Motivation Mondays: Power of STORYTELLING
“Humanity’s legacy of stories and storytelling is the most precious we have. All wisdom is in our stories and songs. A story is how we construct our experiences…” Doris Lessing
Motivation Mondays: The Power of STORYTELLING
Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger. Ben Okri
Storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it. Hannah Arendt
When we want mood experiences, we go to concerts or museums. When we want a meaningful emotional experience, we go to the storyteller. Robert McKee
I am a person who believes in asking questions, in not conforming for the sake of conforming. I am deeply dissatisfied – about so many things, about injustice, about the way the world works – and in some ways, my dissatisfaction drives my storytelling. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I love creating partnerships; I love not having to bear the entire burden of the creative storytelling, and when I have unions like with George Lucas and Peter Jackson, it’s really great; not only do I benefit, but the project is better for it. Steven Spielberg
The Power of StoryTelling: Stories are rooted in all cultures and we are all storytellers. Our mediums or media might vary but, we have stories in us that we have accumulated over the years through our life experiences and exposure to books, movies, songs, and other people’s tales. We routinely share our stories with others and they inform our decision making and the arc of our life choices. It is impossible to live in this world without exposure to stories because we create them every day through our interactions and communication with others. Stories inform/educate, inspire, motivate, heal and entertain us. Our experiential stories form an important foundation that guide and empower us on our life path. Stories are shared through the written word, movies, music, visual art forms including Digital storytelling and through the oldest form of storytelling, the Oral Tradition – the spoken word passed down through the ages by family members and professional storytellers or Griots.
As far back as I can remember, stories have always been a huge part of my life. I read, saw and heard them from an early age; I heard stories told to gatherings of relatives in front of a burning fireplace during the harmattan season in my grandfather’s compound, read many children and older books filled with stories, and saw and heard my share of movies and music filled with stories of love, loss, and inspiration. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of being read to and being part of a gathering of friends and family at a reading or night of storytelling. We have all had our experience with stories and we continue to create new ones every day. Aesop’s Fables has been a big part of my story reading experience and I have included several pithy stories here for your enjoyment. Do you remember your earliest encounter with the world of storytelling? What was the most moving story you ever read, heard or saw?
READ: Reflections: On Storytelling…
Musings: Lessons Learned From Stories…
Reflections: Happiness Is Life As A Lounging Cat…
Check out: National Storytelling Festival Oct 4-6, 2019
National Storytelling Summit July 23-26, 2020
THE DONKEY AND HIS MASTERS: There was a donkey who worked for a gardener. Because the gardener made the donkey work very hard but gave him very little food, the donkey prayed to Zeus to take him away from the gardener and give him to another master, so Zeus sent Hermes to sell the donkey to a potter. The donkey also found this situation unbearable, since he was forced to carry even heavier loads than before. He called upon Zeus again, and this time Zeus arranged for the donkey to be purchased by a tanner. When the donkey saw the kind of work the tanner did, he said, ‘Oh, it would have been better for me to have kept on working for my previous masters in a state of starvation! Now I have ended up in a place where I won’t even get a proper burial after I die.’ Gratitude for where we are in life is important because the grass might not be greener elsewhere. Some stories shared from Aesopica
THE OLD WOMAN AND HER DOCTOR: An old woman suffering from an eye ailment summoned a doctor who charged a certain fee. She told him that if he cured her, she would pay him the specified fee, but if he didn’t cure her, she wouldn’t pay him anything. The doctor began the cure, visiting the woman every day. He would smear an ointment on her eyes, and while the ointment prevented her from seeing, he would take some object from her house and carry it away. He did the same thing day after day. The woman saw that her property was being diminished with each passing day and by the time she was cured, all her household goods were gone. The doctor asked her for the agreed-upon fee since she was now able to see clearly, and he summoned witnesses to their agreement. The woman protested, ‘I can’t see a thing! Even when my eyes were ailing, I was able to see the many things which I had in my home. Now, when you claim I am cured, I can’t see any of them!’ The fable shows that by their own actions, wicked people can unwittingly serve as witnesses against themselves in a court of law.
THE FARMER AND HIS SONS: A farmer who was about to die wanted his sons to be knowledgeable about the farm, so he summoned them and said, ‘My children, there is a treasure buried in one of my vineyards.’ After he died, his sons took plows and mattocks and dug up the entire farm. They did not find any treasure, but the vineyard paid them back with a greatly increased harvest. Thus they learned that man’s greatest treasure consists of work.
