New stories from the Hospital Employees Union

May 14, 2012

Just posted three new stories made in a workshop hosted by the Hospital Employees Union.  The theme was “Stories of Origin, Stories of Arrival”.  Participants had little computer experience so it was exciting to see the stories take shape in a digital form.  Looking forward to working with the union again soon, I hope!

“Stories of Arrival, Stories of Origin” Workshop – March 2012

April 11, 2012

Just finished fine tuning the stories from our recent Hospital Workers Union Workshop. In March, the Union generously hosted a workshop for some of their most active members, with the theme “Stories of Arrival, Stories of Origin”.  Many of the students were not familiar, nor particularly friendly, with computers, so we used a basic software (MovieMaker) and worked hard to help them understand and enjoy the process.  The stories that emerged were beautiful, touching, and inspiring.  I’ll be posting a few here soon, so stay tuned…

Behind, but still here

January 27, 2012

I’m behind in blogging, but check out the Storytelling Links and Resources for some fun stories that other people are making!

Your favourite thing about today

September 19, 2011

Just before putting my young son to bed, I have taken to asking him “what was your favourite thing about today?”  I don’t ask him to explain, I usually just agree that it was pretty great (whatever it is), tell him I love him and turn out the light.  The first few times, I think he was a bit confused by the question.  Once, he said, “I don’t want to tell you”.  And now he seems to be waiting for the question.  Last night, he said, “Pulling things off the table”.   I told him I loved him, turned out the light and left him to sleep.  Then I went outside and laughed.

Earlier in the evening, he was having a great time pulling things off the kitchen counter, which is just over his head.  What this means is that he reaches up and grabs things he can’t see.  Like bowls full of eggs, sharp knives, hot water.  Needless to say, I was getting pretty annoyed.  After finally taking away his chair (which he was using to get yet more dangerous things placed that much further away) and actually yelling at him to “just stop”, I turned away for a moment.  He took the opportunity to reach up and grab a very hot lid.  At this point the whole thing took a dramatic turn toward the floor, a lap, and a bag of ice.

All of this is to say that I was particularly struck, last night, at how well you can encapsulate a story in just a single line.  “Pulling things off the table”.   I really don’t think he’d forgotten what came next (he was holding that bag of ice all the way into bed).  I think it was just an event worth remembering.  A story to tell.  His favourite thing about the day.

I think I’m going to start asking myself, just before bed, what was my favourite thing about today.  I’m curious to hear what I’ll come up with.

Happy New Year!

September 6, 2011

Okay, I realize it’s not January.  But even before some of my working life was hitched to a university schedule, I have always seen the first day of school as a new year of sorts.  I’ve never quite gotten over the thrill of new binders and pencil cases, seeing old friends again, starting something familiar with a new twist – a year older with at least the promise of a year’s greater wisdom.  True to form, I spent time today organizing binders with lables and section headings.  I worked last week to sort out my very unweildly email system, and I started thinking about projects I want to tackle in this “new year”.   At least one of those projects is the idea of putting together a digital storytelling reatreat that combines technology, storytelling, and personal exploration.  I’m thinking December, with a gift-related theme – you know, the gift of time for ourselves, or some such thing…  A chance to settle ourselves, just before the holiday season comes on strong, in something other than buying, buying and more buying.   So, what do you think?

Love, hope, optimism

August 22, 2011

Canada’s NDP leader Jack Layton died this morning.  He wrote a letter to Canadians that entreats us all to live with love, hope and optimism.  An incredible statement from someone who knew he was losing the fight for his life, with so much still he wanted to do.  It makes me wonder, what three words do I want to leave with, when the time comes?  What words describe what matters to me? What words describe what I think should matter to others?  What do I want to feel I’ve brought, in some small way, to the world?  I know “curiosity” is on that list. I think if we can stay curious throughout our lives, we continue to learn and be open to new ideas. This seems like the best way to play well with others.  Love needs to be in there too.  Or maybe “compassion”, since I think that’s often harder. Love tends to have it’s own path, whether we like it or not (!), but compassion is often something we need to make room for.  And something we can feel for people who may be hard to love, though with much the same result.  And I guess on the theme of c-words, I’ll go with “courage” as the last one.  Because we need a good shot of this to go against the status quo.  To make change and make things happen.  So there, those are my three words.

Curiosity.  Compassion.  Courage.

And you?

Old School Stories

August 15, 2011

Lest you think city archives are old school, here’s a new site that’s worth checking out.  It’s not yet nearly as interesting as it can (and hopefully will) be, but it’s a great idea!

http://www.historypin.com/profile/view/City%20of%20Vancouver%20Archives/

While you’re there, share your story about a place you know and love, or maybe a place you know and hate.  Either way, it’s story time!