Jan. 29 - Super Storytellers

I wrote a kindness card. Last week I went to a storytelling festival where I learned that the festival director was Dr. Joel Ying, a professor at Florida Gulf Coast University. I met him when I taught my kindness class at FGCU but didn't know much about his program. I also didn’t know he hosted regular storytelling events at the university. So, tonight I went to one of them. I wrote him a kindness card because his passion for storytelling creates the space for his stories and other storytellers to share their versions of hope. 

Carol Birch, a storyteller for 53 years, told the true story of the miracle at the North Platte Canteen in Nebraska. A tiny town of 12,000 transformed its railroad depot into a canteen for American soldiers traveling through to fight in World War II. By the time the war ended they had provided friendship, hugs and food to more than six million soldiers. Carol pulls you into the story so beautifully that you feel like you are there. So, I thanked Joel for helping to bring these stories to life for people like me. It’s really such a gift.   

Science of kindness: Research reveals that stories are powerful because they connect people, foster empathy and create social change. Empathy is essential for kindness. #kindnessmatters #kindness #kindnessiscontagious #fgcustorytelling @10kindnessclub