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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
Motivation Mondays: The Golden Rule
“Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.” Confucius
Motivation Mondays: The Golden Rule
Treat others as you would like others to treat you (positive or directive form)
Do not treat others in ways that you would not like to be treated (negative or prohibitive form)
What you wish upon others, you wish upon yourself (empathic or responsive form) Wikipedia
The Golden Rule: As far back as I can remember, the maxim or ethic of reciprocity, which is what we also call the Golden Rule, has been a topic of discussion in my household and in other social circles. What is so complicated about such a simple and straightforward bit of wisdom advice? Why do so many ignore it? If we look at the many paths to spiritual growth, there is some version of this principle included in the guiding rules or dictates of every single one of them. Whether you believe in any of them is not entirely the focus here because the idea of wanting to be treated with dignity and respect is a universal human desire. This universal principle also applies to our planet and all life forms in it. It is easy to forget that when we live by the tenets of the Golden Rule, we must apply that belief to not just our human interactions but, to all interactions including how we treat our earth, our planet, and all that sustains the world we inhabit.
Insights on Resistance: We all want to be treated well even as some of us dish out pain and suffering to others. We all want to be heard and understood yet, some give short shrift to the idea because they see it as idealistic and untenable. Another argument is that rules are arbitrary and force us to comply with situations that might not be within our capacity to honor and adopt. Some dismiss it as religious piety and a challenge for most humans to follow. Perhaps… but can we start with the basics? Why not just consider our humanity in all our interactions.
READ:- The Golden Rule
A Story: “The Old Man and His Grandson” A Brothers Grimm fairy tale
There was once a very old man, whose eyes had become dim, his ears dull of hearing, his knees trembled, and when he sat at table he could hardly hold the spoon, and spilled the broth upon the table-cloth or let it run out of his mouth. His son and his son’s wife were disgusted at this, so the old grandfather, at last, had to sit in the corner behind the stove, and they gave him his food in an earthenware bowl, and not even enough of it. And he used to look towards the table with his eyes full of tears. Once, too, his trembling hands could not hold the bowl, and it fell to the ground and broke. The young wife scolded him, but he said nothing and only sighed. Then they brought him a wooden bowl for a few half-pence, out of which he had to eat. They were once sitting thus when the little grandson of four years old began to gather together some bits of wood upon the ground. “What are you doing there?” asked the father. “I am making a little trough,” answered the child, “for father and mother to eat out of when I am big.”The man and his wife looked at each other for a while and presently began to cry. Then they took the old grandfather to the table, and henceforth always let him eat with them, and likewise said nothing if he did spill a little of anything. via Wikiversity
“Freedom is not won on the battlefields. The chance for freedom is won there. The final battle is won or lost in our hearts and minds.” Helen Gahagan Douglas
Motivation Mondays: 100 July 4th Quotes for Independence Day
What does July 4th mean to you? Happy 243rd Independence Day!: As we gear up to celebrate this very important day in American history, I can’t help but stop to reflect on why this truly matters. 243 years ago, on July 4, 1776, the forefathers commemorated the adoption of the Declaration of Independence; it was an auspicious day filled with optimism for the future of this newly birthed, great nation. It signified the birth of the United States of America and the liberation of her original thirteen colonies from British rule. The actual legal separation occurred on the 2nd but, the 4th is the date the documents were ratified and, like life, the circuitous journey that many took to this new land in search of a new life reached a milestone. Let us not forget that this is a nation built on the backs of millions of immigrants who had a dream of a better life; of gaining personal freedom.
Becoming independent, whether as a nation or an individual, is often fraught with challenges, yet, many stay the course. Why? Because freedom, liberty, and a chance at life to enjoy all of our inalienable rights is worth fighting for. The road to freedom has never been an easy one for any group and so, as we celebrate today with our drinks, food and fireworks, lets remember all who came before us. Let’s lift our glasses and toast those brave souls who stood their ground so the rest of us could enjoy this special day without fear or acrimony. Happy Independence Day. Stay Safe. Drink less. Stay Informed.
