[Music] [Laughter]
I learned to love stories from my
I learned to love stories from my grandmother and I didn’t just learn to
grandmother and I didn’t just learn to
grandmother and I didn’t just learn to love to listen to them I learned to love
love to listen to them I learned to love
love to listen to them I learned to love the way she cleared her throat like she
the way she cleared her throat like she
the way she cleared her throat like she was brushing the years old dust off the
was brushing the years old dust off the
was brushing the years old dust off the cover of a picture book the way her eyes
cover of a picture book the way her eyes
cover of a picture book the way her eyes sparkled when she knew the whole
sparkled when she knew the whole
sparkled when she knew the whole audience was wrapped up in every word
audience was wrapped up in every word
audience was wrapped up in every word the way a whole room went quiet when she
the way a whole room went quiet when she
the way a whole room went quiet when she spoke stringing words together until
spoke stringing words together until
spoke stringing words together until they’re less like words and more like
they’re less like words and more like
they’re less like words and more like poetry music art I learned to love
poetry music art I learned to love
poetry music art I learned to love stories from my grandmother she told
stories from my grandmother she told
stories from my grandmother she told stories of little boys and not so little
stories of little boys and not so little
stories of little boys and not so little girls of love and heartbreak of how much
girls of love and heartbreak of how much
girls of love and heartbreak of how much of how she worked every day to save
of how she worked every day to save
of how she worked every day to save lives but also how it feels from the
lives but also how it feels from the
lives but also how it feels from the lives around you end she told stories
lives around you end she told stories
lives around you end she told stories over cinnamon rolls and ginger creams
over cinnamon rolls and ginger creams
over cinnamon rolls and ginger creams never seeming to pause for air but
never seeming to pause for air but
never seeming to pause for air but sometimes stopping to dip one finger in
sometimes stopping to dip one finger in
sometimes stopping to dip one finger in the vanilla icing winking at me as if
the vanilla icing winking at me as if
the vanilla icing winking at me as if she were a little girl again I learned
she were a little girl again I learned
she were a little girl again I learned to love stories from my grandmother I
to love stories from my grandmother I
to love stories from my grandmother I learned to love stories because she
learned to love stories because she
learned to love stories because she filled my ears with words and eventually
filled my ears with words and eventually
filled my ears with words and eventually I learned to carefully place them into
I learned to carefully place them into
I learned to carefully place them into my heart she reminded me that without
my heart she reminded me that without
my heart she reminded me that without these words without these stories there
these words without these stories there
these words without these stories there is no music no paintings no poetry she
is no music no paintings no poetry she
is no music no paintings no poetry she reminded me that without these words we
reminded me that without these words we
reminded me that without these words we must not go on listen she told me listen
must not go on listen she told me listen
must not go on listen she told me listen to everything and now she would tell me
to everything and now she would tell me
to everything and now she would tell me stand up and speak anthropologists tell
stand up and speak anthropologists tell
stand up and speak anthropologists tell us that storytelling is fundamental to
us that storytelling is fundamental to
us that storytelling is fundamental to human existence a valuable form of human
human existence a valuable form of human
human existence a valuable form of human expression that gives us both that
expression that gives us both that
expression that gives us both that propels us gives us both useful and
propels us gives us both useful and
propels us gives us both useful and Meishan and emotional connections and
Meishan and emotional connections and
Meishan and emotional connections and propels us forward as a human race this
propels us forward as a human race this
propels us forward as a human race this is the Shaw baked Haven France it is
is the Shaw baked Haven France it is
is the Shaw baked Haven France it is filled with intricate drawings more than
filled with intricate drawings more than
filled with intricate drawings more than 30,000 years old that depict epic bison
30,000 years old that depict epic bison
30,000 years old that depict epic bison and deer hunts demonstrate how to skin
and deer hunts demonstrate how to skin
and deer hunts demonstrate how to skin an antelope show how to build a fire
an antelope show how to build a fire
an antelope show how to build a fire well marine scientists have still never
well marine scientists have still never
well marine scientists have still never seen a great white shark reproduce
seen a great white shark reproduce
seen a great white shark reproduce historians know nearly every detail
historians know nearly every detail