The Honest Woodcutter: The Greek version of the story tells of a woodcutter who accidentally dropped his ax into a river and, because this was his only means of livelihood, sat down and wept. Taking pity on him, the god Hermes (also known as Mercury) dived into the water and returned with a golden ax. “Was this what you had lost?”, Hermes asked, but the woodcutter said it was not, and returned the same answer when a silver ax was brought to the surface. Only when his own tool is produced does he claim it. Impressed by his honesty, the god allows him to keep all three. Hearing of the man’s good fortune, an envious neighbor threw his own ax into the river and wailed for its return. When Hermes appeared and offered him a golden ax, the man greedily claimed it but was denied both that and the return of his own ax. Dishonesty and greedy don’t always yield expected returns. Wikipedia
THE TREES ELECT A KING: The trees came together so that they could anoint a king to rule over them. ‘Please be our ruler,’ they said to the olive tree. The olive tree said in reply, ‘Why would I abandon the richness of my oil, which is valued by both gods and mortals, in order to become the leader of the trees?’ They came to the fig tree and said, ‘Agree to rule over us.’ The fig tree answered, ‘Why would I relinquish my sweetness and delightful fruit in order to become the leader of the trees?’ They came to the vine, hoping that the vine might rule over them, but the vine answered, ‘Why would I relinquish the wine which brings joy both to God and to mankind?’ And so the vine refused to be their leader. The trees then said to the thorn bush, ‘Rule over us.’ The thorn bush replied, ‘If indeed you have resolved to make me your king, come and rest under my shadow, and if you refuse, a fire will come forth from the thorn bush and devour the cedars.‘ Everything has a price. Aesopica index
“Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact.” Robert McKee
Motivation Mondays: The Power of STORYTELLING
Storynomics: How to Create a Story That Inspires with Robert McKee
I don’t think there’s a subject matter that can’t absorb 3-D; that can’t tolerate the addition of depth as a storytelling technique. Martin Scorsese
True character is revealed in the choices a human being makes under pressure – the greater the pressure, the deeper the revelation, the truer the choice to the character’s essential nature. Robert McKee
Because storytelling, and visual storytelling, was put in the hands of everybody, and we have all now become storytellers. LeVar Burton
Storytelling is an essential human activity. The harder the situation, the more essential it is. Tim O’Brien
Storytelling is a very old human skill that gives us an evolutionary advantage. If you can tell young people how you kill an emu, acted out in song or dance, or that Uncle George was eaten by a croc over there, don’t go there to swim, then those young people don’t have to find out by trial and error. Margaret Atwood
The Wisdom of Storytelling: We learn and inform through storytelling. Stories are our greatest repository of history, hope, and heritage. They bring the past back to life and give us much to expect for the future. When we share our stories, we add to the body of knowledge that exists in the world. All of history, beliefs, and traditions come from gathered stories, and we continue to add to that well of wisdom on a daily basis. Don’t forget to celebrate the next World Storytelling Day on March 20, 2020. Come later back for more on this post.
READ: On Fiction: Six Stories in Six Words – Honoring Hemingway
Story: Substance, Structure, Style and the Principles of Screenwriting by Robert McKee
Life: Full of Surprises…
THE CROW AND THE WATER JAR: A thirsty crow noticed a huge jar and saw that at the very bottom there was a little bit of water. For a long time, the crow tried to spill the water out so that it would run over the ground and allow her to satisfy her tremendous thirst. After exerting herself for some time in vain, the crow grew frustrated and applied all her cunning with unexpected ingenuity: as she tossed little stones into the jar, the water rose of its own accord until she was able to take a drink. This fable shows us that thoughtfulness is superior to brute strength since this is the way that the crow was able to carry her task to its conclusion. From Aesopica
THE LION AND THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER: A story about a lion and a young woman, which teaches us not to indulge our desires. A lion who had fallen in love with a young woman went to the woman’s father to ask for her hand in marriage. The father was afraid to refuse the lion’s offer, but asked him first to have his teeth and claws taken out; otherwise, the lion could only arouse his daughter’s terror. The lion was so in love with the woman that he agreed to the bargain. When the lion came back and approached the farmer, now naked and defenseless, the farmer clubbed him to death. If you follow your enemies’ advice, you will run into danger.
THE BOY WHO CRIED ‘WOLF’: There was a boy tending the sheep who would continually go up to the embankment and shout, ‘Help, there’s a wolf!’ The farmers would all come running only to find out that what the boy said was not true. Then one day there really was a wolf but when the boy shouted, they didn’t believe him and no one came to his aid. The whole flock was eaten by the wolf. The story shows that this is how liars are rewarded: even if they tell the truth, no one believes them
Wolf in Sheep’s clothing: A wolf once decided to change his nature by changing his appearance, and thus get plenty to eat. He put on a sheepskin and accompanied the flock to the pasture. The shepherd was fooled by the disguise. When night fell, the shepherd shut up the wolf in the fold with the rest of the sheep and as the fence was placed across the entrance, the sheepfold was securely closed off. But when the shepherd wanted a sheep for his supper, he took his knife and killed the wolf. Changing your clothes doesn’t change your character and could get you in trouble.
