So many times I have been fascinated by other people's life stories. I'm totally engaged by the oral drama that makes that individual unique and can't refrain from asking questions before the rest of the story unfolds. Sure, I have an unusual personal history, too, that makes people marvel at my challenges and perseverance. But we are all walking chronicles of a colorful life legacy that is not like that of anyone else—totally different, totally driven by our experiences, decisions, reactions. And so the telling of our stories is filled with a poignant string of memories and reflections that are inherently inspirational and creative.

The inspirational part is a result of the hurdles we have mounted and the courageous road taken to respond with solutions.

So what makes your story telling creative? Talking about what we know—and no one knows more about our life story than ourselves—is actually a complex process. We reach for those mental pictures of our past, decide on what we are going to share and then package our thoughts into language that will convey information laced with imagery. Spontaneously we choose words that will convey the meaning of that experience(s)and this sharing of details and events becomes a verbal novel. We select adjectives to describe situations, our voice pitches to accent important parts and our body language adds an extra thrust to the story. We relay our autobiographies like actors playing ourselves. It is truly a creative process and can be made permanent in written form using journaling, novel/play/poetry writing or translated into an art form using a variety of materials such as paints, photography, textured surfaces for collage or in theatre, music and dance projects.

Elders Share the Arts (ESTA) was founded on the premise that we, as elders, benefit from expressing ourselves and because of today's fragmented society where families live far apart, communities can benefit from being guided to embrace these legacies.

To provide an outlet for self expression and enable the healthy aging process, ESTA, focused on New York City, established "Living History Arts, a synthesis of oral history and the creative arts that engage older adults in a process of drawing on their memories and re-creating them into literary, visual, or dramatic presentations." These may include live performances such as Pearls of Wisdom, a touring ensemble of storytellers and urban folk artists, traveling exhibitions and workshops to facilitate creative expression.

In addition to the creative juice that flows, there are many benefits for telling stories. It is a social vehicle and a learning tool. We use our thoughts to reminisce and reflect, expressively share, and also to connect. Sharing our life journey gives us the opportunity to remember and nostalgically look at our past. It also provides a passage of intimacy between you and the listener because you are sharing a personal experience, and that can provide a positive link, a connection. The power of connection is integral to our well-being and happens naturally by communicating in a personal way. Oftentimes it can create change in attitude from both the story teller and the listener.

Director Steven Spielberg said, "People have forgotten how to tell a story. Stories don't have a middle or an end any more. They usually have a beginning that never stops beginning."

Poet Maya Angelou said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you."

So go ahead; share, connect and get creative with telling your life story!

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posted at 10:11:40 AM