I will tell you a secret about me. I don’t like having too many choices. In fact, sometimes I don’t even like having one choice. I’m much more comfortable putting up with stuff outside of my control than I am dealing with the consequences of my own decisions. Sometimes it’s the little stuff that bothers me the most. Back when I had hair I used to stand in the shampoo aisle trying to figure out if I’m an “apple blossom mango” guy or a “lavender cherry pumpernickel” guy. Did I need to be volumized or rehydrated? Why isn’t there a shampoo called, “Just Use this – You’ll Be Fine”? I’m not much better with the big decisions. I put my son in an alternative grade school when we moved to Olympia. He doesn’t know how to diagram sentences now but he knows how to pluck a chicken. Did I make the right choice? I have no idea. But it’s been over 15 years and I’m still worried about it.

A couple years ago I went through a painful breakup and recently I’ve been thinking of moving to Seattle. Olympia is small and seems haunted to me now. Am I running from something or running to something? Am I wanting to spend more time with the amazing new storytelling friends I’ve made in Seattle or just avoiding bad memories in Olympia? I hate this choice but I know I gotta make it. The only thing I know for sure is that whichever way I go it will lead to more stories.

And that is the theme for our next show. Choices – Stories of Decisions. Tell us a story about a choice you made that was important to you or somehow shaped your life. It could also be a choice that someone made for you. It can be a small decision or a big one. As long as there’s a story in there it will be worth telling. Remember to practice out loud friends or plants and keep it under 8 minutes. I always say at the start of each show, “know your last line first.” Not only does it remind the audience of what you learned but it also, as you’re putting the story together at home, keeps you focused on the theme. That’s something I realized driving home tonight so I thought I’d include it here. This is the kind of stuff I think about when I’m stuck in traffic and the radio doesn’t work.

The rules for stories are below but you know the kind we’re looking for: true stories that happened to you that still mean something to you days, months or years later. I hope to see you at our next show on Thursday, November 13, 7:00pm at the Roy St Cafe.

Rules & Guidelines: https://freshgroundstories.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/storytelling-rules-and-guidelines/

Quick note: A few people asked me after our last show where they could get a copy of Moreah’s memoir. Moreah is the woman who charmed us all at the last show with a story of some of her adventures. She is probably 20 years older than me and acts 30 years younger. She’s one of those people that make you wonder why you aren’t going out and doing all the things you said you were going to do when you were growing up. If you’d like a free PDF of her book email her at: moreah@comcast.net and in the subject line, say PDF of Diving Right In. Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Paul
freshgroundstories@gmail.com

From Cyan James:

You know that moment when you realize things maybe aren’t really OK? That you, or someone you really care about, is struggling? And you don’t know what to do. But somehow you keep going.

Let’s not pretend it easy. But let’s talk about how amazing that is—we somehow find the little moments to keep us going, and maybe it’s not completely OK, but it’s more OK, and we go on…

Please join us for an evening of stories about those moments. We’ll have a featured group of seasoned storytellers go first, and then will be the open mic when it could be your turn on stage.

We’re looking for your true stories five minutes or under, practiced ahead of time or told in the moment. If this isn’t your night to tell a story, join the rest of us in listening and in helping scrub away some of that toxic stigma that surrounds talking about the tougher times. We can’t wait to see you there.

7pm, Friday, October 24
Roy St. Coffee And Tea | 700 Broadway E., Seattle, WA

For more information, contact Cyan James at cyan.james@gmail.com.

MORE ABOUT THE EVENT
Once in the middle of a Michigan winter I thought I couldn’t be any colder. Or more depressed. The heat had turned off, I’d lost a job I cared about, I couldn’t find a therapist, my best friend had moved out, and I didn’t know what was coming next. I put on the whole works: boots, double layers of stockings, my biggest coat, mittens, scarf, hat. For an hour I walked around the ice-glazed streets and watched the little plays unfolded in the bright windows of all the other houses.

I watched an old man slowly get up from his kitchen table. Steam rolled upwards from the spout of his kettle, and I imagined the kettle was gently shrieking. He poured himself a mug of tea—apple spice, I imagined. He cupped his hands around his mug and leaned his face over it. He drank slowly, staring off at the wall, and we were both alone, but he didn’t seem lonely. Watching him, I didn’t feel so alone either. I was still going to be depressed for a long time. It wasn’t a moment that changed everything. But it was a moment of relief and beauty I needed.

What moments have gotten you through during those wrenching times? Maybe you’ve wrestled with cold, heavy depression, too. Maybe you hear things no one else does, or you can’t see those ways you matter, or you just can’t turn off all the whirling, exhausting thoughts. But you kept going. You’re still going. Tell us how you did it. Or join us and listen to how other people did. You never know how much a stranger can help!

For this special storytelling showcase and open mic on mental health, we’re looking for ways you felt really challenged. What did you do? What helped you out? What do you wish others had known about you during that time?
We’re looking for true, personal stories that still mean something to you days, months or years later. I hope to see you at our next show on Friday, October 24, 7:00pm at the Roy St Cafe.

