The Hyperlinked Bethany

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Dr Stephens said I was going to love this module. I love anything to do with stories and storytelling. Storytelling is perhaps the one constant through my life that represents my passions, aspirations, and life’s calling. The power of stories needs no further convincing beyond the title alone, because what’s there to not love about this profound ability that’s present in all of us?

Storytelling is wonderful because everyone has the inherent ability for it. Storytelling doesn’t require qualifications or certifications, only participation from someone who has a story and an audience with a listening ear. A story does not need to be told with a moral or teaching point in mind like in school—figuring out what to make of a story as a listener is part of the fun of listening to it. So long as there is an audience, a story is valid and can be released out into the world. 

I fell off the podcast-listening wagon, but the few podcast titles I liked all had the theme of telling stories: Radiolab, Welcome to Night Vale, and the Moth. The Moth, in particular, I was recommended by a professor specifically because it was about storytelling. Radiolab focuses on uncovering new concepts and moments in history, and Night Vale is a fictional story that thrives on the medium of audio—but the Moth is recorded at live storytelling sessions where speakers tell their stories related to a particular theme. The variety is endless on what kinds of stories you’ll get. They are snapshots of moments in someone’s life that left a profound memory no matter how it turned out. Whether the story ended on a good, or not good, or even ambiguous note, the speaker was able to recount it, and the joy of finding something to take away from the story is entirely up to you! Art has joy in being shared as much as it is created!

I would love for more storytelling corners to be present in the library. In my local library, the adult literacy program features an open call for learners to submit their stories to be shared in a monthly digital newsletter or at the library’s annual celebration of the literacy program. It’s a great way for learners to share their accomplishments and embrace the confidence of achieving their goals. I think a community that celebrates storytelling also celebrates its fellow community members. They are celebrated simply for being who they are, without having to compete or try so hard to meet qualifications for acceptance. Stories are how we learn about the people around us, and by extension, this world we live in.