Chanticleer: The cock, Chanticleer, lives with his three wives in an enclosure on a rich man’s farm. He is forewarned in a dream of his capture by a predator but is inclined to disregard it, against the persuasion of his favorite, Pinte, who has already caught sight of Renart, the wolf, lurking in the cabbage patch. Eventually, the two creatures meet and Renart overcomes the cock’s initial fear by describing the great admiration he had for the singing of Chanticleer’s father. If the son is to equal his father, he explains, he must shut his eyes as he stretches his neck to crow. But when Chanticleer obliges, the fox seizes him and makes a run for the woods with the farmworkers and a mastiff in pursuit. Chanticleer now advises the fox to turn round and defy them, but when he opens his mouth to do so Chanticleer flies up to safety in a tree. Both then blame themselves for the gullibility their pride has led them into. Wikipedia
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for JUL–AUG 2019 are:
08/01 – National Girlfriend Day,
08/04 – 04 FriendshipDay, 0/7 Lighthouse Day
08/11 – 12 World Elephant Day, 15 Natl Relaxation Day
08/18 – 19 World Photography Day, 23 Remembrance Day
08/25 – 26 Women’s Equality Day, 26 MTV Awards
09/01 – College Colors Day, 02 Labor Day, 07 Read a Book Day
09/08 – 08 Grandparents Day, Int’l Literacy Day, 10 Suicide Prevention Day, 11 Patriot Day
09/15 – 15 Batman Day, 18 Aids and Aging Awareness Day, 21 Int’l Day of Peace
09/22 – 22 Emmy Awards, 23 Start of Fall, 25 Comic Book Day, 28 Int’l Day for Universal Info Access
09/29 – 29 Start of Rosh Hashanah, National Coffee Day, 30 Int’l Podcast and Translation Day
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“The fact of storytelling hints at a fundamental human unease hints at human imperfection. Where there is perfection there is no story to tell.” Ben Okri
Motivation Mondays: Power of STORYTELLING
Motivation Mondays: The Power of STORYTELLING
Storytelling and elegant style don’t always go hand in hand. Donna Tartt
Storytelling is about two things; it’s about character and plot. George Lucas
The connective tissue between storytelling, advice, and comedy is passion. Lauren Lapkus
Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world today. Robert McAfee Brown
We’re so complex; we’re mysteries to ourselves; we’re difficult for each other. And then storytelling reminds us we’re all the same. Brad Pitt
I think that storytelling, at its essence, allows us to feel like we all suffer the same insanity or similar insanity of existence: that nobody escapes scot-free... David Harbour
The Magic of Storytelling: We can be transported to another realm through the lens of storytelling. When we gather with loved ones to see a movie, share a reading or hear a well-crafted tale, we are drawn in by our expectations of enjoying a beautifully told tale. This is why movies and all forms of visual storytelling are enjoyed by billions of people globally. When we go to the movies or listen to a moving song, we can, for a moment, escape the stressors facing us, and flow into an altered space where we become privy to an alternate reality. This form of escapism gives our brain a chance to relax, step back from our situation, and even process new ways of viewing our current circumstances. In good and hard times, stories are used to bond with others and celebrate achievements, to castigate our detractors, and to offer clear examples of what is, what was, and what might happen if things were different. Come later back for more on this post.
READ: Serendipity: Some Positive Markers for March…
Inspiration: The Great Secret…
A Story: The Headache & Halo by Anon
One day, a man walked into his doctor’s office complaining… ” Doctor, I have this awful headache that won’t go away. Please, could you give me a prescription for it?”
“I will,” murmured the doctor, pondering what had set off his usually calm patient. “but first, I want to check out a few things and ask you a few questions… Tell me, do you drink a lot of alcohol?”
“Alcohol?” the man shouted back indignantly. “I never touch that filthy stuff. Nor do I go near people who drink it. All filthy!”
“How about smoking?” the doctor calmly inquired.
“I think smoking is disgusting. I’ve never touched tobacco in my life.”
“Okay,” the doctor continued, “I’m a bit embarrassed to even ask this, but… Do you run around at night seeking dangerous pleasures?”
“Of course not! What do you take me for? I’m a highly spiritual and disciplined man, and I’m in bed by 10 o’clock every night.” The man spat back.
“Then, tell me…” said the doctor, “This pain in your head, is it a sharp, shooting kind of pain?”
“Yes, yes!” The man eagerly replied, his eyes lighting up… “It is… a sharp, shooting kind of pain.”
“Well, that’s simple, my dear fellow!” the doctor replied with a smile on his face. “The trouble is that you have your halo on too tight. All we need to do for you is loosen it up a bit; loosen you up a bit! Avoid the bad habits I mentioned earlier, and enjoy some innocent pleasures in life – Create some balance. Let go of the rigidity. Live!” Anon
THE DOG IN THE MANGER: There was a wicked dog lying in a manger full of hay. When the cattle came and wanted to eat, the dog barred their way, baring his teeth. The cattle said to the dog, ‘You are being very unfair by begrudging us something we need which is useless to you. Dogs don’t eat hay, but you will not let us near it.’ The same thing happened when a dog was holding a bone in his mouth: the dog couldn’t chew on the bone that way, but no other dog was able to chew on it either. People frequently begrudge something to others that they themselves cannot enjoy. Even though it does them no good, they won’t let others have it. The fable shows that it is not easy to avoid envy: with some effort, you can try to escape its effects, but it never goes away entirely.
THE TWO POTS: The banks of a river caved in, tossing two pots into the river where they have swept away together in the raging waters. Each of the pots had been created by a different technique from a different material: one was made of poured bronze and the other was molded clay. There was thus an uneasy alliance between the two of them, one fragile and one unbreakable, as they moved along the winding course of the wandering stream. The bronze jar solemnly promised to keep her hulking progress at a distance from the other jar, not wanting to strike and shatter her. The jar of clay, meanwhile, was afraid that the heavier object might do damage to her lighter frame because something slight can put no trust in something superior. ‘Although your words are reassuring,’ the clay pot said, ‘I cannot shake this fear from my soul. Whether the wave crashes me into you or you into me, in either case, I will be the only victim of the catastrophe.’ The story teaches us that some situations are simply inevitable but it helps to stay faithful.
THE LION AND THE BOAR AT THE SPRING: In the summertime when the heat makes everyone thirsty, a lion and a wild boar had come to drink from the same small spring. They began to argue about who was going to take the first drink, and their argument escalated into a duel to the death. When they momentarily paused to catch their breath, the lion and the boar saw that vultures were waiting to snatch and devour the one who was killed. At that point, the lion and the boar put their hatred aside and said, ‘It is better for us to befriend one another than to be eaten by vultures and ravens!’ The story teaches us that it is good to set aside our deadly disputes and conflicts since they put everyone’s lives in jeopardy.
