mariakoropecky by Maria Koropecky, Storytelling Coach
I’ve been watching one episode a week of Outlander on Netflix for the last year, savoring the story as it unfolds across time and space, mostly because I like Jamie Fraser.
I also like singing, “Sing me a song of a lass that is gone, say, could that lass be I?”
I also like hearing the Scottish accents and learning about history, but there are some scenes that have been too graphic and violent for my sensitive nature and I’ve had to fast-forward through them as quickly as I could.
After a few of these scenes, I asked myself, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could just skip over the rough patches in real life too and just race back to the good stuff?”
It’s a tricky question but I think the answer is: “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor” (or an interesting story for that matter) – thanks, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Also, “A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for” – thanks Grace Hopper!
In other words, we’re designed to go out there and live our lives – even at the risk of hitting a few storms along the way as well.
It’s not whether or not the storms come, it’s how we handle them that makes us seaworthy. It’s sailing our ship through the stormy seas that builds our character. It’s up to us. Our attitudes and our experience will determine what happens next.
And that’s where I come in. As a Storytelling Coach, I’m all about helping people transform their harrowing adventure on the high seas – where they’ve met face to face with their true nature and came out better on the other side – into an inspiring story that captures the hearts of millions – just like Outlander!
Would that be worth it to you? If yes and you’re interested in telling your stories, either as written books or video documentaries, please reach out. I’m sure our conversation will be riveting and I’d be happy to show you the ropes and help you get farther on your journey.
And for those who are not yet ready to tell your story, I understand that sometimes the storms we face can be so overwhelming, it can be difficult to “go there” or worse, they can take us out. If you’re struggling in a relentless storm with no end in sight, please keep the faith that things will get better, stay afloat and reach out to me as well.
I’m a good listener and together we can find calmer seas and hopefully someday, your story will reach, help and inspire someone else who is going through something similar in the future.
If there’s anything I’ve learned from writing my own novel, Closer to Indigo, telling our stories – even the rough parts – can help us heal and connect across time and space.
