Although we have had some fifty-degree days in November, the La Plata Mountains are showing us that winter is here. The snow and ice are looming and accumulating, while the darkness grows a few minutes longer every day.
This is the time to tell stories. This is the time to relish all that darkness brings: a time to go inward, a time to listen, a time to slow down, and welcome some healthy hibernation.
There are so many important reasons to tell stories. They are a crucial part of tradition; they transmit knowledge and values and reinforce or remind us of what can get brushed to the side in the buzz of summer and the back-to-school busyness of fall.
Humans were meant to tell stories. They always have. Stories hold life together, they give meaning, and help us navigate the world. Human brains actually understand and grasp meaning more fully when data comes in the form of a story. In fact, there are whole new careers and jobs that have emerged in the last decade around shaping product development, customer feedback, and development in the form of stories. One might say that we are hard-wired to tell stories and live by stories. In other words, there is a good reason why so many cultures utilize stories to pass on knowledge and wisdom. It seems to be part of our DNA.
Telling stories can also be deeply therapeutic. Because they shape meaning through narrative, they can focus on certain perspectives and leave others out. We tell ourselves stories about our own lives, about others, and about the world. Have you heard the phrase, “what story are you telling yourself about that?” The phrase means that we do have choices about how we see a situation: what story we “make up” about it or how we choose to interpret it. There are so many angles and details we can include or leave out.
But I’m also talking about another kind of storytelling: sharing our stories with others as a courageous act of vulnerability. This is especially powerful because it is deeply humanizing. When we hear about others struggling, their doubts, their challenges, their fears, we are surely able to relate in some way. It helps us remember that struggle is something that binds us all.
For example, you might have noticed the Lift the Label campaign articles in the Drum and the focus on those is recovery sharing their personal stories not only of struggle, but of courage and recovery. Again, such courageous and vulnerable storytelling humanizes people we might otherwise be inclined to judge. Stories remind us that none of us are immune to life’s challenges; they simply come in a variety of forms.
The power of stories is why, at Behavioral Health, we are focusing on developing workshops in storytelling in various formats from filmmaking to podcasts. You might have come across the Native Braids podcast that also highlights the power of stories—how they stitch us together and remind us to be humble. Last week, Behavioral Health joined up with KSUT and the Youth Documentary Academy to develop some youth-focused opportunities around storytelling and filmmaking. We know that it is important for our youth to feel that their stories matter, too. Consider turning to your children, nieces and nephews or grandchildren and asking them what stories are most meaningful to them. Ask them about the stories they would like to tell.
And there are so many additional ways that stories can be threaded into our lives and roles in the community—they help us understand each other in new ways.
We can ask ourselves “what story am I telling myself about this?” or “how would I like to tell my life story differently?”
What story does winter bring out in you? What are your favorite winter stories and why?
May you have a blessed entry into this wintry time and embrace the opportunity to go inward, light a candle (literally or metaphorically), and bundle up your resources for these months ahead.
Happy story time and here’s to your good health!
It’s okay not to feel okay
If you or someone you know has been struggling with their emotions, behaviors, or substance use please reach out to us. We can help you find appropriate tools and services that could help you overcome obstacles in your life. We are here for you. Please contact the Southern Ute Behavioral Health Division at 970.563.5700 for more information or to set up an appointment to see a counselor or therapist.
Reminder: If you need to talk to someone, please reach out.
And for those interested in opioid use education, harm reduction, and support, please contact us for quick Naloxone (Narcan) training and fentanyl test strips. We can schedule individual, family, or friends training times at our Southern Ute Behavioral Health Building, or we can come to you, and the training is around 30 minutes. Please call us at 970.563.5700 to set up a training appointment.