Sue’s News

The Same Old Story

July 17th, 2008

Yesterday, my lovely sister remarked that she’s heard the same story six times, and each time she hears it, the story, and even the inflections the teller uses, are EXACTLY the same. To say the man is talented is an understatement. My hats off to him…

As for me, there are many stories I tell over and over again — particularly the story of why I became a playwright. (The question is oftentimes worded differently, but it’s essentially the same question… Ask me in person and I’ll tell you.) I launched into the story once more yesterday, the words tumbling out of my mouth…

My sister has heard me tell the story a few times, and she took the opportunity to interject with a crucial detail I left out… In that moment of -dare I say, interruption- I realized I was telling it all wrong. Needless to say, I finished the story, but I started thinking about why I was so focused on telling the sad/negative part and neglecting to tell that positive part.

To make matters worse, I start the story with the sad tidbit… So I set that sad tone from the outset.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s done this, or had a realization like I had, but it stopped me in my tracks — the supposed “master storyteller” was ruining her own story… So, I’m going to leave out that tidbit from now on… It doesn’t do anything for the story — even if it did happen, even if it was true, it isn’t true for who I am right now.

I know the power of words, and the power of putting messages out into the universe. I will use that power more carefully from now on.

And so, my wonderful sister, thank you. Thank you for the fortuitous interruption, thank you for adding your two cents, and thank you for smiling through a story you’ve heard many times before (and will almost certainly hear many times in the future).

–Sue

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