Saturday, October 7, 2017

Storytelling Workshop Series: Anastasia”s Introductory Comments


I have many stories, obviously. That is why there is an Anastasia The Storyteller blog site and an Anastasia The Storyteller Radio Show.

This past July, at New Horizons Annual Board Meeting, it was agreed upon by our board of directors that getting my stories out into the public domain was to, increasingly become a top priority. What was behind this decision, especially at that particular moment, is a good story.
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New Horizons new partnership with StoryCorps has truly opened doors for me, personally, that are both surprising and wonderful. Out of our new partnering, I am, now, beginning to have great joy in not only sharing my stories, but the reward of others sharing their stories back to me, heart to heart. 

Out of that New Horizons Board decision, we began taking steps, on my behalf, to carry that decision into action. In the early, first steps of the effort, I was led, with the guidance of board member, Lisa, to StoryCorps; another good story for another day.

Now, it is almost as if this new adventure has brought me to a new world of treasure in human connectedness! 

Oftentimes, with what I/we are learning from StoryCorps about how to conduct storytelling and story “listening,” I seem to have found an entire new way of “being” with people that allows me to take the initiative to invite others to open up and tell me their stories, long before I open up and share mine.

The experience, which I have to believe has just begun and can only get better and better, is almost like unearthing buried riches!

Almost daily now, I am seeing the joy and connectedness storytelling can bring. Almost daily, I am seeing, with growing clarity, that our human connectedness is vital! (As if I hadn't noticed before.)

Our connections with others can sometimes even be lifesaving. In some circumstances,
storytelling can be a major vehicle that can help us with this. The tragedies of the Hurricanes that have so recently hit, bringing devastation and tragedy to countless people, brings our need for one another, regardless of political leanings, race or religion, into high relief.

Then there is Las Vegas! Lives lost and lives saved because of people helping one another. 

And the stories! The heartbreaking tales that go on and on, as do the ones from 9/11 and other great tragedies. Yet we do need to hear them. OMG!

We need one another. Like never before in this country. We need to wake up and pay attention to our needs for one another, our dependency on building bridges of connection to help us move beyond the polarization rampant throughout our country. And this we must do!

Giving generously of ourselves is something each one of us can do, no matter how humble our circumstances. One of the best ways we can do this, especially when we, ourselves, are fortunate enough to have distance from the tragedies is through storytelling and story “listening. Sometimes all we have are our stories to tell – and -- our willingness to listen. 

Fortunate people survive tragedies. In doing so, they learn valuable lessons that can be passed on to those who are struggling. Oftentimes tragedies, great and small, teach us the most about human dignity and strength.

But there is much work to do if overcoming the divisions that separate us are to fall by the wayside; many mountains to climb, hurdles to overcome.

These reasons and many more are why I will be introducing the New Horizons Small “Zones of Peace” Storytelling Workshop Series next Saturday, October 14.

I will be there, along with some of my board members, who have been diligently working, day in and day out, behind the scenes to bring this program to you. 

Please join us! This is important!


A Vehicle For Overcoming Today’s Social and Political Polarization 


Saturday, October 14
2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Frederick Friends Meeting House
723 N. Market Street   Frederick, Maryland 21701


Your opportunity to get involved in a project that can lead your personal story to being archived, for infinity, in the StoryCorps/Small “Zones of Peace” Library of Congress collection.

For Details and Reservations, Contact: Anastasia Rosen-Jones
Email: HarpersFerryNH@aol.com Cell: 240.409.5347

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