THE MAGIC OF STORYTELLING

We belong to the culture that has thrived on stories. Everything from customs to science to code of conduct was transmitted generation after generation, through stories. Sadly though, we got invaded and turned to "education" for wisdom instead. But somewhere in everyone of us, there are still those genes that pull us towards stories.

What do we call as stories? Everything, I would say. Even the events that occurred in front of us are scrutinized by us, before we pass them on and hence are more like stories than facts. We all are storytellers in a way. We want to tell others about something that we experienced in a very interesting way and when the audience seems to be pleased or amused by our story, we gather more confidence in our ways of communicating, perceiving things and experiencing everything. Around the age of three, the world of imagination lightens up and pretend plays begin. We can see the child talking to himself, to his toys as if they are alive and coming over to share the awe of his experiences.

Where does this vanish off in the later stage? It doesn't and it cannot. We are storytelling species and cannot live without it but it does get muted with time, if it's not fed with listening. Even though everyone can tell a story, not everyone can pull the audience. But it is also the other way. Those who get the audience, turn into better storytellers. As a parent, we are the first audiences to the budding storytellers in the house. Just a little more ears to their experiences, their derivations from the experience and occasional brooding over their stories together can boost so much confidence in them. Listening would also encourage them to become better listeners and better listeners are always better learners, aren't they?

Now, how do we turn listeners to learners? Listening, in a broad perspective also includes observation. Once they have developed the love for stories, they naturally intend to find more stories around them which brings in better observation and better listening. We need to use these skills and present more mediums of stories to enable learning. Oral way of storytelling is the most ancient and preferred way but the contemporary ways are endless, though sometimes needless. Richest form, still are the books that enhance the vocabulary but propped stories, documentaries and plays are also amazing mediums, if introduced gradually.

What is the significance of storytelling, anyways? I am not trying to say we need to turn everyone into excellent storytellers but what I want to underline here are the amazing qualities it brings out. Observation, perception, imagination are given qualities but there is much more to it than meets the eye. Every story has labyrinths of smaller stories hidden within and what you read depends on the eyes that you have grown over the years of reading stories. Eventually, the way you perceive the story increases manifolds. You are able to put yourself in every character's place and understand their part and can derive from the cumulative impact of various similar characters in different stories and different situations. These qualities trickle down into our life making us more sensitive towards others. This, I think is essential for growth.

To sum up, storytellers are not always charmers or brainy or presentable but they are always and always good humans.