THE CITY MOUSE AND THE COUNTRY MOUSE: A city mouse once happened to pay a visit to the house of a country mouse where he was served a humble meal of acorns. The city mouse finished his business in the country and by means of insistent invitations, he persuaded the country mouse to come to pay him a visit. The city mouse then brought the country mouse into a room that was overflowing with food. As they were feasting on various delicacies, a butler opened the door. The city mouse quickly concealed himself in a familiar mouse hole, but the poor country mouse was not acquainted with the house and frantically scurried around the floorboards, frightened out of his wits. When the butler had taken what he needed, he closed the door behind him. The city mouse then urged the country mouse to sit back down to dinner. The country mouse refused and said, ‘How could I possibly do that? Oh, how scared I am! Do you think that the man is going to come back?’ This was all that the terrified mouse was able to say. The city mouse insisted, ‘My dear fellow, you could never find such delicious food as this anywhere else in the world.’ ‘Acorns are enough for me,’ the country mouse maintained, ‘so long as I am secure in my freedom!’ It is better to live in self-sufficient poverty than to be tormented by the worries of wealth.
Any Zen Antics stories via 
Positive Motivation Tip: Stories are our greatest repository of history, hope, and heritage. They bring the past back to life and give us much to expect for the future. Tell and Cherish Yours!
Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
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PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos – via Pixabay
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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This is so interesting. The power of telling stories is so amazing! The dog in the manger definitely got me. Love this
Yes, it is one of my favorite stories because I remember hearing it read out loud and acted by a visitor to my kindergarten classroom. The memory remains vivid and the story cogent. It’s the ultimate greedy/selfish behavior story… much like we see in some circles of our planet today. Sadly. Yet stories can lift and inspire us too. 🙂
Story telling is amazing. I liked the post its amazing. I like story telling.
Storytelling is such an important part of carrying on family memories and cultures. Thanks for sharing
All the stories are great..! They are all engaging and I love the lessons with it..
I will never tire of the art of storytelling. Even as an adult, I am still enraptured by the legends and folklore that my uncles tell me when I go visit them, oftentimes about the ancestors on the Indigenous side of my family.
I love stories too… 🙂
“Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact” Beautiful quote.
Such a beautiful post. Story telling is such a beautiful way to depict an event or even experience. Thanks for theinspiration.
Those are some amazing stories, I ha fun reading some of them. My favorite ones is when my parents tell me stories during bedtime or those found in my favorite books.
Wolf in sheep clothing is a masterpiece story, reading about it makes me nostalgic.
Thanks for this wonderful blog..! I agree to all your points.. Great job, love it..!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post! It is motivating and of course it reinstated the value of the old fables we heard while we grew up! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I already sent request to join the group. But somehow still not approved. I am sending again. Do accept my request
Which group Sundeep?
I love the stories you’ve shared here. Full of lessons. Been looking forward to more of your blogs.
Truly agree with everything you said about storytelling. A good storyteller weaves worlds out of their sentence.
I love stories so much! I think, if you write, you are the God of your own little world and you can share that with others <3
Interesting perspective. Sharing stories do make us narrators with a central role into the telling…
Wow so many great stories and I haven’t heard of most of these. The ones I have was the boy who cried wolf and the wolf in sheep’s clothing. The farmer one was a great lesson as well.
Liked reading the stories. They carry a lot of meaning. Very inspiring and motivating. My son also read through.
This is a fascinating post. Most of us think of storytelling as either for learning or entertainment. I really have never thought about how it actually helps weave the fabric of our history and society before.
Yes, it does all of the above.
I’ve always believed in the importance of storytelling and our aural tradition. You can learn a lot in history books, but some of the most important lessons are learned as anecdotes from books or just stories that our parents or other family members tell us. They all come together to really create everyday life.
Indeed. Stories are a great way to transmit history
Story telling is indeed powerful! And your story about the lion and the boar gives me a lesson of the day: we should not at all dwell in our conflicts but live in harmony or else, all of us will suffer. Anyway, as a blogger, I can say that adding a personal touch to any post makes it elate better to the audience.
Story telling is indeed powerful! And thanks for the lesson from the story of the lion and the boar- we’d better live in unison and forget about our conflicts. Or else, we’d all suffer. Anyway, as a blogger, story telling plays a huge part in my writing too. I’ve realized that when I include a personal touch through a story in a post, it relates to the audience even better.
Yes, it does make a difference.
My husband and I are storytellers for a living. I mean he’s an actor – so he is telling different stories ON THE DAILY and me?! I am just a “personality”… Which means people watch me because I tell stories!
I love telling short stories to children. It stimulates their imagination and creativity. It also help them develop their communication skills.
It is amazing just what a story can tell, from good and bad to making us think how we are in our own lives
It is so simple to say but so hard to pull through. Man, so much factors but when done the right way, magic happens. All the emotions transfer to the listeners and they remember it pretty well.
As a former teacher I would love to do storytelling, my students seemed to remember things better if I incorporated a story! The farmer and his sons was always one of my favorites.
They sure do.
I love passing on stories to family members. I feel like it is so important! Thanks for sharing this beautiful post
I like the idea of using these little paras for students to determine theme in my class. I am going to look for something similar and do it!
Such a great read! Thank you for sharing your stories!
Your posts have always been so inspiring. And this post on storytelling and the stories make you think again and again about what life is meant to be. Thanks so much.
Thank you too
I LOVE stories to entertain and to teach a lesson. I agree that stories help heal us and make our hearts bigger. Thanks for the list!
