Stories

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Last night in bed I read this passage in Alexander McCall Smith's novel, In the Company of Cheerful Ladies:

There were many such stories
he understood how important they were
A life without stories
would be no life at all
And stories bound us
did they not
to one another
the living to the dead
people to animals
people to the land

Why are we, all the thousands of bloggers out there in blogland, labouring over our keyboards, risking potential RSI, furiously typing stories and uploading photographs to create pictorial narratives?




Some people write for the enjoyment of writing, as a form of self expression and creativity, others to keep a record for themselves of their activities and reflections; they may write for family, friends and future generations.

Others may write as a way of remembering, triggering old memories, reigniting passions and issues.

Do we write because we are aging and feel time's winged chariot hot on our heels, or because in the autumn of our lives we tend to reflect and muse on the past more?

Do we write to better understand ourselves, as a form of self therapy, reflecting, reappraising, evaluating the life we have lived and are living?


Why do we write stories?


Story telling is a universal activity in which people of all cultures indulge. Evidence narratives are known throughout history and yield common themes . Cultures tell stories to keep track on what is happening in their communities. They also use stories as a training ground or preparation for future interaction with others. Stories allow people to learn the customs and rules of their society. Story telling is a learning tool for the development of relationships with others in our social group and promote social cohesion.

On the individual level the imagination required in story telling, and essential for the understanding of the story, serves as a proving ground for vital social skills. In addition, through stories, we can pass on knowledge and life enhancing attitudes to future generations.


All stories appeal to our emotions and our capacity for empathy. This empathy, or ability to walk in someone else's shoes, engenders a narrative transport. We are carried through the words of the story into the world of the teller and our emotions are inextricably tied to those of the story's characters.

The theory of mind trait - that ability to feel empathy, allows us to attribute mental states , awareness and intent to others. This trait is essential to social interaction, communal living and to the understanding of stories.
Stories are word pictures that convey lessons learned, offer warnings and advice, entertain, inform and educate, remind us of time honoured values and principles, and give an insight into who we are.


Have you considered why you write your blog?


I am inclined to believe that we write to understand ourselves better and by exploring our rich inner worlds through the vehicles of words and stories we come a little closer to revealing our real selves that lie within. Having an audience is a way of connecting that part of ourselves to the lives of others in this blogging community. Our stories are the multi-coloured threads that connect communities, connect people to the past, connect people to place, connect people to animals and connect you to me.










I have used the article by Jeremy Hsu in Scientific America as a reference for this story.

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