‘Heart pounding, as though she had a catastrophically cold broken bell echoing in her chest, whispering, “what do I do?”, she crumbled like the ashes of her once glowing spirit. She was lost in a maze where there lied no escape. She wished and dreamed that she could fly away from her demons, but...her tiresome heart wore no cape...and then...’
STOP! Before we continue with this story, let’s turn a page and paint our own tale and journey of celebrating National Storytelling Week! National Storytelling Week is occuring between 30th Jan - 6 Feb 2021. So, get your popcorn ready! Sit back and relax!
Chapter 1: The Magical Force Of Unity In Humanity
The magic and intrinsic awe and beauty of stories have affected all of us in a plethora of ways, as mankind has revolved around storytelling for centuries, from art by cavemen to the latest movie. Stories seek to unify and inspire all ages and backgrounds as a form of expression, passion and emotion, teaching us so much about life; the importance of following our dreams, believing in ourselves, heartbreak, hope, love and the list is a never-ending story in itself...
Chapter 2: Shapeshifting Storytelling
Storytelling comes in a myriad of forms, such as books, poems, art, films, music, dance, theatre, photographs and much more. All of which connect us together, whilst simultaneously freeing ourselves through fireworks of ideas. Each form embodies creativity and imagination, limitless in regards to where it could lead to. What is your favourite form of storytelling? Which example do you love to lose yourself (and find yourself) into? This week in particular, try to show off your talent and create a story via any of the above listed or through any other way that you can think of. If you feel bold enough, you can even try to enter a school or local storytelling competition!
Chapter 3: It’s All In Your Mind
Mental health is ever-increasingly vital in the 21st century and studies have proven the significance of storytelling through various paths on the brain, showcasing high levels of dopamine and serotonin, meaning that people become happier, lower stress and engage in many cognitive aspects such as, memory and learning, which is one of the reasons why we hear stories from such a young age. Especially during lockdown and the pandemic overall, more people such as myself, are reading, writing and watching movies as a form of self-care through these uncertain times of stress and anxiety, providing people with a sense of freedom. Also, more people are sharing their mental health stories, removing the stigma surrounded within it, which has enabled people to come together and support each other, knowing that they are not alone. Stories not only keep us going and keep us alive – they are what we live for on a deeper level.
Chapter 4: Dig Deeper
Personally, some of my favourite stories come from books, poems, songs and movies, which have inspired and motivated me. Some examples include: Will Smith’s, ‘Pursuit Of Happyness’, ‘Kung Fu Panda’, ‘Matilda’ (both the book and the film), Maya Angelou’s ‘And Still I Rise’, Khaled Hosseini’s novel, ‘The Kite Runner’ and anything by singer, Jhené Aiko. What is your favourite story?
Chapter 5: The Ending Is Only The Beginning...
There is no such thing as a true ending to a story, because one can impact another person’s story, creating and endless chain of stories that connect us all together - in other words, what we call...Life. So, please share your voice and express yourself; your own unique story of your life can truly change the world...even if you are still figuring out exactly what your story really is. Remember that.
Chapter 6: The Beauty Of Not Knowing
In regards to the pandemic, lockdown and life in general, who knows what this next chapter will bring? Let’s remember to stay safe...but let our imaginations run wild! Perhaps life is not necessarily about happy endings, but about the happy moments that we find throughout the adventure in the journey of life or the times where we overcome our struggles and rise; each new day bringing about a new anecdote...
What’s YOUR Story?
Epilogue:
“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.”
- John Keating (Dead Poets Society)
Written By Saambavii Suthakaran, Caterham High School