historians know nearly every detail about ancient Mesoamerican societies
about ancient Mesoamerican societies
about ancient Mesoamerican societies solely from their Cody’s writing systems
solely from their Cody’s writing systems
solely from their Cody’s writing systems on another hand Native American history
on another hand Native American history
on another hand Native American history is nearly entirely learned and passed
is nearly entirely learned and passed
is nearly entirely learned and passed down through the oral tradition these
down through the oral tradition these
down through the oral tradition these examples seem contradictory drawings on
examples seem contradictory drawings on
examples seem contradictory drawings on a wall versus Scrolls of coded language
a wall versus Scrolls of coded language
a wall versus Scrolls of coded language versus a tale woven by an old Sioux
versus a tale woven by an old Sioux
versus a tale woven by an old Sioux grandmother in a rocking chair but at
grandmother in a rocking chair but at
grandmother in a rocking chair but at the core they’re all the same thing
the core they’re all the same thing
the core they’re all the same thing stories they reflect a universal
stories they reflect a universal
stories they reflect a universal language that all can understand and
language that all can understand and
language that all can understand and agree these stories mean as much to the
agree these stories mean as much to the
agree these stories mean as much to the people who created and shared them as
people who created and shared them as
people who created and shared them as they do to the scientists who uncover
they do to the scientists who uncover
they do to the scientists who uncover them today while humanity’s ancestors
them today while humanity’s ancestors
them today while humanity’s ancestors just wanted to tell a couple people
just wanted to tell a couple people
just wanted to tell a couple people about a hunt or a way of worship its
about a hunt or a way of worship its
about a hunt or a way of worship its historians find these same stories to be
historians find these same stories to be
historians find these same stories to be keys crucial to be unlocking the
keys crucial to be unlocking the
keys crucial to be unlocking the mysteries of who we are and where we
mysteries of who we are and where we
mysteries of who we are and where we came from these forms of communication
came from these forms of communication
came from these forms of communication have evolved to become something far
have evolved to become something far
have evolved to become something far greater than just a passing of patterns
greater than just a passing of patterns
greater than just a passing of patterns between a teller and a listener they
between a teller and a listener they
between a teller and a listener they have drawn lines that span the globe
have drawn lines that span the globe
have drawn lines that span the globe with no regard for the language barriers
with no regard for the language barriers
with no regard for the language barriers cultural differences or military borders
cultural differences or military borders
cultural differences or military borders as Frank rose stated in his book the art
as Frank rose stated in his book the art
as Frank rose stated in his book the art of immersion we tell stories to make
of immersion we tell stories to make
of immersion we tell stories to make sense of the world and to share that
sense of the world and to share that
sense of the world and to share that knowledge with others without
knowledge with others without
knowledge with others without storytelling we would never know what it
storytelling we would never know what it
storytelling we would never know what it is like to have anything but our own
is like to have anything but our own
is like to have anything but our own lives this thought has terrified me for
lives this thought has terrified me for
lives this thought has terrified me for as long as I can remember when I was
as long as I can remember when I was
as long as I can remember when I was little I would ask my cousins
little I would ask my cousins
little I would ask my cousins to describe their days to me this
to describe their days to me this
to describe their days to me this confused them they wanted to tell me
confused them they wanted to tell me
confused them they wanted to tell me about the exciting parts of their life
about the exciting parts of their life
about the exciting parts of their life when all I honestly wanted to know was
when all I honestly wanted to know was
when all I honestly wanted to know was whether or not the breakfast before
whether or not the breakfast before
whether or not the breakfast before getting just her after and who they sat
getting just her after and who they sat
getting just her after and who they sat with at lunch and whether they could see
with at lunch and whether they could see
with at lunch and whether they could see the stars at night when the Sun set I
the stars at night when the Sun set I
the stars at night when the Sun set I wanted to close my eyes and imagine what
wanted to close my eyes and imagine what
wanted to close my eyes and imagine what it was like to be an authors daughter in
it was like to be an authors daughter in
it was like to be an authors daughter in Texas or part of a farm family in
Texas or part of a farm family in
Texas or part of a farm family in Wisconsin it to be a boy home schooled
Wisconsin it to be a boy home schooled
