[Applause] to begin a traditional Jewish boat I’m
to begin a traditional Jewish boat I’m
to begin a traditional Jewish boat I’m actually an adaptive pagan version of
actually an adaptive pagan version of
actually an adaptive pagan version of one once upon a time Ruby the old witch
one once upon a time Ruby the old witch
one once upon a time Ruby the old witch they done and in the morning her three
they done and in the morning her three
they done and in the morning her three apprentices came into her room and they
apprentices came into her room and they
apprentices came into her room and they took one look at Ruby and they said what
took one look at Ruby and they said what
took one look at Ruby and they said what on earth is the matter and Ruby said I
on earth is the matter and Ruby said I
on earth is the matter and Ruby said I have had a dream and I know the question
have had a dream and I know the question
have had a dream and I know the question the great mother will ask me at the end
the great mother will ask me at the end
the great mother will ask me at the end of my life Ruby you have been an
of my life Ruby you have been an
of my life Ruby you have been an exemplary witch
exemplary witch
exemplary witch what could you possibly ask you that
what could you possibly ask you that
what could you possibly ask you that what have you so frightened I know that
what have you so frightened I know that
what have you so frightened I know that she will not ask me why won’t you more
she will not ask me why won’t you more
she will not ask me why won’t you more like Brigid loyal and devoted she will
like Brigid loyal and devoted she will
like Brigid loyal and devoted she will not ask me why won’t you more like one
not ask me why won’t you more like one
not ask me why won’t you more like one year faithful and strong and she won’t
year faithful and strong and she won’t
year faithful and strong and she won’t ask me why Ritchie more like Lena’s
ask me why Ritchie more like Lena’s
ask me why Ritchie more like Lena’s loving and kind
loving and kind
loving and kind no she will say Ruby why weren’t you
no she will say Ruby why weren’t you
no she will say Ruby why weren’t you more like Ruby and then what will I say
what could to be that truly a service
what could to be that truly a service requires great courage and confidence
requires great courage and confidence
requires great courage and confidence but more than anything it requires that
but more than anything it requires that
but more than anything it requires that we take the time to know ourselves a
we take the time to know ourselves a
we take the time to know ourselves a practice not a destination it requires
practice not a destination it requires
practice not a destination it requires that we regularly contemplate the
that we regularly contemplate the
that we regularly contemplate the age-old questions Who am I and why am I
age-old questions Who am I and why am I
age-old questions Who am I and why am I here but these questions are often too
here but these questions are often too
here but these questions are often too abstract for us to get our head around
abstract for us to get our head around
abstract for us to get our head around and that’s where its storytelling
and that’s where its storytelling
and that’s where its storytelling housing it’s the superpower we have that
housing it’s the superpower we have that
housing it’s the superpower we have that grounds and reflections in our
grounds and reflections in our
grounds and reflections in our experiences and allows us to explore
experiences and allows us to explore
experiences and allows us to explore these questions
these questions
these questions and then share them there’s a mountain
and then share them there’s a mountain
and then share them there’s a mountain of evidence and research about the power
of evidence and research about the power
of evidence and research about the power of storytelling in its impact on the
of storytelling in its impact on the
of storytelling in its impact on the audience we are thus way third
audience we are thus way third
audience we are thus way third entertained engaged connected and I want
entertained engaged connected and I want
entertained engaged connected and I want us to accept as a given those powers of
us to accept as a given those powers of
us to accept as a given those powers of storytelling is are going to explore
storytelling is are going to explore
storytelling is are going to explore storytelling from a different angle from
storytelling from a different angle from
storytelling from a different angle from the angle of its impact on the person
the angle of its impact on the person
the angle of its impact on the person doing Italian I want to show you that
doing Italian I want to show you that
doing Italian I want to show you that our that storytelling can support us to
our that storytelling can support us to
our that storytelling can support us to these more satisfying lives by enabling
these more satisfying lives by enabling
these more satisfying lives by enabling us to reflect upon and deepen the
us to reflect upon and deepen the
us to reflect upon and deepen the meaning of our experiences but first is
meaning of our experiences but first is
meaning of our experiences but first is were storytelling it’s a pretty rubbery
were storytelling it’s a pretty rubbery
were storytelling it’s a pretty rubbery buzzword it’s a bit like creativity or
buzzword it’s a bit like creativity or
buzzword it’s a bit like creativity or innovation to have many different
innovation to have many different
innovation to have many different meanings the storytelling I’m talking
meanings the storytelling I’m talking
meanings the storytelling I’m talking about has five core qualities the first
about has five core qualities the first
about has five core qualities the first is that it’s oral and told live before a
is that it’s oral and told live before a
is that it’s oral and told live before a live audience
live audience
live audience without knives this memoirists
without knives this memoirists
without knives this memoirists filmmakers audio storytellers they all
filmmakers audio storytellers they all
filmmakers audio storytellers they all gain insight from their process but as
gain insight from their process but as
gain insight from their process but as the emotions researcher the professor of
the emotions researcher the professor of
the emotions researcher the professor of psychology Barbara Fredrickson says and
psychology Barbara Fredrickson says and