Story telling is so powerful. I always enjoyed my father telling me stories x
Laura
Such a beautifully written post! I always enjoy coming onto your blog 🙂 Thank you
I loved the post from the core and feel like yes sometimes small stories can give you so much motivation in life!!
I agree we are all storytellers! That’s why I started blogging 🙂
Shucks! I remember I used to read Aesop fables everyday when I was a kid. I also heard that story about the boy who cried wolf several times. The city mouse and country mouse has now a nursery rhyme version. Wow. Stories have been part of our lives.
All great motivational and inspirational stories! My favorite has always been City Mouse and Country Mouse and the story it teaches about greed.
“It is better to live in self-sufficient poverty than to be tormented by the worries of wealth.”
It’s amazing how much storytelling plays a role in our lives. My family have always been scrapbookers which is our way of telling the family stories through photos.
Not only do we learn and connect through stories. Some say that’s how we live on too.
These are great stories. I like the one about the farmer and his sons.
I remember when I was younger my mother would tell me stories all the time. I still remember them quite fondly.
I loved listening to my grandfather’s stories. Mostly it was about how the family survived during World War II. Storytelling gives you the chance to be at that moment. It is sharing a memory, a part of oneself, so personal and so real.
I love this! I like that you quoted “The connective tissue between storytelling, advice, and comedy is passion. Lauren Lapkus” I agree with it.
Storytelling is such an important skill. One of my favorite stories is the City Mouse and the Country Mouse. It’s interesting how each mouse prefers her own environment.
Storytelling is a powerful thing that affects us throughout our lives. Those stories we hear in childhood do have the strongest impression.
I remember when I was kid every night before I sleep my mom always telling me stories like her past life,myth and anything one of my best child hood life 🙂 Love this post!
Storytelling is an amazing skill and it is so rare nowadays. I myself suck at it and I’d love to develop the ability to weave my stories beautifully!
When we had no gadgets, stories were told from the books. I miss those times!
Totally agree. I personally think that storytelling always binds us together. I have seen children growing up, with and without the touch of this magic wand. Children often turn out imaginative and inquisitive when left in touch with the stories…. When it is otherwise, they are more withheld, tends more to create q wall around themselves. Stories, at an early age, really helps to mould our minds.
They can be impactful and are shared in elementary schools cross the world
Enjoyed reading the stories. Very interesting. I loved the title “motivational Monday’s”
Great read. I have always loved how you presented things. Keep it up.
The most precious thing is that our life is full of unique strories and experiences! I love the quote saying that stories are the creative conversion of life itself! I love the one about city mouse and country mouse: so true, it is better to live in self-sufficient poverty than to be tormented by the worries of wealth.
Yes, so many people find comfort in stories… they always made me think.
Storytelling is such an important tool. Our brain connects so much easier when receiving information in the form of a story.
All these stories are so interesting! I learned from my time working in a preschool classroom that a good story can be both educational and emotionally soothing.
Great list! I enjoyed reading ‘Little Women’ a lot as a child.
I grew up hearing these Aesop tales and they have never ceased to interest me. You put em down so beautifully here. Appreciated.
This is really fascinating and some lovely stories here, I am actually going to bookmark this and come back and read through them properly. I think stories are a fascinating part of history and a great way to pass on things and educate children
We adults learn a lot from them too
What an interesting article. The lion and the boar was truly an eye opener for me. Storytelling is definitely an art form.
I do believe in the power of story telling as you were able to share either a good or bad memories of the past.
These reads on this blog is really amazing. Has alot of powerful postive vibe in all the short stories.
I think storytelling is an important skill. having a story to tell is not the same as telling it fine. It’s funny because I often ask person to tell this story or that because I am not a best person to tell the story
The power of storytelling is so amazing. You can learn so many lessons with them.
The power of storytelling is really wonderful! I was at MOPS today and the woman speaking told such amazing stories that really related so well to what we were discussing.
There really is so much power to these short stories! I loved the story about the farmer and his sons – it really resonates with me. Hard work pays off – there are no shortcuts!
I have native background and grew up hearing lots of inspiring stories as a child! They are powerful and are great at any age!
I’ve been reading and studying quite a lot about the history of storytelling and how humans have been doing it for thousands of years. Quite amazing.
I remember the days when I use to tell stories to my toddlers. They are the best days of my live as a mother.
Storytelling is one of the powerful ways not only to learn about new facts of life, but also to expand our connections with other people.
Storytelling is such an important part of the human experience. I love all the ways in which stories are told.
I love that you shared different stories.
This is so inspiring. I have read Donkey and his masters before. Its really good and perfect for all age.
I love this post it so beautiful and I believe that by means of storytelling you were able to share an important story of the past.
I love stories and I always share one with my kids as an example. Also before bed time 🙂 This doggy is really my favorite!
Zina
My childhood is never complete without a storytelling. y mom use to read these stories to me before bedtime and I already do the same thing to my kids.
Story telling is a indeed a powerful tool and it’s important for documenting our past and present. Loved the stories especially the one with the lion.
I remember my mom telling me stories before bed. She usually picks stories that have lessons in it, one of them is The boy who cried wolf. It’s simple yet powerful. Thank you for this post! Brings so much memories!
I wonder why so many like that story. 🙂
Stories have always been an important of my life too. I think in essence it kind of gives an opinion about life.
These are some amazing stories. I like reading short stories. Wolf in Sheep’s clothing has a nice lesson in it.
Storytelling is a great way to teach and transfer morals from generation to generation. I also like it for its historical values.
