"To be a person is to have a story to tell."
Isak Dinesen (alias Karen Blixsen 1885 - 1962)
This week our community are reminded of the 10 year anniversary of the Black Saturday Bushfires. Everywhere we go, social media, local papers, community notice boards, meetings, our workplace, our homes, we will be reminded. However it's even more than that for those who lost loved ones, their homes, their pets, their workplaces, friends and colleagues, it's a reminder to tap into their emotions, or trigger unwanted feelings again. For some it will be a sadness, grief, anxiety, anger, depression and a sense of hopelessness.
Tonight a neighbour was out the front of her home, I could hear a young baby crying continuously, and another child speaking, it sounded as if they were outside my bedroom window. So I went outside to investigate, and saw where the child's cry was coming from. I noticed there were torches flashing on their verandah, and I wondered had they locked themselves out? In the silhouette of the street light I could see the young children moving about, yet the youngest was still crying continuously.
So I decided there were two things I could do, call someone to investigate, I wasn't sure who, or I could go over and see how I could help. I grabbed my jacket and a torch and thought if I don't offer to help, who will? As I started to cross my front path, my husband came back from walking the dog so he came over with me to investigate. On arrival we found out they had been having an issue with the front light shorting out the house power for quite some time, and the poor little 1 yr old baby was beside himself being in the dark. Still crying whilst mum tried to figure out what to do with her front light. Thankfully my husband was able to help, and went back home to get the tools he needed, and with the help of his electrician brother we were able to stop the light from shorting out the power and no sooner was the power back on for the rest of the house. I had kept the kids occupied with my dog, and they were relieved to know they could go back inside and have power. It was a humble feeling to know we had helped some neighbours we didn't know before. I came home and started to think again about the tough times many families are going through in our community, and how desperation, shame, vulnerability and hopelessness are leading to long term stress and struggles, family violence, homelessness, depression, anxiety and suicide.
My mind then began to meander down a creative and thought provoking path, and I started to wonder 'How can we inspire hope in our community?'
And thus I was inspired to write this article.
Our story is as long as our life and over our lifetime we will have many different versions. Experiencing life difficulties can be a huge and complex challenge from which we can only begin to recover when we start to make sense of what has happened, or what we need to change. Through giving someone you know who is going through a challenging time, the opportunity to tell their story offers them the chance to share experiences with others who may have faced similar challenges. It is a chance for them to be validated and to acknowledge what has happened, for their resilience to be witnessed, to celebrate their survival and to give them a space to dream about the possibility of a brighter future. Offering them the interest and respect of fellow human beings and opportunity to rediscover themselves through self-expression.
To live in hope is essential to us all. When we hear that zero to hero story, it lights us up, we celebrate the power of these stories to touch and inspire us with hope. Telling your story is part of a healing process, inspire hope in people on a similar journey. These stories are at the heart of changing practice, moving forward and learning together, helping each other. Many people are afraid, ashamed or uncertain about the outcome of using services, especially in a smaller community. However, through these stories we can inspire others to trust, and overcome the shame and stigma surrounding their beliefs, and give them a little hope.
There are so many supporters and advocates to create this change in our community, and I believe if we can start to help our neighbours and reach out to them to know they are not alone. Sit and listen and have a cuppa while they generously and bravely share their story. Through talking about their experiences and sharing their stories, we are able to understand how to support them and help them move forward positively. By Working together, we can help more people make sense and meaning out of life’s great challenges.
Much Love,
Melissa Ryan
I will finish with the following quote:
"A story told at the right moment in someone’s life can shine a light sufficiently bright to illuminate the way ahead on the map of life."
The therapeutic use of stories (1997)
