Thank you so much. I need this today. Especially this:

I call this teaching people how to treat me; or teaching them who I am – a flawed, wonderful, compassionate person who is willing to apologize but not willing to be kicked repeatedly for alleged wrongdoing. Our willingness to hold this integrity affirms our worth and blesses everyone.

So ask yourself - Is there someone in my life who needs a calm, kind lesson on who I am?

Worthy Practice #3 - The Love You Deserve:

Part of the ability to face difficult people while supporting mutual self-worth – theirs and yours – comes from an understanding of deserving.

Steven Chbolksy wrote in The Perks of Being a Wallflower, “We accept the love we think we deserve.”

HI Stephen, Much of my work is about listening, capturing and sharing stories whether of the folk, legend or real life experience and seeking to connect across what are often perceived boundaries: age, culture, borders, religion, politics, etc. I sold my home and most of my possessions back in 2005 to create/facilitate a volunteer literacy project in Belize. I spent the first 6 months listening to learn how I could best serve given my skill set at that time which was both interviewing experience from working as an interviewer of ovarian cancer patients in a 4 year study (that's a whole other story) and also my experience connecting kids with books/stories. As I traveled I learned amazing indigenous legends that contained deep teaching lessons but were banned from the schools. I created a guided first person narrative lesson plan and taught teachers how to teach their students to write a story using the legends and inserting themselves into the story. It was hugely empowering.
That experience deeply impacted me too. I witnessed first hand in a cultural context how much our stories give us back value, a place in the world our own power....

That led to seeking more opportunities to share not only cultural stories, but also real life stories/experiences to break stereotypes and highlight our humanity. For example, I spent a month in Kenya (I performed there in their international storytelling festival 2013) I stayed on to interview Kenyans who had created their own projects, initiatives to address challenges in their communities: from a farming cooperative giving widowed woman another choice in their lives rather than forced inheritance to an arts center in Kibera slum giving voice to youth. From there I did a similar project in Ghana this time interviewing artists, activists, young entrepreneurs, students, to share their stories of innovation, perseverance and again to break stereotypes.

This all changed my life in profound ways. Everywhere I went the experience was similar, we are all so hungry to share our stories and to feel heard, valued and understood. I was fortunate to be the 1st American Storyteller invited to perform in Iran in 2015 in their storytelling festival and spent an illuminating week there.

And then the World Bank job happened. I am a Storytelling Consultant there who teaches presentation skills based somewhat on the TED style and Ignite as well as subsuming story in every course: the value of seeing beyond the data and revealing the human story behind those numbers.

Yes, I hear you on the power of story to connect with ALL different types of people whether US Marines or World Bank staff or security guards or medical students or patients...

I would love to have a conversation about bringing one of my programs to Stanford: it focuses on how the stories we tell ourselves about ourselves and the stories we consume become our own life narrative and deeply impact how we see the world and each other. I think we especially need this in today's political climate. My website is www.storytellerkp.com if you want to get in touch. Or here is good too.

Hugs to you for the beautiful work you do!
Kristin