Wisconsin it to be a boy home schooled in the bush of Tanzania because all I
in the bush of Tanzania because all I
in the bush of Tanzania because all I knew was what it was like to be a little
knew was what it was like to be a little
knew was what it was like to be a little girl growing up at the base of the Rocky
girl growing up at the base of the Rocky
girl growing up at the base of the Rocky Mountains
Mountains
Mountains and I didn’t discredit this I made sure
and I didn’t discredit this I made sure
and I didn’t discredit this I made sure that after my cousin’s had told me about
that after my cousin’s had told me about
that after my cousin’s had told me about themselves I got to tell them about how
themselves I got to tell them about how
themselves I got to tell them about how blue the sky is here on a clear day the
blue the sky is here on a clear day the
blue the sky is here on a clear day the way that the morning fog sinks to the
way that the morning fog sinks to the
way that the morning fog sinks to the bottom of the valley and then uncloaked
bottom of the valley and then uncloaked
bottom of the valley and then uncloaked the mountains as the Sun rises how quiet
the mountains as the Sun rises how quiet
the mountains as the Sun rises how quiet it gets when it smells I wanted them to
it gets when it smells I wanted them to
it gets when it smells I wanted them to know these things I needed them to know
know these things I needed them to know
know these things I needed them to know these things because how could we all
these things because how could we all
these things because how could we all possibly be ok was living just one life
possibly be ok was living just one life
possibly be ok was living just one life as I got older I learned about how truly
as I got older I learned about how truly
as I got older I learned about how truly big and very different and this issue
big and very different and this issue
big and very different and this issue only intensified I would sit in airports
only intensified I would sit in airports
only intensified I would sit in airports for hours on end and imagine entire
for hours on end and imagine entire
for hours on end and imagine entire lives for the people who moved around me
lives for the people who moved around me
lives for the people who moved around me that tall girl over there drinking water
that tall girl over there drinking water
that tall girl over there drinking water she’s surely one from the trees but else
she’s surely one from the trees but else
she’s surely one from the trees but else for those long arms be used for besides
for those long arms be used for besides
for those long arms be used for besides swinging from branch to branch that man
swinging from branch to branch that man
swinging from branch to branch that man wearing hiking boots I’m sure he slept
wearing hiking boots I’m sure he slept
wearing hiking boots I’m sure he slept on every single one of the Seven Summits
on every single one of the Seven Summits
on every single one of the Seven Summits that mom balancing 7 Starbucks coffees I
that mom balancing 7 Starbucks coffees I
that mom balancing 7 Starbucks coffees I think she travels with the circus when
think she travels with the circus when
think she travels with the circus when she’s not busy carpooling her triplet
she’s not busy carpooling her triplet
she’s not busy carpooling her triplet daughters to and from soccer practice
daughters to and from soccer practice
daughters to and from soccer practice and the little girl holding up seashells
and the little girl holding up seashells
and the little girl holding up seashells to her ears she’s listening to the ocean
to her ears she’s listening to the ocean
to her ears she’s listening to the ocean because one day she’ll find it and never
because one day she’ll find it and never
because one day she’ll find it and never we’ve inside these are stories I
we’ve inside these are stories I
we’ve inside these are stories I invented for people through them I could
invented for people through them I could
invented for people through them I could in a way with other lives but it was
in a way with other lives but it was
in a way with other lives but it was still so safe and protected and it as I
still so safe and protected and it as I
still so safe and protected and it as I found out when it comes to real life and
found out when it comes to real life and
found out when it comes to real life and real stories they will always have they
real stories they will always have they
real stories they will always have they all they will always win when it comes
all they will always win when it comes
all they will always win when it comes to crazy this is a couple I met on a
to crazy this is a couple I met on a
to crazy this is a couple I met on a boat trip in the British Virgin Islands
boat trip in the British Virgin Islands
boat trip in the British Virgin Islands they had a boost at an oceanside flea
they had a boost at an oceanside flea
they had a boost at an oceanside flea market and they sold everyday items
market and they sold everyday items
market and they sold everyday items hats bags sunglasses cases all made out
hats bags sunglasses cases all made out
hats bags sunglasses cases all made out of different flags the day we went it
of different flags the day we went it
of different flags the day we went it was pouring rain the kind of rain you
was pouring rain the kind of rain you
