Heart-Lifting for Disheartening Times – Storytelling Brings JOY

It’s all so overwhelming and it seems everyone is tired, discouraged, maybe angry or cynical or depressed, maybe confused or disheartened…just weary.
Each day during this April A-Z Blogging Challenge I’ll offer a short musing on an aspect or two of the many ways the ancient-yet-very-contemporary experience of storytelling – both listening and telling – is an enjoyable, fortifying and heart-lifting practice, for anyone!

J – Storytelling Brings JOY

The picture above at the top of this post shows it:

JOY with another, in the moment, with each other and with what’s happening, or just happened.

[NOTE...You can google “joy of storytelling” or similar phrases, and you’ll find a whole lot of articles and essays and blogs about it…but it seems that most of them are about writing and written stories. Many insist on calling story-writing and script-writing, and even acting and directing and additional other art forms, “storytelling”…

This is a big discussion for another day, or series of blogs perhaps…

…because while many art forms can communicate stories in their different evocative ways, the actual art of storytelling is an oral event in real time between at least 2 people…

And here’s a good definition of storytelling (from the National Storytelling Network): Storytelling is the interactive art of using words and actions to reveal the elements and images of a story while encouraging the listener’s imagination.]

And so…back to the JOY of (oral) storytelling!…

I cannot tell you how much, how many times, how often, or how incredibly deeply…I have experienced JOY induced by storytelling – whether it’s me telling to others, or listening (usually with others, not solo) to others tell stories.

I don’t claim that it happens every single time and for every single person – but when there’s a combination of a good story well-told and a receptive audience, and perhaps an indefinable presence or mix or je ne sais quois of various other factors such as prevailing mood, or the specific event, or specific content of the story(ies)…some of the most joyful moments I have experienced have been induced by storytelling, by the delightful connection between storyteller, story, and listeners. And I am far from unique – I witness, and share, such JOY in and with others time and time again.

You may already know what I mean – and if not, I really hope you get to experience it!

Storytelling JOY is SO good for the heart in disheartening times! (Or anytime!)

Thanks for reading – Pam