psychology Barbara Fredrickson says and I quote true connection is physical and
I quote true connection is physical and
I quote true connection is physical and unfolds in real time the second quality
unfolds in real time the second quality
unfolds in real time the second quality is that the story is true and personal
is that the story is true and personal
is that the story is true and personal to the teller it’s about their lived
to the teller it’s about their lived
to the teller it’s about their lived experience the third quality is that the
experience the third quality is that the
experience the third quality is that the story holds meaning it tells us about
story holds meaning it tells us about
story holds meaning it tells us about the internal journey as well as the
the internal journey as well as the
the internal journey as well as the external events experienced by the
external events experienced by the
external events experienced by the teller and within the story is invented
teller and within the story is invented
teller and within the story is invented a comment about life the fourth quality
a comment about life the fourth quality
a comment about life the fourth quality is that it’s told in what I call
is that it’s told in what I call
is that it’s told in what I call performance time which means that the
performance time which means that the
performance time which means that the seller is not in to
seller is not in to
seller is not in to they have the floor this allows that
they have the floor this allows that
they have the floor this allows that teller to relax into their story but
teller to relax into their story but
teller to relax into their story but also ensures the audience listens to
also ensures the audience listens to
also ensures the audience listens to understand not to reply the fifth
understand not to reply the fifth
understand not to reply the fifth quality is that the story is given as a
quality is that the story is given as a
quality is that the story is given as a gift and this is what distinguishes it
gift and this is what distinguishes it
gift and this is what distinguishes it from therapy because it’s given as a
from therapy because it’s given as a
from therapy because it’s given as a gift the teller needs to ensure that the
gift the teller needs to ensure that the
gift the teller needs to ensure that the story is complete and finished it’s a
story is complete and finished it’s a
story is complete and finished it’s a satisfying whole it’s not something
satisfying whole it’s not something
satisfying whole it’s not something that’s raw or confused or unprocessed so
that’s raw or confused or unprocessed so
that’s raw or confused or unprocessed so in the best way I know how to
in the best way I know how to
in the best way I know how to demonstrate the quality is to tell you a
demonstrate the quality is to tell you a
demonstrate the quality is to tell you a story when I was 25 my sister came and
story when I was 25 my sister came and
story when I was 25 my sister came and asked me if I would speak at her 21st
asked me if I would speak at her 21st
asked me if I would speak at her 21st birthday and I said of course I would be
birthday and I said of course I would be
birthday and I said of course I would be honored I had in fact been driving her
honored I had in fact been driving her
honored I had in fact been driving her for about 10 years it was part of our
for about 10 years it was part of our
for about 10 years it was part of our mother’s feminist legacy that we would
mother’s feminist legacy that we would
mother’s feminist legacy that we would have a voice and we would ask women to
have a voice and we would ask women to
have a voice and we would ask women to speak on our behalf were merely
speak on our behalf were merely
speak on our behalf were merely opportunity and I had visions of telling
opportunity and I had visions of telling
opportunity and I had visions of telling a brilliant speech it would be hard felt
a brilliant speech it would be hard felt
a brilliant speech it would be hard felt people would laugh and cry before
people would laugh and cry before
people would laugh and cry before stories would be moving but right up
stories would be moving but right up
stories would be moving but right up until the day of the party I couldn’t
until the day of the party I couldn’t
until the day of the party I couldn’t think of anything more than a list of
think of anything more than a list of
think of anything more than a list of adjectives about my sister so I’m hoping
adjectives about my sister so I’m hoping
adjectives about my sister so I’m hoping prepared at my mom’s house and I have to
prepared at my mom’s house and I have to
prepared at my mom’s house and I have to take myself off to do some more work on
take myself off to do some more work on
take myself off to do some more work on the speech and I sit down with a piece
the speech and I sit down with a piece
the speech and I sit down with a piece of paper in her spare room and I I wrote
of paper in her spare room and I I wrote
of paper in her spare room and I I wrote Amanda’s wonderful I love Amanda she’s a
Amanda’s wonderful I love Amanda she’s a
Amanda’s wonderful I love Amanda she’s a great sister nothing else so I really
great sister nothing else so I really
great sister nothing else so I really think my sister has lived an incredibly
think my sister has lived an incredibly
think my sister has lived an incredibly dull life but the reality was I didn’t
dull life but the reality was I didn’t
dull life but the reality was I didn’t come from
come from
come from family I come from a political family we
family I come from a political family we
family I come from a political family we would argue to or bloom in the face
would argue to or bloom in the face
would argue to or bloom in the face about a policy but we didn’t tell the
about a policy but we didn’t tell the
about a policy but we didn’t tell the stories so in that moment I decide I’m
stories so in that moment I decide I’m
stories so in that moment I decide I’m gonna win it it’s done debating at
gonna win it it’s done debating at
gonna win it it’s done debating at school I was studying the law I’ve been
school I was studying the law I’ve been
school I was studying the law I’ve been told I’m quick on my feet it will just
told I’m quick on my feet it will just
told I’m quick on my feet it will just emerge fully formed when it needs to
emerge fully formed when it needs to
emerge fully formed when it needs to I don’t need that this is a righteous
