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D O C U M E N T I N G L I F E S T O R I E S
A B O U T L I F E S T O R I E S
As humans, we love telling stories.
We tell stories for so many reasons and on so many occasions.
Stories can be part of a joke, a complaint, or a form of advice “
giving. People tell stories to entertain, to impress, to connect, to We all learn from past
help a child fall asleep, or even just to pass time. Stories appear mistakes, as well as
in many settings: in the classroom, over the dinner table, in a job triumphs, so that we can
interview, in a public speech and the list goes on. With know what to avoid and
technology, people are becoming adept digital storytellers, but what to do. That is why
the face-to-face storytelling experience is an essential place history is so important,
where people connect. We learn about ourselves, others, and the including personal
world around us through stories.
histories.
Our project was built around the notion that sharing stories can
help people see the world from another person’s eyes, building
their empathy. While our project was in an educational setting,
anyone can harness storytelling to learn more about yourself or
to get closer to the people around you. When was the last time
you sat down and heard a loved one tell a story?
What is a life story?
A life story is an account of the series of events and experiences
that make up and represent one’s life. The stories continue to “
grow and develop throughout our lives, with twists and plots When time runs out,
happening just like in a TV drama series. Not many people untold stories and
comprehend the significance of documenting stories and valuable lessons are lost
sharing them with others while they are still able to breathe and forever.
live life as they please.
A typical “life-story narrative” tells a chronological tale of a
person’s life. It often starts at the beginning and winds through
important moments leading up to the present. But a story can
focus on just a single important event, like many of the stories
you read in the previous section. Often, it is these detailed
narratives that carry lessons, bring a past experience to life,
transport us to another world, and show us a side of another
person that we might not know.
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