READ:- Motivation Mondays: Optimism. Life. Independence Day
Freedom lies in being bold. Robert Frost
America, to me, is freedom. Willie Nelson
With freedom comes responsibility. Eleanor Roosevelt
Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better. Albert Camus
We do as much, we eat as much, we want as much. Sojourner Truth
The flag is the embodiment, not of sentiment, but of history. Woodrow Wilson
In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth. President George Washington
Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness. Louis D. Brandeis
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. Elmer Davis
For you have been called to live in freedom. Use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13
There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured with what is right in America. William J. Clinton
I’d like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free and wanted other people to be also free. Rosa Parks
We will stand by the right, we will stand by the true, we will live, we will die for the red, white, and blue. Unknown
I prayed for freedom for twenty years, but received no answer until I prayed with my legs. Frederick Douglass
No other date on the calendar more potently symbolizes all that our nation stands for than the Fourth of July. Mac Thornberry
Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong. James Bryce
The American, by nature, is optimistic. He is experimental, an inventor, and a builder who builds best when called upon to build greatly. John F. Kennedy
For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela
We are free, truly free, when we don’t need to rent our arms to anybody in order to be able to lift a piece of bread to our mouths. Ricardo Flores Magon
Every human has four endowments – self awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom… The power to choose, to respond, to change. Stephen Covey
America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand. Harry S. Truman
I believe our flag is more than just cloth and ink. It is a universally recognized symbol that stands for liberty, and freedom. It is the history of our nation, and it’s marked by the blood of those who died defending it. John Thune
The United States is the only country with a known birthday…. There is no ‘Republican,’ no ‘Democrat,’ on the Fourth of July — all are Americans. James G. Blaine
We, the People, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what’s in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense. Barack Obama
“Whoever walked behind anyone to freedom? If we can’t go hand in hand, I don’t want to go.” Hazel Scott
Motivation Mondays: 100 July 4th Quotes for Independence Day
Respite Reminder: I’m Taking My Own Advice. Will Check in Occasionally. Back in August!
Why does Independence Day give us an opportunity to dream BIGGER and aim for huge goals? Before I moved to the USA, my impression of it was of a nation where everything seemed larger than life. Americans have big personalities, big cars, big houses and a huge belief in the greatness of this nation. While some might disagree with this observation, it is what many on the outside see and that becomes an attraction to folks who imagine pushing the boundaries of their lives. In so many nations around the world, there are strict social hierarchies that make it almost impossible to move between socioeconomic classes. If you are born into a certain group or class, your path is X. While there are some who are able to push beyond those boundaries, not enough can do so and that makes the USA a fascinating country to move to. Of course, moving here offers no guarantees but, there are many who have been able to transcend the limitations they experienced in their native lands. The point is that we can adopt the same big dreams in our lives, and in our native lands and support leaders who want the best for all their people. If our leaders’ dreams are not altruistic and only self-serving, nothing will change. But we can do our bit by dreaming bigger too and by embracing the process it takes to reach our goals.
READ:- Motivation Mondays: Dream BIGGER – Independence Day
America is another name for opportunity. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Liberty is the breath of life to nations. George Bernard Shaw
I think patriotism is like charity—it begins at home. Henry James
From every mountainside, let freedom ring. Martin Luther King Jr.