This is so important, even for families. I recent found a family diary that my grandmother & her sisters used. It was more like daily happenings and such. I learned so much about their life.
It’s amazing how much we can learn from our past with stories. This is an awesome article.
My grandmother was the greatest story teller I have ever known. Now as an adult, I missed her telling us stories and most importantly, I can say that her stories were preparing my brother and I for life. We learnt about our culture, our past, and our family histories thru her stories.
Storytelling is such an important art. Growing up, we learn so much from them!
The power of story telling is amazing. When I was a kid I love it when my father used to do this to make me feel sleepy.
Great job on this blog..! I agree to all the things that you mentioned here. Story telling is so great..!
I’ve read that story-telling has healing and therapeutic properties. Who doesn’t love stories? I’ve heard or read most of the stories here or their versions.
I love a good story! No matter the setting or the purpose, a story told well will get the message across. Great post! Thank you for sharing.
Storytelling is a powerful tool that brings the experience alive. Storytelling is immersive feel for the person who tells stories and the ones who listen.
Great Stories, I remember some of these from my childhood
Always so great to read your content, yes our stories have great influence and filled with wisdom.
Storytelling is a beautiful way to connect with other human beings and understand them better.
Always love your post! Give lots of motivation! <3
Nice blog. I love all the stories you’ve shared here. This blog post is so engaging.. 😊
Story tellers has so many unique talents. I am so impressed by it. I’m a fan of your writtings.
Stories are very important in almost every culture today. They tell the stories of our pasta.
I enjoy listening to stories from older folks, it carries so much depth and character.
I love passing down stories
The stories I used to hear my grandparents and mom tell me as a child is what I got me into loving folklore and fairy tales. I am obsessed with reading different cultures’ folklore tales. I love storytelling. It’s not only great for leisure entertainment, but it also helps me make choices for things I might buy in the future.. like when a blogger tells a story about a product I was thinking about buying. The power of storytelling is pretty awesome.
I take story telling classes for toddler and Kindergarten and agree with your thoughts here. There is a lot you can teach and create with storytelling.
Storytelling is powerful! Humans are unique in the way we can pass information through the ages!
You have written a great blog post. Stories interest and inform us. They are so much a part of our everyday life. Your collection of short stories here is really good.
I love storytelling, especially when I am always the listener which I do given the job that I have now, I used to listen a lot of times to my patients’ stories and it’s really refreshing to know and discover other people’s stories.
Stories are so important in our lives because they teach us that good will always win. I remember how in school, in the literature class, we used to discuss a lot of these stories and fables, and they always made us think about actions and consequences.
Story telling comes to us from the centuries back. It is a way, a common thread that can connect different generations and cultures.
Love these! I enjoyed The city mouse and country mouse
“Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact.” I can totally agree with this point.
Awesome thoughts and images related to story-telling. Very inspiring. Every image sparks a story.
I did not realize the power of storytelling until next year. I went to a humorous speech competition and I decided to speak about the stories that my grandmother used to tell us and their meanings to our lives and I came up second place.
My favorite is A city mouse and the country mouse! Great read!
Wow, so many of these remind me of my childhod. I was blessed to have a mother who also believed in the power of storytelling. She shared many of these fables and stories with me. Consequently, I became a journalist (aka storyteller) myself. What an inspiring post!
ben okri’s famished road was a book i still can’t forget. Thanks for reminding me of the power of storytelling.
Thank you for sharing this. As I have said earlier, these are the stories which help you build a strong character.
The boy who cried wolf! Great story! I’ll have to look up the others as never heard of them. Thanks for sharing!
I really love this. As someone who is an aspiring author stories really move me. I love all kinds of stories!
Awesome stories. I never heard of these but I have heard of Aesop’s Fables. They are in the vein of these stories as they have a moral included.
The city mouse and the country mouse was always one of my favorite stories. Thanks for sharing.
This is such a cool post! I love storytelling and hearing stories. All the stories in this list are really captivating and I hadn’t heard of a lot of them. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Stories are how we learn about the past and pave way for the future.In my culture a lot of teaching to the young are done through stories with underlying lessons. I have always been fascinated by stories.
Every time my children complain about not being able to do anything I remind them of the Aesop’s fable about the thirsty crow and they get it!
Storytelling can absolutely be so powerful! Love this post!
We’re so complex; we’re mysteries to ourselves; we’re difficult to each other. And then storytelling reminds us we’re all the same. Brad Pitt, so agree with him. Without storytelling, the lessons from all those valuable moments will be lost.
I agree, storytelling is an art and a nice positive story can manifest on listeners mind foreverm this is a wonderful story.
This is amazing! The power of story telling is awesome.
A fantastic collection of tales that are both inspirational and timeless 👊 The story about the farmer & his sons I think has got to be y favorite 🚜
There’s nothing more exciting than a good story. The more descriptive, the best.
Each time my parents (then) gives us bedtime stories, ohh boi I am always into it. Stories gives so many lessons in my life, and these became a guide to my adulthood.
The art of story telling is as ancient as human civilization. These stories teach us so many important lessons. I loved the stories you shared.
Stories bring the joy in life and conversations. By the way, I loved the quote by Steven Spielberg.
I love your post , power of telling stories is powerfull.
This is so me! I love stories and grew up reading books and making up my own stories – it’s amazing how they can affect your life!
The power of storytelling is pretty amazing. You’ve shared lots of good ones here. The earliest story that I actually remember being told to me was when I was maybe in kindergarten, The Monster At The End Of This Book, lol.
