Everyone Has a Story
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I love this saying...
It reminds me to look deeper. It reminds me to see beyond the masks that we all wear and remember that we are all trying our best.
I wanted to get some history on this phrase, so I began doing some research online. I love research because you never know what you're going to find. When I began looking, I found an old CBS news segment by Steve Hartman called, "Everybody Has a Story". Hartman would take a dart and throw it over his shoulder at a map. That would be where he would find his story. When he arrived in the location, he'd close his eyes and find someone in the telephone book and interview them. It started as a joke, but 123 stories later, it's a legacy.
Here's one of my favorites...
Why did it work? Because we all have stories. Why is it so powerful? Because we all want to be heard. We want to matter. Steve Hartman listened and found amazing stories. YOU have a story. What is your story? I'm off to write more of mine...
Michelle, That is why my tag line says there are 11,507 stories in Haddonfield; this is one of them. I copied that from a show that came on television when I was a child called the Naked City. That was this show's tag line about NYC, I think. But more importantly what that tag line means to me - is at times of very deep trouble I put on my shoes and walk and remind myself that behind every door is a story. Sometimes the story is happy and sometimes filled with pain and I am not alone in the world.
ReplyDeleteOh wow- I love that you researched and uncovered such an interesting past to this phrase. Do you know StoryCorps? I love it- because as you say, everyone has a story, and is waiting to tell it. They are often simple but oh so powerful. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteI love Steve Hartman's stories, and this one is a great start to my day, Michelle. What an inspiring post today, finding and sharing our stories. Thank you for the thoughtfulness.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post for this dreary winter day. Thanks for sharing, Michelle!
ReplyDeleteMichelle, I love this video and these words from your post: "...we all have stories...we all want to be heard. We want to matter."
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, how I loved that video clip! I laughed out loud and then got all teary - signs of a perfect story. My teacher wheels are turning - I wonder how I could turn this into an idea for my students. Who could they interview to get a story? Hmmmm....
ReplyDeleteI loved looking through my aunt's Humans of New York book by Brandon Stanton over Christmas. So poignant. Yes, it's true. Everyone has a story!
This ties in so well with my post on learning to listen better; what stories we miss out on when we do all the talking! Thanks for the thoughtful post.
ReplyDeleteThis post touches my heart. It's an important reminder that everyone has a story. It's easy to get swept up in what we think a person's story might be, when in fact, we really have no idea unless it is shared with us. I am trying so very hard to listen carefully to others so that I may discover their stories. Those stories are important and deserving to be honored. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool idea! I wish that was my job - finding people's stories! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful stories unfold if we just listen...
ReplyDeleteThe funny thing about everybody having a story is that sometimes the person doesn't even know they have a story until they start telling it. An interesting image of people passing each other by, all containing a story inside, but not knowing. And the REALLY interesting thing is how stories can connect to individuals who don't know each other, but start talking in passing. Could be that we all have links if we talked long enough to discover them! I loved this post.
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