Every Friday I shoot wide awake as the latest clip from StoryCorp, the original initiative of David Isay, airs. NPR runs a clip once a week of ordinary people interviewing loved ones in one of four sound proof booths in operation so far. Not only are the stories good and something you might never know about, but often I get all choked up because the full import of the story on both the teller and the listener is so powerful, it is palpable through the air waves.
Isay said when he started this project, he gave it two years. He thought in that space of time, stories would begin to repeat themselves. But this has not happened. He has been surprised at the infinite variety that continues to reveal itself.
Since I have been listening to these clips, the power of these stories got me thinking. I remembered a time when I asked my brother-in-law a simple question about his career and he enthusiastically filled me in. I had known him at that time for 30 years and that night he revealed a whole new dimension to me. It was a treasure.
We often think those close to us know our stories, but it isn't the case. Recently I was startled when my stepdaughter asked me why her father and I never had a child. I was stunned, because the fact that I never conceived a child was so painful to work through, it absolutely did not occur to me that she never knew how hard it was for me to accept the fact. When she asked me about this, she was amost 40 years old. How much are we missing by not telling each other our stories? By not asking the questions?
And this does not even touch upon the effect being listened to has on the story teller...
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
It's awkward to open a blog with doubts about the value of technology trends. Before eyes go rolling, let me defend myself. I once jumped into computer technology, stumbling through with no real training. Even in the worst of my learning curve, I could see how helpful computer programs could be. If something made me nervous, I was driven to try it, although I did have a bit more time in those days.
My concern with the virtual world is that it takes time, attention and resources away form our "here and now" life. I did not say "real life" because to some of us, virtual is very real. What I mean here is that hours spent blogging, watching YouTube etc. are hours not spent talking to our families, pursuing other passions, and generally being in the here and now. Most of us don't have time for our "First Life," never mind our "Second Life." And our kids seem happiest when they are zoned out with a video or a video game. It just seems like we disassociate, and the virtual world gives us a place to run to.
Interesting that while we have these virtual pulls on us, The Buddhist concept of "mindfulness" is a competeting value that is gaining in popularity these days.
I attended a Webinar the other day on TeenSecondLife and was duly impressed with the opportunities offered for teens to learn, practice their interests, try out social interaction somewhat anonymously. I am not saying we should ignore, or not explore tech trends. So here I am exploring. But I am going to do my best to give the "here and now" its due.
Lo, as I was signing up on Bloglines and choosing RSS feeds, I read on "The Shifted Librarian" an article that speaks to this topic better than I could. Jenny posted May 30, 2007 this thought.
"You can't do it all, and admitting it is okay. This online stuff, it's great. We *love* living in this time, right? It's fun, it's constant learning, it's empowering and alluring if you love learning and information. All of those tools at our fingertips to learn about and play with, all to help people. It's beyond cool.
But it's not your life, nor should it be. You have to learn to let some of it go and then be okay with that (which is the hard part). Michael Stephens talks a lot about how librarians need to let go of the "culture of perfect." For the younger bibliobloggers I will add that you have to learn to let some of the pressure go. You physically cannot keep up with it all, so beating yourself up over failing to do so is pointless."
How about that? Meanwhile, I will continue trying out the techie trends, making sure I am not missing anything to enhance my "here and now" life.
My concern with the virtual world is that it takes time, attention and resources away form our "here and now" life. I did not say "real life" because to some of us, virtual is very real. What I mean here is that hours spent blogging, watching YouTube etc. are hours not spent talking to our families, pursuing other passions, and generally being in the here and now. Most of us don't have time for our "First Life," never mind our "Second Life." And our kids seem happiest when they are zoned out with a video or a video game. It just seems like we disassociate, and the virtual world gives us a place to run to.
Interesting that while we have these virtual pulls on us, The Buddhist concept of "mindfulness" is a competeting value that is gaining in popularity these days.
I attended a Webinar the other day on TeenSecondLife and was duly impressed with the opportunities offered for teens to learn, practice their interests, try out social interaction somewhat anonymously. I am not saying we should ignore, or not explore tech trends. So here I am exploring. But I am going to do my best to give the "here and now" its due.
Lo, as I was signing up on Bloglines and choosing RSS feeds, I read on "The Shifted Librarian" an article that speaks to this topic better than I could. Jenny posted May 30, 2007 this thought.
"You can't do it all, and admitting it is okay. This online stuff, it's great. We *love* living in this time, right? It's fun, it's constant learning, it's empowering and alluring if you love learning and information. All of those tools at our fingertips to learn about and play with, all to help people. It's beyond cool.
But it's not your life, nor should it be. You have to learn to let some of it go and then be okay with that (which is the hard part). Michael Stephens talks a lot about how librarians need to let go of the "culture of perfect." For the younger bibliobloggers I will add that you have to learn to let some of the pressure go. You physically cannot keep up with it all, so beating yourself up over failing to do so is pointless."
How about that? Meanwhile, I will continue trying out the techie trends, making sure I am not missing anything to enhance my "here and now" life.
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