was pouring rain the kind of rain you would never see here we took refuge
would never see here we took refuge
would never see here we took refuge under the couple’s tent and I asked them
under the couple’s tent and I asked them
under the couple’s tent and I asked them where they got all of their flags the
where they got all of their flags the
where they got all of their flags the man told me and heavily accented and
man told me and heavily accented and
man told me and heavily accented and broken English that they had sailed all
broken English that they had sailed all
broken English that they had sailed all around the Atlantic for seven years up
around the Atlantic for seven years up
around the Atlantic for seven years up and down the Caribbean all along the
and down the Caribbean all along the
and down the Caribbean all along the eastern coast of South America and they
eastern coast of South America and they
eastern coast of South America and they stopped at every boat they found that
stopped at every boat they found that
stopped at every boat they found that was flying a flag they would more close
was flying a flag they would more close
was flying a flag they would more close to the boat and then ask whoever was on
to the boat and then ask whoever was on
to the boat and then ask whoever was on board what their story was his wife told
board what their story was his wife told
board what their story was his wife told me that they gave no further promptings
me that they gave no further promptings
me that they gave no further promptings but the things they heard and learned
but the things they heard and learned
but the things they heard and learned from these people was more than they
from these people was more than they
from these people was more than they could have ever expected after talking
could have ever expected after talking
could have ever expected after talking for just a couple minutes or sometimes
for just a couple minutes or sometimes
for just a couple minutes or sometimes over hours and meals these two would
over hours and meals these two would
over hours and meals these two would leave with a whole other life they had
leave with a whole other life they had
leave with a whole other life they had learned about and they always asked
learned about and they always asked
learned about and they always asked their new friend for a piece of their
their new friend for a piece of their
their new friend for a piece of their flag I stood there with my mouth at gape
flag I stood there with my mouth at gape
flag I stood there with my mouth at gape these two had collected hundreds of flag
these two had collected hundreds of flag
these two had collected hundreds of flag pieces and stitch them together I
pieces and stitch them together I
pieces and stitch them together I couldn’t conceive how many people they
couldn’t conceive how many people they
couldn’t conceive how many people they had met how many stories they had been
had met how many stories they had been
had met how many stories they had been told I asked why they sold them this was
told I asked why they sold them this was
told I asked why they sold them this was an art form a lifetime of work put
an art form a lifetime of work put
an art form a lifetime of work put together way the man told me smiling the
together way the man told me smiling the
together way the man told me smiling the world is a puzzle now we put together
world is a puzzle now we put together
world is a puzzle now we put together these pieces of the puzzle but we know
these pieces of the puzzle but we know
these pieces of the puzzle but we know the picture already unless we share the
the picture already unless we share the
the picture already unless we share the pieces the world hides forever from this
pieces the world hides forever from this
pieces the world hides forever from this moment I I had always craved others
moment I I had always craved others
moment I I had always craved others words stories of our histories and our
words stories of our histories and our
words stories of our histories and our pasts in the past of every
pasts in the past of every
pasts in the past of every we have ever met this couple sought to
we have ever met this couple sought to
we have ever met this couple sought to collect pieces of the world and they
collect pieces of the world and they
collect pieces of the world and they found them in the form of stories in
found them in the form of stories in
found them in the form of stories in fact there are parts of myself I only
fact there are parts of myself I only
fact there are parts of myself I only recognize from stories I don’t actually
recognize from stories I don’t actually
recognize from stories I don’t actually remember my great-grandmother but I can
remember my great-grandmother but I can
remember my great-grandmother but I can hear her voice calling death decided to
hear her voice calling death decided to
hear her voice calling death decided to call us home for dinner I was too young
call us home for dinner I was too young
call us home for dinner I was too young to remember living in the shadow of a
to remember living in the shadow of a
to remember living in the shadow of a mountain but my parents have coached me
mountain but my parents have coached me
mountain but my parents have coached me to recall the warmth of the wood burning
to recall the warmth of the wood burning
to recall the warmth of the wood burning fire in the living room when we truly
fire in the living room when we truly