I’m representing an organization called Emerging Leaders in Science and Society (ELISS). We’re partnering with Paul Currington’s Fresh Ground Stories to hold this special event showcasing mental strength.

Rules & Guidelines: https://freshgroundstories.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/storytelling-rules-and-guidelines/

Warmly,
Cyan, Paul, Eva, and the rest of us at ELISS and Fresh Ground Stories

Image by Daren Newman

The older I get the more I value courage. When I sit down and think about it, most of the mistakes I’ve made in life have come down to caving in to fear. Scared to say no. Scared to say yes. Scared to do something I know must be done. It’s amazing the amount of time I’ve devoted in life to avoiding things.

A couple years ago I decided I was tired of living in fear. So I immediately did the bravest thing I could think of. I asked out my yoga teacher. I know. There were probably better ways to test my courage. But the important thing is that I did it. Even if I had to go find another yoga class afterward. What I’ve learned about courage comes down to this. The more you use it the more you have it. Last month I applied for a job that was way outside my comfort zone. It would force me to be on my toes every day. No slacking. No coasting. No sleepwalking through the daily routine. Three weeks later something terrible happened. I got the job. And now I’m in it. Most days are still scary because I don’t know what I’m doing but it feels pretty damn good knowing how scared I was to leave my old job and what it took to get this one. So that’s what we’re looking for this month. Tell us a story about doing something that took courage. Don’t worry if it doesn’t seem scary to other people. What’s easy for some can be overwhelming for others. (Most people don’t think handing in a resume takes a great act of will but it does for me.) Did you leave someone who was wrong for you? Did you move across the country alone with no prospects? Maybe you left your church or disobeyed your parents after a lifetime of doing what you were told. This is the show where we get inspired by your acts of bravery. And if you can’t think of anything you’ve done in the past go ask out your spin instructor. It’ll be fine. Trust me.

In an effort to get more people onstage we’re asking everyone to keep their story under eight minutes. So practice out loud on friends and pets to make sure it’s all together and bring it to the show on the 25th.

The rules for stories are below but you know the kind we’re looking for: true stories that happened to you that still mean something to you days, months or years later. I hope to see you at our next show on Thursday, September 25, 7:00pm at the Roy St Cafe.

Rules & Guidelines: https://freshgroundstories.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/storytelling-rules-and-guidelines/

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Paul
freshgroundstories@gmail.com.

I have to tell you I’m a little nervous about this one. My son came up with it and has been bugging me to make it an official theme for a few months now. You can understand my dilemma. I’ve always encouraged him to say yes to things he’s scared of and to speak what needs to be spoken even if it hurts. Of course, I thought we had an agreement that he should only do that when it didn’t involve me. After everything I’ve done for him he makes me take my own medicine? But I’m going to make this the theme for our next show and have faith that whatever he says about me or his mother is something that needs to be said. In public. With a microphone. What could go wrong? Depending on how it goes, our next show will either be about trust or retribution. That was a joke. I trust him. Mostly.

So bring us a story about a time you realized your parents were human. Or about a time when you failed as a parent yourself. There’s a lot underneath stories like this. Realizing your parents are human is the first step in growing up and realizing they were people before they were parents. Falling from grace yourself often completely changes the relationship you have with your own kids. If you’re lucky it gets stronger. That’s how I try to look at it anyway. My kid still probably hasn’t forgiven me for the time I chased his cat around the house with squirt bottle because she pooped in my hat.

The rules for stories are below but you know the kind we’re looking for: true stories that happened to you that still mean something to you days, months or years later. I hope to see you at our next show on Thursday, August 28, 7:00pm at the Roy St Cafe.

Rules & Guidelines: https://freshgroundstories.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/storytelling-rules-and-guidelines/

Please do your best to keep your stories under 8 minutes. The tighter everyone’s story the more people we can get onstage 🙂

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Paul
freshgroundstories@gmail.com.

Fresh Ground Stories: Being Humbled

So far this year I think I’ve been humbled about 173 times. That may seem like a lot but it’s less than my personal record setting pace last year where I ended up being humbled approximately every 15 minutes for 365 days straight. This includes sleeping. If there was a bump in Pfizer stock last year it was probably from my personal intake of Zoloft.

The good thing about all this is that I made it. A big part of making it was deciding I had to tell the story. I knew the last step was to try to make something beautiful out of the worst time in my life.

And that is what I’m asking you to do. Dig down into your secret stash of comeuppances and tell us about a time you were humbled. Tell us how you got through it and what you learned from it. I know this is a hard one but it’s going to be worth it. Every story you tell at this show will make it easier for someone in the audience to deal with their own humbling experiences. There’s nothing like shared embarrassments to make us all feel better, right?

Let’s hear it for the learning things the hard way! Humblefest 2014!

The rules for stories are below but you know the kind we’re looking for: true stories that happened to you that still mean something to you days, months or years later.

I hope to see you at our next show on Thursday, July 24, 7:00pm at the Roy St Cafe.

Rules & Guidelines: https://freshgroundstories.wordpress.com/2013/01/22/storytelling-rules-and-guidelines/

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Paul

freshgroundstories@gmail.com.