I have heard innumerable stories in my life but one story that stuck with me is a story that my mother told me 2 years ago. At the time, I was in the final year of college not concentrating on my exams as I was confident I would not fail.
One day, she sat me down and told me about an old construction worker who worked for his employer for over 20 years was finally retiring. However, the employer was sad to see his most diligent worker leave and asked him to take up one final job before he finally left. He requested him to build just one more house before retiring. The worker agreed but resorted to shoddy work and used inferior materials and ways to finish the work soon. When he finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house and handed the house key to the worker. He said that it was his retirement gift. The worker was stupefied to hear this and thought that if he had known about it before, he would have done it all differently.
I realised this happens with all of us. We sometimes focus on getting things done that we fail to put passion into what we are doing. My mother pointed out this exact thing and it made a great impact on me that I got back on track. What I learned from this story will remain with me forever. No matter the work, small or big, I need to put my heart into it if I want the best results and ultimately be happy.
Vocabulary:
- Innumerable- too many to be counted
- Shoddy- badly made or done
- Stupefy- shocked
Part 3 Follow Up - Questions & Answers
1. Has story telling changed over a period of time?
Yes, definitely it has changed dramatically. When it comes to storytelling – the rise of smartphones and new affordable technology has changed the way we listen to, see, and share our stories. We now have tools like Kindle which has completely transformed story telling. From cave drawings, and then word of mouth, narratives, including written and printed stories we have come a long way now.
2. Which way is better, traditional story telling or the use of technology in story telling?
Considering the hectic lifestyle of the modern man, use of technology makes it convenient and accessible for storytelling. Besides it empowers students to be confident communicators and creators of media as they gain essential 21st-century literacy skills and reach deeper understanding in all areas of the curriculum. This technique is a combination of the old storytelling tradition and new technology.
3. Do you think that generally most of the people are good at story telling?
As individuals tell their stories, they find that really honing in on the challenges in their lives allows them to release the pain and anxiety that accompany those situations. It’s however, I feel not everyone’s cup of tea. There are people who just do not have the innate potential of story telling.
4. What makes story telling effective?
Opening with an exciting anecdote to grab the audience's attention, and then making sure the last thing you say is something that can resonate with the audience long after the story is over is, I think, what makes an effective story.
5. Is it important to tell stories?
Storytelling is a fundamental part of being human. Stories let us share information in a way that creates an emotional connection. They help us to understand that information and each other, and it makes the information memorable.
6. Is reading books beneficial or watching documentaries better?
In my opinion, nonfiction reading is not for everybody; especially not for someone who is not a fan of books. In those cases, Documentaries are a better option. It condenses the message of the book into a 2-3-hour film and the visuals do help in the retention factor. This way, you get the basic idea quicker and you can continue if you like it, rather than spend days reading a book and not learning what you sought out to learn in the first place.
