“The best way to advocate for your perspective is to tell a story that shows the value, beauty, or importance of the thing you want to promote or champion.”
There's so much I love here, Rick. The draw you felt to the space to a performer made me think of how you felt drawn to bring this amazing story forward—both a sort of conjuring, creating emotion and delight out of thin air. I love how this ripples through your piece, the effects of our interactions, and the stories we choose to tell about them.
This is such an incredible moment: "She exited the customer service area and walked back to a distant desk. I watched her through a partition of glass as she plopped into a chair and slumped forward to rest her heavy head in her hands."
I felt so completely there with you, and her, and was even more stunned to learn that these moments of deliberation were what led to your kids existing. This is one I'll be thinking about for a long time. Such a wonderful piece.
Hope to be able to make it tomorrow. Safe travels in the meantime.
Thanks Rob. I was surprised by discovering this juncture in time myself re my kids. I never traced it back that way, which is the delight of telling your own stories, the incredible pathways you get to observe the weave of in retrospect. It's such a fun game we get to play, trading stories in this community of tellers. Would love to see you in the session of course it works.
"Life is complicated. Sharing complicated stories and how we’ve chosen to navigate them is an act of generosity and public service, because it empowers us all to entertain our stories with greater self-awareness and to choose their meaning more consciously."
Your work reminding us and teaching us to share our stories is an act of generosity and public service. Stories are powerful vehicles for transformation and you help me write better stories every week. So, thank you, Rick. Beautiful and important work, as always.
I looooooooooved this. I'm so used to laughing at your stories that I opened this post expecting to laugh. But this story hit different.
Initially, I thought you would use the fact that the immigration officer recognised you to write a whimsical narrative. On some level, I was expecting it.
But man, this took such an unexpected turn. By the end, I felt like someone had slapped me awake.
You know, because of all this book writing I'm doing right now, I've subconsciously begun to analyse how other people write their stories. And I just want to say that I didn't expect you'd use the officer's struggle in the way you did.
I'm going to be reflecting on this story for a while now...
My diaper changing days are way behind me fortunately, but I just remember we tried cloth diapers for a while and then thought, to hell with this, switching to disposable and then feeling (*hitty) about what we were contributing to the local landfill.
What a beautiful gem of a story. I'm happy you have discovered that one shared it with us.
I can't stop wondering where in the world that happened. In my head, I imagine a German border control, but that's just me!
Also, I recommend everyone reading this to give 52V community a try. It's a small time commitment and a truly safe space with kind people practicing together to improve.
Thanks for your testimonial for 52V Martin. I also really appreciate your comment about the safe space atmosphere we have going. I think that's the superpower of personal storytelling, it keeps the sense of authenticity very high. You're a great example of how to make the most of 52V.
Rick, there are so many live-giving tentacles in here. Wow. What an essay- such an inspiration. I’m so pleased you got your work visa, and I’m so pleased your writing doesn’t require a visa - so that you can be in 100+ countries all at once by way of your sharing. #grateful.
“The best way to advocate for your perspective is to tell a story that shows the value, beauty, or importance of the thing you want to promote or champion.”
Beautiful Rick. Loved this story (:
Feels good to return the favor of something that feeds the spirit to you Tommy.
Fills the spirit, Rick
That’s the quote I just restacked!
A wonder story and a lovely ending!
Thank you so much Chao.
Gosh, I loved this story, Rick! Beautiful.
Thank you Charlie.
The way you delivered "We. Never. Met." without blinking was tremendous.
Thank you Steven. I'll never forget her delivery of those words.
“We all have a vision for what we’d like to see more of in the world, and what we think is missing.”
It’s really helpful to think in these terms. This is a grounding writing directive.
I loved your story. Wondering what ocean town you were in? Such lovely visuals.
And the fact that you felt like working so you did, and you chose her son!
Love it. Wonderful serendipity.
Life seems to just keep doing that serendipity stuff.
It really does, huh? Somehow I keep finding it surprising and miraculous. An unfathomable gift.
: )
There's so much I love here, Rick. The draw you felt to the space to a performer made me think of how you felt drawn to bring this amazing story forward—both a sort of conjuring, creating emotion and delight out of thin air. I love how this ripples through your piece, the effects of our interactions, and the stories we choose to tell about them.
This is such an incredible moment: "She exited the customer service area and walked back to a distant desk. I watched her through a partition of glass as she plopped into a chair and slumped forward to rest her heavy head in her hands."
I felt so completely there with you, and her, and was even more stunned to learn that these moments of deliberation were what led to your kids existing. This is one I'll be thinking about for a long time. Such a wonderful piece.
Hope to be able to make it tomorrow. Safe travels in the meantime.
Thanks Rob. I was surprised by discovering this juncture in time myself re my kids. I never traced it back that way, which is the delight of telling your own stories, the incredible pathways you get to observe the weave of in retrospect. It's such a fun game we get to play, trading stories in this community of tellers. Would love to see you in the session of course it works.
"Life is complicated. Sharing complicated stories and how we’ve chosen to navigate them is an act of generosity and public service, because it empowers us all to entertain our stories with greater self-awareness and to choose their meaning more consciously."
Your work reminding us and teaching us to share our stories is an act of generosity and public service. Stories are powerful vehicles for transformation and you help me write better stories every week. So, thank you, Rick. Beautiful and important work, as always.
Thanks Jack. That totally makes my day that you are in any way helped or inspired by these posts. You help me keep my friend.
Loved it - thank you for sharing.
Thank you Stefan.
I looooooooooved this. I'm so used to laughing at your stories that I opened this post expecting to laugh. But this story hit different.
Initially, I thought you would use the fact that the immigration officer recognised you to write a whimsical narrative. On some level, I was expecting it.
But man, this took such an unexpected turn. By the end, I felt like someone had slapped me awake.
You know, because of all this book writing I'm doing right now, I've subconsciously begun to analyse how other people write their stories. And I just want to say that I didn't expect you'd use the officer's struggle in the way you did.
I'm going to be reflecting on this story for a while now...
Gotta keep everybody guessing a little bit, right? And on that note, when is your book coming out??
Looks like a few months. Gotta keep working until my fingers bleed :)
I wish you had juggled away from her desk after she gave you the approval muttering the classical circus music song. That would have been so funny.
Great story!
Thanks Camilo
...'uge round of applause...masterfully told story..."options for disposable diapers"...need to hear more of your thoughts on this topic...
My diaper changing days are way behind me fortunately, but I just remember we tried cloth diapers for a while and then thought, to hell with this, switching to disposable and then feeling (*hitty) about what we were contributing to the local landfill.
Humanity wins over bureaucracy.
*exhales*
Thank god sometimes it actually happens!
Wonderful story telling!
Thanks Dhanesh
What a beautiful gem of a story. I'm happy you have discovered that one shared it with us.
I can't stop wondering where in the world that happened. In my head, I imagine a German border control, but that's just me!
Also, I recommend everyone reading this to give 52V community a try. It's a small time commitment and a truly safe space with kind people practicing together to improve.
Thanks for your testimonial for 52V Martin. I also really appreciate your comment about the safe space atmosphere we have going. I think that's the superpower of personal storytelling, it keeps the sense of authenticity very high. You're a great example of how to make the most of 52V.
Rick, there are so many live-giving tentacles in here. Wow. What an essay- such an inspiration. I’m so pleased you got your work visa, and I’m so pleased your writing doesn’t require a visa - so that you can be in 100+ countries all at once by way of your sharing. #grateful.
Ha ha, love that thought James, the writing visa—permission to visit countless countries and intersect with the lives of others.
Love this!
Thanks for reading it Chris.