The Storyteller

Despite my tendency to dive into things headfirst, I am capable of planning and thinking things through—I just don't usually do so. If someone is passionate about something and asks me to be a part of it, I typically hop right on board and ask questions later. It's usually when I'm put in charge of something that my strategic side shines. Working to apply that skill to my new approach to life, I've started to formulate a plan for what I want to achieve and how I want to get there. While I'm not looking to "rid" my life of spontaneity, in the name of balance, I do need to set some goals and aim in a general direction.

To determine that direction, I sat down and thought about the kind of person I wanted to be and the things I wanted to be known for. I came up with a few different ideas that will pop up as we go, but the one I'm most excited about—and what will now be my "Act 1," if you will—is the Storyteller. I love stories. I love listening to them, telling them, being a part of them, you name it. I feel that if you take the time to hear someone's story, it's harder to judge them. We're all made up of the overlap of people and experiences that impact us. That was the wisdom my friend imparted to me, which pushed me over the edge to start this blog. It reminded me of one of the things I know to be truly who I am: I am a lover of stories. And if I had to choose one thing at which I could be exceptional—one thing for which I would be known—I would be known as a storyteller.

So that is where this journey begins. Over the next several months, I'll take on challenges that relate to becoming a better storyteller. I'll share stories of great storytellers I've met and practice by sharing some of my own. As my skills grow, I hope these stories will become increasingly engaging. You will also be able to see the daily challenges taking place on my social media.

Writing this blog is my first challenge. While I plan to do a formal 30-day writing challenge later, for now, I'm focusing on making writing a daily habit and connecting with you all. For my first official 30-day challenge, I'm diving into a form of storytelling that has always captivated and inspired me: photography.

There's magic in capturing moments through photos. A single image can convey so much and evoke a range of emotions. I've been fortunate to know many talented photographers over the years, and their work has always inspired me. I'll be reaching out to them, hoping they'll share their stories and experiences. But there's one person who stands out—a man I aspire to emulate, whose stories I could listen to endlessly: my friend Bill.

A quick bio teaser from Bill:

Bill Bangham has been a photojournalist, writer, and editor for over 40 years. His work, and the work of his creative teams, has been recognized nationally and internationally. He considers adoption by one of our indigenous, American tribes the greatest honor he received.

He’s worked in over 70 countries, several of them multiple times, yet considers himself a poor traveler. He’s been to Paris and never visited the Louvre or the Eiffel tower; Cairo and never seen the pyramids. The stories he worked on always took precedence. But he has taken time out to indulge three of his favorite activities: kissing giraffes, riding elephants, and taking the ferries and water taxis back and forth across the Bosphorus between Asia and Europe. He and his wife Dianne have two daughters and a grandson. They moved to Memphis three years ago to be near them.

To hear Bill's story, follow my blog and watch for my next post.