Generosity, Kindness and Friendship

~ May your heart be like a lake …

with a calm still surface and great depths of kindness. ~ 

Lao Tzu

A long time ago when I was home from college for Christmas Break, I went to the local strip mall to do some shopping.  While walking from store to store I decided to smile at everyone.  The smiles returned were the best Christmas presents I received that year.   My little unscientific experiment showed me the power of a generous smile. 

Another incident from my distant past taught me a lesson in kindness.  I was driving home from a wedding that had taken place two states away.  The retread came off my tire and I had no idea how to change a tire.  Yes, I know my education was lacking.  But I did know enough to put my hood up and then wait in the car for help.  The state patrol called a service station to come help.  My tire was changed; I paid for the service, and had no money left to continue my trip.  So I stopped at my future in-laws where I told my story.  Not only did my future brother-in-law go out and buy me a spare tire, but he gave me enough money to make it home.

And this could be my cats except they are much older.

When I count the blessings of friendship I have experienced throughout my life, I know that lasting relationships take commitment, TLC, and love both to build and to maintain.  I have many friends – some brand new, others from childhood and every part of my life in-between.  True friends really are angels in disguise.  They come to your aid when needed.  They laugh with you, cry with you, celebrate your successes and overlook your failures.  "With true friends - even water drunk is sweet enough." ~Chinese Proverb

Here’s a website with many Friendship Quotes: http://www.friendship.com.au/quotes/

                                                                                  

               So it is no wonder when I think of the three words “generosity,” “kindness” and “friendship” I get a warm fuzzy feeling.  A feeling that lingers from my childhood, from the gifts I have received and given throughout the years, and from the closeness of a friend who loves you no matter what.

               Some of the best gifts I have received from others are stories or as I like to call them Story Gifts.  The generosity of storytellers is well known throughout the storytelling community if not the world in general.  When I feel out of sorts, down in the dumps, I know that if I talk to one of my storyteller friends, my life will instantly become brighter, more livable.  There is kind generosity of friendship like no other I’ve known.  It may take a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to create a storyteller.

Storytelling mentors are some of the most generous people in the world.  They spend their time with you, encourage you to do better, to grow in story, stretching your comfort zone or taking steps outside it.  I was privileged to count the great storyteller, Norma Livo, as a mentor.  She was an inspiration not only to me, but to my daughter as well.  We attended her Storytelling Camp together back in the late-1980’s.  Looking at her comments when she signed the books I purchased from her, I can see our relationship growing and flowering.  She will, of course, receive a copy of my book, Old China through the Eyes of a Storyteller, when it is published later this summer.  And so the circle rolls onward.

One of my fondest memories of Norma is when at the Rocky Mountain Storytelling Conference, those who were presenting stories and/or workshops honored her at the Opening Ceremony.  My gift may have seemed a wee bit out of the ordinary as it was the annual report of the Colorado State Library.  But, there on the cover was a picture of a storyteller (yours truly).  The first and perhaps the only time a storyteller had been featured on the cover of the Colorado State Library Annual Report.  Norma was thrilled.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Norma last week.  She is still witty and wonderfully down-to-earth.  We promised to keep in better touch.  And I know that is a promise I will keep.  The gift of Friendship is all important, and I count Norma as a friend as well as a mentor.  If you don’t know Norma, but have heard Elizabeth Ellis, I believe they were cut of the same cloth.  Two Great Ladies of Story

As Valentine’s Day approaches, you may want to think of your friendships, of kindnesses shown to you or by you to others and the generosity of people in your life.  I know I will be as I work on becoming a better friend who is more generous and infinitely more kind.  Let me know how I’m doing.

Where Have I Been? Writing a book of Chinese Folktales

Has it really been over a year since I posted? Oh, what have I been doing?

Well, the last four months of 2009 I was subbing in the library at Marsh Elementary School in Monte Vista, CO. Then I spent two weeks freezing in Florida after Christmas (yes it was below freezing at night for almost the whole two weeks!).

The rest of the winter and spring I began in earnest to write my book of Chinese Folktales. The submition dealine I set for myself has been moved a number of times for good reasons and is now looming again. Hopefully this time I will make the deadline and not have to reset it once more.

Storytelling did happen though. I helped a small but determined group of fifth graders find their inner storyteller at Evans School in Alamosa, CO. These students persisted and were rewarded by being able to perform for the public at their World's Fair in May, 2010. They even convinced their teachers that they should receive as many points for telling a story as for producing a Power Point.

SLV Spellbinders journeyed to tiny Costilla, NM, to bring the joy of story to local students in April.
SLV Spellbinders also helped Bill Metz Elementary School in Monte Vista celebrate their International Day the first Friday in May, 2010.
SLV Spellbinders tell stories on KRZA (88.7 fm) on the last Sunday every month. Sometimes it's just me and other times I am joined by various storytellers. I enjoy telling stories on the radio and have gotten to the point where I can even do it without an audience.

I bartered some stories with Charlie Sanchez when he fixed my HD receiver which I told for his son's birthday party in April, 2010. Bartering got into my system and the next barter resulted in 6 tickets to the Creede Theatre for their Summer, 2010, season. I was able to see three plays and invited my daughter and husband to join me.

The end of July I drove from Colorado to California by myself while listening to stories on CD all the way! I think some of the other drivers must have thought I was crazy I was laughing so hard sometimes. The NSN Conference was life-changing. I met storytellers I had only heard of and many, many I hadn't. I was able to share a couple stories at two story swaps where the hosts became my new friends. My roomie is also a friend now.

In September we packed two cats and some clothes, books and everything from China into the car and drove to Florida where I will be living until June, 2011. That led to more new storytelling friends (Tampa Bay Area Storytelling Guild) and opportunities to tell.

Circle C Ranch in October for my grandson's birthday.
Two Telebrations this month along with stories at the Oscar J. Pope Elementary School and Dale Mabry Elementary School. Watch for photos.