Your
Story/My Story
“The
latest incarnation of Oedipus, the continued romance of Beauty and the Beast,
stand this afternoon on the corner of Forty-Second Street and Fifth Avenue,
waiting for the traffic light to change.”
Joseph
Campbell
In his
book, Soul Therapy, Thomas Moore asks the question, “Take the storytelling
out of our lives, and what would be left?” It’s a good question. One of the
best things about gathering with a group of people like I did last week at Lake
Martin, is hearing the stories—even the ones you already know. Without our
stories, we would have almost nothing to say, and even old stories change with every
retelling.
There
are many levels to any story, whether your story or mine, America’s story or
the world’s. In the last few years, I have read perhaps a dozen novels set
at the time of World War II. Each of them is set in a different place, among
a divergent set of people. Even though they were historical stories from the
same war, all were different because of the experience of the people.
Our own
history, personal and national, is a story, a saga. Depending upon whose
telling it, the story changes. Human stories are, as I’ve said before, told
from personal history and memory, and thus are weighted with our own analyses
and interpretations. Thomas Moore quotes the Italian novelist and intellectual,
Umberto Eco, “Every story tells a story that has already been told.” Which
is why we relate so well to the classics—myths and fairytales. We read about a
little child lost in the forest, who is discovered by a lovely lady who is really
a witch in disguise, and we recognize ourselves at some period of our lives.
Who hasn’t felt alone in the dark? Who hasn’t encountered a beautiful person
who turns out to be a witch?
The reason
stories are so important is that we live them every day. Every single day that
we get out of bed, put our clothes on and step out into the world is a chapter
in a book that is our life. One night recently, I watched the movie Ophelia on
Netflix. It is the story of Hamlet as experienced by his wife, Ophelia, and is
different in many ways from Shakespeare’s tale of betrayal and theft of
birthright. Beginning with Cain and Able, Jacob and Esau, and running the whole
course of human history, right into our own lifetime, there have been such
stories. The story of David and Bathsheba comes to mind. They are everyman’s
stories because we have all coveted. At least, I have. But that’s a story for
another day.
I hope
you will keep up with your story, even if it’s a tragedy—especially if it’s a tragedy.
Keeping a daily journal is a good way, and be sure to note the date. You’ll see
progress and regression, you’ll see love and hate, and mystery—oh, yes, lots of
mystery. And, you’ll see damnation and redemption, because in the final
analysis, all our stories culminate with death and rebirth. Your tale is just
as compelling as Ophelia’s. So, go ahead--write it down.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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