I’m not gonna lie, I always grab a cup of tea when I read your new posts. Always so interetsing and takes my mind away for a bit!
I loved listening to my dad and his stories of when the Japanese invaded the Philippines when he was a kid. It was so fascinating to me!
Your posts are always so well detailed and informative. I believe storytelling is an art that takes skill, time and willingness to perfect
I love to read those stories. Thank you for sharing this!
This is so interesting I guess we tell stories to people everyday. I love the city mouse one.
I agree, storytelling is very important, it keeps history alive. I have told my son a few of these but the one that stands out is the boy who cried wolf. I have explained this to him especially at times when he says he is hurt. Great read, thank you for sharing.
Story telling is a really powerful tool!!! It can be so influential. I loved the story about The City mouse and the Country mouse.
I love the moral of the story of the Donkey begging to be moved to a different owner only to find out that the grass is not always greener on the other side! Messages like these – reminding us to be grateful, as an example – are what I love about fables and old folk stories. They stick with us for a long time, at least they have for me. One of my favorite stories, that I remember from my childhood was The Little Prince. Blessings!
Yes, the grass is not greener and it is a lifelong lesson
Stories are great I love learning new things from different stories.
Storytelling is so important! It is true that we can be transported to another realm through the lens of storytelling. Movies are another great way to participate in stories.
I can’t tell you how much stories mean to me. I feel like I learned the power of stories when I was younger and my mom used to read to me and I was just transported to another world. Thanks for sharing this story, loved “The Dog in the Manger”
I was really interested in all of these stories because even in a few sentences there is always deeper meaning that you can get out of them.
Totally agree to the power of storytelling! We all cherish our childhood memories with some kind of stories. And no matter how old we’re, stories are everywhere around us!
I love the stories you have posted here and your points too. Storytelling has earned its place as the most important tradition humans possess. The most important reason for this being that every story contains a lesson to instruct the audience. Stories teach us to love, to forgive others, to be just and to strive for better than we have.
I learn so much reading your articles. I love history (not the way it is introduced in school) but as a personal page in everyone’s book. This article creates an impression of being a witness in many little histories.
I agree, storytelling is so interesting and such a vital part of growing up. Can you imagine a childhood (or adulthood for that matter) with no storytelling? It’s impossible :O
There’s so much beauty in the magic of storytelling. I try to do much of it in my posts.
I also grew up on aesop’s tales! So I knew a few of these already, but they are always so interesting and unique!
Wow, so many lovely stories there. I liked them all especially the woodcutter one. It pays to be honest!
Storytelling is so amazing. I love the way it allows us to connect to others.
All our lives are made out of stories. Everything our parents teach us, our school teacher, our friends…. they are all stories from which we always learn something.
Family stories are my absolute favorite! I think it is so very important to tell them, listen to them, and keep those cherished stories and memories alive for generations to come!
I love storytelling. Back in my previous life as a teacher, I used to use stories in my teaching all the time – such a great way to teach lessons!
The power to tell a beautiful story with impact is an amazing power. Stories are really what we are all about because it’s how we frame our life and the world around us. It’s really how we react to everything. The donkey story was quite interesting. I guess I haven’t read enough ancient Greek stories.
this is sooo nice…I believe that if you’re a good story teller you’ll be able to get along with anybody easily
Yes, completely agreed.
Story telling is an art. A true art.
i’m hooked and can’t stop reading! Thank you for the stories you shared.
There are so many imaginative stories out there! These stories are great, and the convention sounds pretty cool.
As a kid, I loved listening to my great grandma’s stories. She would tell us stories of all sorts – from fairy tales to her personal experiences during the World War. My sibs and I learned a lot from her stories.
I remember this story. I loved it when I read it first time. Memory is so vivid. At that age everything was so alive and visually moving.
Storytelling is such an important concept and should be encouraged. it;s a great way to tell lessons and teach others about our past.
Oh, this is awesome: Stories can conquer fear, you know. They can make the heart bigger.!
This is so cool! Thank you for sharing the pithy stories. I sat down with a cup of coffee and read through them. The City Mouse and the Country Mouse — awesome!
Storytelling is a great way to get people engaged in what you’re saying. I enjoy a good story.
I love a good story, it is a powerful tool and a great at to bring people together too x
I loved reading this post as usual. You are a great storyteller. Always a pleasure reading these stories.
I love your posts! They are so detailed and I learn so much! You have great stories to tell too!
My grandson has just learned to enjoy storytelling time. I see that he pays attention now and he asks questions about what happened to a certain character. Storytelling is a good habit to start with the young generation.
I loved your post, than you for the read!
I tell stories for a living. Your posts are my all the time favorites. You manage so skillfully keep my attention glued to every word.
The power of storytelling has been grossly underrated. We as bloggers are trying to tell stories that can even change the word and bring new perspective to a lot of people.
Stories definitely bring the past to live, I only hope my children will one day appreciate the storytelling!
Storytelling really helps in making your message be heard in a better light. Also, I love reading others’ stories and learn from it. It’s always nice to get a lesson after each stories.
You know, there are so many stories here that I actually have not heard before. So motivating!
Story telling can be a great way to tell kids about something exciting about your past. I remember hearing stories from family members as well as tall tales in school.
My kids and I love to tell stories to entertain each other. It’s always amusing to hear what they will come up with!
Thank you so much for sharing this with us, I always learn so much from your posts. You’re awesome!
Love the concept of storytelling and the benefits it can have. I’ve always appreciated the ability of storytelling to keep the past alive. Great post!
