What's Your Story?

“We are as a species addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep the mind stays up all night telling itself stories.” Jonathan Gottschall

Stories are at the center of humankind. Before writing, people shared stories in the oral tradition. Stories are how we learn and teach, entertain and inform, understand and become. All the data, facts, figures, and information can’t convey what it all means – only a story can do that. Stop for a moment and think of how many stories you have already told just today. Perhaps simply the story of your drive to work, of your plans for the weekend, or the goals you have for the week, month, or year.

Because stories are so central to the human condition, it seems fitting to celebrate them, which is what will be happening during the first week of February. National Storytelling Week began in January 2000 in the United Kingdom, the idea of a long-standing member of the Society for Storytelling, Del Reid. Each year this special week is an opportunity to celebrate the power of stories of all kinds and to invite everyone to take part in sharing stories with others.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy stories is to hear them, specifically by listening to The Moth. If this is unfamiliar to you, The Moth is an organization whose “…mission is to promote the art and craft of storytelling and to honor and celebrate the diversity and commonality of human experience.” It was founded in 1997 by novelist George Dawes Green and today conducts eight international programs around storytelling. You can find The Moth podcast on streaming services and public radio stations. You can also attend live Main Stage events or StorySLAM open-mic-nights to enjoy hearing others’ stories. You can even take part in their community program, where you can learn how to craft and tell your own stories. The Moth gets to the heart of the humanity in storytelling.

This year, Frankenmuth Wickson District Library will be celebrating National Storytelling Week in many ways.

When you visit the library, you will be treated to a physical display, rotating for three weeks, that will highlight stories and storytelling including local history books. Additionally, you can enjoy the weekly digital newsletter in which Kirsten Bierlein-Hollenback, Community Librarian, shares some stories from the Cass River Genealogy Society members about their first Michigan ancestors. In the newsletter you can read about Johann Block, Johann Bierlein, and the Weber family, among others.

The Cass River Genealogy Society meets monthly from 5:00 – 7:00 pm in the Community Room at Wickson. The next meeting will be February 24th, then on March 24th attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to conduct family history research with Matt Pacer from the Library of Michigan. Families always have stories! As always, if you are interested in

learning more about the Society, you can inquire at the library or contact them at CassRiverGS@outlook.com.