Your Story Is Not Just Yours

There’s a greater community waiting to learn from what you’ve been through

Photo by John Cameron on Unsplash

What a joy it was recently to see an old friend whom I had not seen in decades. We were catching up, hitting the high spots of shared memories from high school, after-school antics, bands we had been part of, and what adult life had thrown at us.

It was during this latter part that he mentioned how much he appreciated some of the things I write about and share online. I said, “I wonder sometimes if people tire of hearing me carry on about all the challenges and obstacles I’ve faced the past few years.”

“No, no,” he said. “People need to hear how you’ve been able to face what you’ve been through and still remain positive.” He went on to explain that he experienced a very dark and difficult time during the past couple of years, and that my writing was an encouragement. Turns out, a mutual friend suggested he read some of my posts, saying, “Look at what all Stephen has been through, and yet he remains positive and tries to encourage people through his own challenges.”

My old friend said this is part of what helped him decide to seek the help he needed to get through the valley and start climbing up a different mountain with a much better view

“You have no idea how much I needed to hear that,” I said. Besides the struggles that have come my way, I often struggle with the struggles, if that makes sense. Writing has always been a way for me to process life, good and bad. And so through the difficulties I have faced since 2014’s diagnosis with myasthenia gravis, and the particularly tough year that 2023 has turned out to be, I’ve had a tendency to share through the written word my experiences and what they’ve taught me along the way.

But there’s always an undercurrent, a nagging question: “Who really cares?” We all want to be relevant, to add value to our small corner of the world, but are we accomplishing that when we tell our own personal stories?

Yes we are. My friend from high school is just one of many examples of people who have said my stories have helped them. We can share facts and principles all day long, but ultimately people respond best to the power of story.

Think about it. How do you pass down information about your family to your kids and grandkids? You tell them stories of your childhood, your parents, your grandparents, and beyond. When does guidance from scripture become most relevant to us? Often it’s when we recount stories such as the shepherd vs. the giant, the centurion who asked Jesus to heal his servant, or the fisherman who left his trade to become a disciple, walked on water, and later denied knowing his master. When we want to relay principles or meaning or lessons, we turn to stories.

This statement is for myself as much as anyone else:

Not only do you have an opportunity to tell your story, you have a responsibility to do so.

Stories are how we learn, how we grow, how we get through hard times and become better versions of ourselves in the process. Your story — the unique story that is only yours and only you can tell — may be just what an old high school friend needs to encourage him to take one more step, to go one more day. And sometimes that’s enough.

There’s a community waiting to hear your story, whether you know all the members or not. In fact, you may never know in this lifetime who your story helps along their journey. And that’s okay. We aren’t responsible for the outcome, only the sharing.

What is your story?

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Do you know someone who wants to discover and pursue what a rare life means to them? Please pass along this newsletter. We’ll continue to encourage one another as we grow this community.

Question? Thoughts? Please share in the comments!

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