I like how powerful storytelling can be. thank you for sharing these stories
I love the story about the donkey being grateful for his pervious situation! Things could always be worse!
I remember those stories. This stories are very important mediums on how we teach our children values that they need in life.
I am Native American and if it weren’t for story telling much of our culture and history wouldn’t be around.
Well-said!Storytelling is an easy way to connect with readers mind directly and it also gives an long-term impact on reader’s mind.
My very first blog was called, “The Drama Queen Can Tell Stories”. I’ve always been a storyteller. I love putting my stories into writing… I feel that by doing so, I am able to record it and keep it in an accessible archive.
And after years, when I come back to my stories, they feel different. As though I didn’t write it.
On very few occasions will you go wrong with story-telling. The more compelling, the bigger the listening crowd, eeh!
this is inspiring. i love the idea “Stories are our greatest repository of history, hope, and heritage.” i remember when i was still a child, the stories of how some of our cities have evolved from romance of two people – tales. it speaks so much history.
This is so interesting. I loved it
Storytelling is so important within any industry. But also from history of places and the past memories from people. Such a great post for motivation monday!
As a coach, I discovered that kids absorb and retain my instructions so much better when I relay it to them in the form of a personal success/failure story. Telling them to do something without a message or a moral just doesn’t stick as well. Thanks!
I’ve always love storytelling. There is something in the way a person conveys the story that got you hooked. Loved reading some of those stories, they were quite interesting.
Storytelling is so powerful, handed down through generations it can really add to the culture of ones life.
I love this! I always loved having my Granny tell me stories. She was the best and I remember her stories well.
The crow and water jar never gets old, I have been listening to it since childhood and it’s crazy how deep of a meaning it has.
This is quite the list of stories! Stories are all around us and in our everyday life. I love the story about the small things in life. Just the simplest action can change the story.
So many beautiful stories. This is so inspiring. Storytelling is important for kids and grownups alike. A few days ago I read to my kids Donkey and his masters.
There really is so much warmth and love in story telling—love the power of story telling! Love the dog in the manger!
Storytelling is important and compelling. We all live for them!
I love your story suggestions. This is a great post. We often forget how powerful stories can be.
These stories took me to my childhood for a second. They are full of wisdom and knowledge. Thanks for sharing 🙂
i really liked the one about the farmer and the sons. It shows peoples greed but also that hard work pays off.
Storytelling makes my kids attentive to our lessons. That’s why we use living books. Thank you for sharing.
I am a huge fan of storytelling and enjoy making up great adventures for my grandchildren to go on. They have incredible imaginations. It’s so great to see what they come up with.
When I was a kid, my mom used to read me books and it helped me become who I am now. It’s what I plan once I get a kid of my own. To tell them as many stories as I could. 🙂
I remember some of these stories. Brings me back to my childhood. Thanks for sharing!
Power of story telling is one of the best gift one can ever have. Stories can change human lives and history. By the great read as always.
I remember reading some of the stories when I was younger. Even though we’ve read them once, they are so enjoyable every time we read them. Stories read, told, heard all are therapeutic and opens ups one’s imagination.
So amazing how powerful a story can be! Loved the manager, lol.
I love telling our stories to my son and daughter and now I have a granddaughter I can pass those down to!
Stories play a big role in my household too. I started reading to my kid since he was six months old. We know the importance of story telling l
THE Power of storytelling is great. Very interesting post. They are all engaging and I like the lessons of it. Thank you for sharing this.
Truly, story-telling has so much impact. This is so interesting. Thank you for putting up an amazing post as this.
This post is awesome, I love a good story. I had no idea there is even a world storytelling day.
Story telling is so much fun! I love creating stories with my kids, and enjoy seeing them come up with their own when they draw and write their own little books for me.
I use to think I was a good story teller but after checking these out I realize I’ve got a long way to go!!
There are so many ways to share a story! We were just in Africa and told stories through traditional dances from the locals. It was powerful and enlightening!
It worries me that in today’s age of digital technology and “Snapchat” stories that the art of storytelling may die off. Or, perhaps, it is just evolving….
Story telling is equally fun for the person listening and also the narrator, as it helps the narrator to re live each and every moment you gone through…!
It is so important to pass stories on down from our family and to others.
I come back to your articles and this one in particular. It gives me inspiration.
We love story telling, engaging and educational. Cant wait to have children of our own to pass down the stories!
I remember many good and bad stories from my grandparents and it always worth telling. And we learned so much in life from it.
You shared some great stories! Very inspirational! Thank you.
I’ve always thought it was fascinating how stories are such a big part of every culture. I recently came across a book of idioms and it was interesting to read how many idioms have come from very long stories from the 15th and 16th century. It truly is a powerful thing in every language!
This one of the reasons why I love traveling. seeing places and taking so much pictures because the picture itself tells beautiful stories and memories
I love storytelling and listening. It doesn’t happen as much today as it used to. I remember growing up with my parents and their friends camping or going to forest preserves and just sitting around talking and telling stories. I remember the same thing about my grandparents.
I’ve started a google doc document about a year ago. Every time we go see my parents and they start to tell us stories from their past, I try to summarize what they’ve told me. I’m afraid I will loose these stories if I don’t!
Story telling keeps the listening and/or audiences engage and focus on the topic. Whenever I have that memorable story behind my travel experience, I share it and makes writing good to read.
I think this is the reason I became a blogger… to tell stories and share experiences. Most of all connect to other humans.