fire in the living room when we truly listen to stories we can learn about
listen to stories we can learn about
listen to stories we can learn about other cultures in a way that history
other cultures in a way that history
other cultures in a way that history books will never be able to replicate
books will never be able to replicate
books will never be able to replicate all of humanity deserves to understand
all of humanity deserves to understand
all of humanity deserves to understand the journey is the individuals and that
the journey is the individuals and that
the journey is the individuals and that have pushed individuals and the larger
have pushed individuals and the larger
have pushed individuals and the larger groups they belong to forward in this
groups they belong to forward in this
groups they belong to forward in this compassion will propel us for the fuller
compassion will propel us for the fuller
compassion will propel us for the fuller understanding of this diverse world just
understanding of this diverse world just
understanding of this diverse world just like the couple and their Flags that I
like the couple and their Flags that I
like the couple and their Flags that I found in the pouring rain
found in the pouring rain
found in the pouring rain we must it together our own stories to
we must it together our own stories to
we must it together our own stories to add to the puzzle that is the world
add to the puzzle that is the world
add to the puzzle that is the world every piece is different but without
every piece is different but without
every piece is different but without them as my grandmother would tell me
them as my grandmother would tell me
them as my grandmother would tell me there is no final picture stories
there is no final picture stories
there is no final picture stories transpose all barriers that
transpose all barriers that
transpose all barriers that misunderstanding has ever made and they
misunderstanding has ever made and they
misunderstanding has ever made and they build bridges to connect worlds that
build bridges to connect worlds that
build bridges to connect worlds that would otherwise never come together this
would otherwise never come together this
would otherwise never come together this is the impossible connection that we
is the impossible connection that we
is the impossible connection that we seek through stories one that allows us
seek through stories one that allows us
seek through stories one that allows us to live other lives
to live other lives
to live other lives this is a video from my longest freedive
this is a video from my longest freedive
this is a video from my longest freedive ever my personal record
ever my personal record
ever my personal record freediving is deep diving without the
freediving is deep diving without the
freediving is deep diving without the support of compressed air beneath the
support of compressed air beneath the
support of compressed air beneath the water more bridges are made diving deep
water more bridges are made diving deep
water more bridges are made diving deep on a single breath words become silenced
on a single breath words become silenced
on a single breath words become silenced during this dive as I neared the
during this dive as I neared the
during this dive as I neared the 3-minute mark my lungs began to burn my
3-minute mark my lungs began to burn my
3-minute mark my lungs began to burn my muscles twitched and every part of my
muscles twitched and every part of my
muscles twitched and every part of my body willed me to return to the surface
body willed me to return to the surface
body willed me to return to the surface but as I prepared to end my dive I
but as I prepared to end my dive I
but as I prepared to end my dive I looked into the eyes of the sea turtle I
looked into the eyes of the sea turtle I
looked into the eyes of the sea turtle I matched his gentle glide the calm way
matched his gentle glide the calm way
matched his gentle glide the calm way that he surveyed the beauty of the ocean
that he surveyed the beauty of the ocean
that he surveyed the beauty of the ocean floor before him I was able to slow down
floor before him I was able to slow down
floor before him I was able to slow down and see clearly I no longer felt the
and see clearly I no longer felt the
and see clearly I no longer felt the need to return to the comfort of air as
need to return to the comfort of air as
need to return to the comfort of air as we swam together and sink although no
we swam together and sink although no
we swam together and sink although no words or gestures were
words or gestures were
words or gestures were changed I understood his world and I
changed I understood his world and I
changed I understood his world and I heard his story the impossible
heard his story the impossible
heard his story the impossible connection is there it is moving living
connection is there it is moving living
connection is there it is moving living with every living thing waiting for us
with every living thing waiting for us
with every living thing waiting for us to find the pieces of the world to find
to find the pieces of the world to find
to find the pieces of the world to find the words and hold them close to our
the words and hold them close to our
the words and hold them close to our heart the pieces of the world are
heart the pieces of the world are
heart the pieces of the world are waiting we just have to listen
”
Be First to Comment