With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy? Oscar Wilde
One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation forevermore! Oliver Wendell Holmes
Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit. Fanny Lewald
The American flag is the symbol of our freedom, national pride, and history. Mike Fitzpatrick
We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. William Faulkner
A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. Edward Abbey
I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! Patrick Henry
This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. Elmer Davis
Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility. Oprah Winfrey
Freedom is fragile and must be protected. To sacrifice it, even as a temporary measure, is to betray it. Germaine Greer
Have you ever read the Declaration of Independence…? If you have, you will know that it is not a Fourth of July oration. The Declaration of Independence was a document preliminary to war. Woodrow Wilson
I am an American; free born and free bred, where I acknowledge no man as my superior, except for his own worth, or as my inferior, except for his own demerit. Theodore Roosevelt
America is much more than a geographical fact. It is a political and moral fact — the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, a responsible government, and human equality. Adlai Stevenson
The history of free men is never really written by chance but by choice; their choice! Dwight D. Eisenhower
Intellectually I know that America is no better than any other country; emotionally I know she is better than every other country. Sinclair Lewis
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F. Kennedy
That is the truly beautiful and encouraging aspect of freedom; no one struggles for it just for himself. Ronald Reagan
Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. Thomas Paine
This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless, growing and full of hope. So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith. Lyndon B. Johnson
Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all. George Washington
Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are people who want crops without plowing the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning; they want the ocean without the roar of its many waters. The struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, or it may be both. But it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Frederick Douglass
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Harriet Tubman
Motivation Mondays: 100 July 4th Quotes for Independence Day
What does celebrating Independence Day really mean? While it might mean slightly different things to different people, there are a few fundamental meanings attached to why we honor the day; Independence Day means we fought to provide a safe haven for our kids and loved ones, we want to maintain a democratic process, and we don’t live in a war zone or suffer through restrictions like food rations. The picnics, BBQ outings, and other gatherings we enjoy on this day remind us of the importance of our personal freedom; our right to congregate and enjoy a meal with others without being under siege. Many countries remain at war with each other in small and large ways… so this day truly matters. We must remember that even with the daily challenges we face here, inequalities, bigotry, job loss and such, we are fortunate in America, and we must remember to treat this day with reverence and gratitude for the Freedom and Peace we enjoy.
READ:- Motivation Mondays: Happy 4th Of July – Independence Day
Independence now and forever. Daniel Webster
Life without liberty is like a body without spirit. Kahlil Gibran
Where liberty dwells, there is my country. Benjamin Franklin
Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country. Marquis de Lafayette
If your dreams don’t scare you, they are not big enough Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else. Clarence Darrow
America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination. Harry S. Truman
I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it. Voltaire
Hail! Independence, hail! Heaven’s next best gift, To that of life and an immortal soul! James Thomson
We need an America with the wisdom of experience. But we must not let America grow old in spirit. Hubert H. Humphrey
Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one. Benjamin Franklin
True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made. Franklin D. Roosevelt
Liberty is the great parent of science and of virtue, and a nation will be great in both always in proportion as it is free. Thomas Jefferson
So, Two cheers for Democracy: one because it admits variety and two because it permits criticism E. M. Forster
I believe in America because we have great dreams, and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true. Wendell Willkie
Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe. Frederick Douglass
…O let freemen be our sons; And let future Washingtons Rise, to lead their valiant ones, Till there’s war no more. John Pierpont
In every human breast, God has implanted a principle, which we call love of freedom; it is impatient of oppression and pants for deliverance. Phillis Wheatley
America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests and teach us what it means to be citizens. President George W. Bush
Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of resistance. Woodrow Wilson
I always have the most fun on the Fourth of July. You don’t have to exchange any gifts. You just go to the beach and watch fireworks. It’s always fun. James Lafferty
Without leaps of imagination or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning. Gloria Steinem
It will be celebrated with pomp and parade, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.” John Adams
The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence. Denis Waitley
The Declaration of Independence! The interest which in that paper has survived the occasion upon which it was issued; the interest which is of every age and every clime; the interest which quickens with the lapse of years, spreads as it grows old, and brightens as it recedes, is in the principles which it proclaims. John Quincy Adams
You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. Erma Bombeck
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for JUN – JUL 2019 are:
06/01 – 01 Canada Day, 04 Independence Day,
06/09 – 09 Tony Awards, 13 St Anthony
06/16 – 16 Father’s Day, 19 Juneteenth, 20 World Refugee Day, 21 International Yoga Day,
06/23 – 24 St John the Baptist, 26 Against Illicit Trafficking,
06/30 – 30 BET Awards
07/01 – 01 SUMMER, 06 D-Day,
07/07 – 07 World Chocolate Day
07/14 – 18 Nelson Mandela Day,
07/21 – 24 International Self-care Day
07/28 – 28 Parents Day, 30 Against Trafficking Day
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