tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7287418096544149672.post85456330427864858..comments2022-04-26T20:46:46.128-07:00Comments on Elizabeth and Maeve: Fairytales: One Antidote to BullyingElizabeth Cunninghamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14307027953779753978noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7287418096544149672.post-47254065896664751072010-10-18T17:47:30.987-07:002010-10-18T17:47:30.987-07:00"Remember only this one thing," said Bad..."Remember only this one thing," said Badger. "The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them. If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. That is why we put these stories in each other's memory." - from Crow and Weasel by Barry LopezMaurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15090991192934979503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7287418096544149672.post-33679060808067508902010-10-14T10:16:04.281-07:002010-10-14T10:16:04.281-07:00I can't believe how timely this blog was for t...I can't believe how timely this blog was for the content of my life! I was just having a frank conversation with another mother about a class bully, with the hopes that this 8-year-old might be brought into the fold, rather than begin her social life as the enemy. I think it is so important to bring together the perceived victims and perpetrators. What better way to do this than by the mirror of storytelling? I do think it has been lost to our children, or at least deadened.<br /><br />This idea resounds with me, and I must tell you that it is being birthed here, in Oregon, and even being supported by public school money and private patrons, which I still can't believe! It resonates with the kids and adults alike.<br /><br />My artist friend, Shelley Moon, http://creativevoiceinyou.com/ goes into public schools, and performs dramatic renderings of various of her stories with subjects such as racism, sexual abuse, etc. The kids in turn write their own personal narratives to perform for each other. <br /><br />I have been literally blown away by the repsonse of these kids coming together to share in love and acceptance, as they express their most intimate or meaningful stories, and feel embraced by their peers-- as these kids experience something for the first time in their lives that resembles something real, or at least touches something real within them. <br /><br />I believe that telling the stories is the first step in being able to move past them.<br /><br />Your story of Maeve was a powerful mirror for me, and your bravery in telling her story without reservation continues to stoke something in me. Thank you, as always, for your wisdom, and for taking the time to put it into the written word.Brooke https://www.blogger.com/profile/16569793565975815862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7287418096544149672.post-18448424967740655632010-10-13T10:28:47.056-07:002010-10-13T10:28:47.056-07:00As a performing storyteller I *know* stories save ...As a performing storyteller I *know* stories save lives. I routinely have audience members come up to me after a performance or contact me later, letting me know that something I said had a significant impact, let them know they aren't alone, or otherwise affected them deeply. We need to tell our stories of survival, connection, overcoming and redemption so others know that this is possible.Laurahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06434407684834155358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7287418096544149672.post-60353829377864633042010-10-13T08:22:08.588-07:002010-10-13T08:22:08.588-07:00I can think of other stories that shape lives, too...I can think of other stories that shape lives, too. In some cases, those stories become frameworks for survival and triumph: like my mother, whose father was absent for her whole childhood--he sent her mother gold coins, instead. My mother's story was that she was not abandoned; she was important, the center of the story, even a fairy-tale princess.<br /><br />Now, at 97, she still enjoys life, and its fruits, mostly self-made, and still looks forward, telling me, "I'm not going to die anytime soon."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05942539860342568543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7287418096544149672.post-86902273384649646432010-10-12T14:44:08.544-07:002010-10-12T14:44:08.544-07:00Maeve speaking. Elizabeth need not wonder if stori...Maeve speaking. Elizabeth need not wonder if stories can saves lives. She knows it for a fact about one story in particular. Mine.Elizabeth Cunninghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14307027953779753978noreply@blogger.com