posted Mar 28, 2010 6:12 AM by Kelly-Ann Power
Why is it that whenever we meet someone for the first
time, one of the first questions we ask to fill that fresh moment is
"So, what do you do?". I recall reading an article a while back, (I
believe it was in Psychology Today) which challenged my thinking around
this. This article stressed the importance of not having your job
define who you are. The article also offered encouragement to approach
each new encounter with a goal of finding out more about that person's
"story". Afterall, isn't life all about relationships?
A
colleague of mine recently introduced me to an amazing book by Donald
Miller entitled "A
Million Miles in a Thousand Years". This author has an
incredible gift of helping the reader understand that life is
just a good story, made up of many memorable parts. He also invites the
reader to view themselves as a character who must encounter
transformation in their journey - a character arc. Sometimes, a number
of character arcs occur! As a character in your own personal life story,
you must overcome conflict in order to attain what you want. Our lives
are made up of a number of "mini-stories" which involve conflict we
must overcome and incredible learning experiences along the way. I
believe that each new challenge is just another opportunity to learn
something new. New information. Or something new about yourself.
Something new about your character.
As an educator, I believe we
encounter many of these stories who help define "who we are" as
characters in our life story. This book has inspired me to approach
each new day as being another incredible gift to "add to my story".
When I meet new people, I've made it a personal goal to focus more on
personal stories.
It has also encouraged me
to reflect on the following
questions, daily. I invite you to do the same.
- Who is the character I am creating in my story?
- What is it that I need to learn from the conflict of the day?
- What story do I want to tell the world?
- What story do I want my children to be able to tell the world?
Donald Miller ends his book with the following reflection:
If we want a meaning in
life, then live a good story. Propel yourself into noble adventure,
endure difficult conflict for a cause greater than ourselves.
Be a
moral compass for others.
Speak a
better story into the world!
How
brightly a better story shines.
How
easily the world looks to it in wonder.
How
blessed are we who hear these stories.
And
how happy it makes us to repeat them.
So tell me... what's your story? |
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