. They were all places in Kevin’s story. Even as short as Kevin’s story was it is so very important to us and others. Even though I miss Kevin terribly, I feel blessed to be a part of his short story here on earth. I know that I am much more blessed to have his short story intertwine with mine then not at all. Kevin’s short story truly is a gift.
As I look back I think I have always thought of “stories” as made up. But now I know that our everyday life is a story. What we do, who we love, those actions are all part of our life stories. I am sure you even have stories about doing laundry, cooking, cleaning if you think about it. Going to work and doing chores are stories too. Ones we want to make less of in our overall story, but stories none the less. Life becomes somewhat magical when you think about it that way, doesn’t it? When I think I am making the bed, ok boring. But when I think, I am making the bed as part of the story, it feels better. It makes the chore so much more of a pause in bigger things to come.
This Christmas season is a time to make lots of new stories for you and your family. When your child asks, Is Santa Real, think about how blessed you are to answer that question with the true story of Santa Claus. I wish I could write what the book The Santa Club says. (There is a fine line with answering the question, Is Santa Real, on the internet and smart children who are looking on the internet.) I really believe that a parent or a special person in the child’s life should answer the question. For those of you who have asked, that is why the book must be read with a parent, grandparent or guardian. Stories that we have together bond us. The moment when your child asks Is Santa Real, is a story in the making.
Part of talking about my book, is telling about that moment when my oldest Jonathan asked, Is Santa Real. It is a great story. Now we have stories to tell from that point on with him, Jameson, and our daughter Alena just because of that moment. Enjoy this Christmas Season; make great stories with your family, friends and new friends you meet. Even the short stories, like Kevin’s are amazing and should be cherished. Remember, you are very much a part of the story of life and this holiday season is great stories in the making. Have a great Santa Club Day.
Kelly
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