I don’t need that this is a righteous
I don’t need that this is a righteous cause I have womankind to support me and
cause I have womankind to support me and
cause I have womankind to support me and I have love on my side so with that
I have love on my side so with that
I have love on my side so with that settled I go back to helping prepare for
settled I go back to helping prepare for
settled I go back to helping prepare for the party until the middle of the party
the party until the middle of the party
the party until the middle of the party and I’m handing around drinks and food
and I’m handing around drinks and food
and I’m handing around drinks and food and chatting to my sister’s friends and
and chatting to my sister’s friends and
and chatting to my sister’s friends and all I can think of this each idea but
all I can think of this each idea but
all I can think of this each idea but then I hear the tell-tale my mum has the
then I hear the tell-tale my mum has the
then I hear the tell-tale my mum has the glass he stands up his welcome everyone
glass he stands up his welcome everyone
glass he stands up his welcome everyone for coming she’s so proud of her baby
for coming she’s so proud of her baby
for coming she’s so proud of her baby daughter she’s asked her big sister
daughter she’s asked her big sister
daughter she’s asked her big sister Katie to say a few words
Katie to say a few words
Katie to say a few words I step up and I think you all for coming
I step up and I think you all for coming
I step up and I think you all for coming it’s a wonderful to see you all
it’s a wonderful to see you all
it’s a wonderful to see you all Amanda’s a wonderful sister she’s a
Amanda’s a wonderful sister she’s a
Amanda’s a wonderful sister she’s a really terrific wonderful woman she’s a
really terrific wonderful woman she’s a
really terrific wonderful woman she’s a fantastic person she’s a really really
fantastic person she’s a really really
fantastic person she’s a really really really I know pretty quickly there’s no
really I know pretty quickly there’s no
really I know pretty quickly there’s no more words I was a really really great
more words I was a really really great
more words I was a really really great person Thanks and there’s a balance and
person Thanks and there’s a balance and
person Thanks and there’s a balance and my sister is a few words and there’s a
my sister is a few words and there’s a
my sister is a few words and there’s a bit of polite cause and everyone gets
bit of polite cause and everyone gets
bit of polite cause and everyone gets back to the party and I stand there
back to the party and I stand there
back to the party and I stand there holding it together until my aunt my
holding it together until my aunt my
holding it together until my aunt my mum’s younger sister with the flaming
mum’s younger sister with the flaming
mum’s younger sister with the flaming red hair and
red hair and
red hair and flowing robes makes a beeline for me
flowing robes makes a beeline for me
flowing robes makes a beeline for me across the room and she says what was
across the room and she says what was
across the room and she says what was that what are you thinking and I flee
that what are you thinking and I flee
that what are you thinking and I flee the room and I throw myself in bed and I
the room and I throw myself in bed and I
the room and I throw myself in bed and I cry my heart and after a while I pull
cry my heart and after a while I pull
cry my heart and after a while I pull myself together and in the thirty years
myself together and in the thirty years
myself together and in the thirty years once been asked to speak at a family
once been asked to speak at a family
once been asked to speak at a family function and even though those events
function and even though those events
function and even though those events drove my storytelling heart deep
drove my storytelling heart deep
drove my storytelling heart deep underground I know now that it was in
underground I know now that it was in
underground I know now that it was in that moment that my determination to
that moment that my determination to
that moment that my determination to learn to sell stories was born human
learn to sell stories was born human
learn to sell stories was born human beings are meaning at making machines we
beings are meaning at making machines we
beings are meaning at making machines we are constantly making sense with our
are constantly making sense with our
are constantly making sense with our experiences and the world around us
experiences and the world around us
experiences and the world around us sometimes we assign meaning in an
sometimes we assign meaning in an
sometimes we assign meaning in an instant like name sometimes it’s more
instant like name sometimes it’s more
instant like name sometimes it’s more complex and we need to process events
complex and we need to process events
complex and we need to process events and find a meeting that best fits our
and find a meeting that best fits our
and find a meeting that best fits our belief systems and once we’ve assigned a
belief systems and once we’ve assigned a
belief systems and once we’ve assigned a meeting we cast the diamond we take our
meeting we cast the diamond we take our
meeting we cast the diamond we take our memories to bed and sometimes that’s
memories to bed and sometimes that’s
memories to bed and sometimes that’s where they stay for the rest of our
where they stay for the rest of our
where they stay for the rest of our lives but any historian will tell you
lives but any historian will tell you
lives but any historian will tell you that meaning making is a dynamic and
that meaning making is a dynamic and
that meaning making is a dynamic and unfolding process history study involves
unfolding process history study involves
unfolding process history study involves two activities deciding what happened
two activities deciding what happened
two activities deciding what happened and making sense of what happened
and making sense of what happened
and making sense of what happened and one of them but particularly the
and one of them but particularly the
and one of them but particularly the making sense part is always changing
making sense part is always changing
making sense part is always changing when constantly
when constantly
when constantly in history as the Australian historian
in history as the Australian historian
in history as the Australian historian and a Clark says and I quote every
and a Clark says and I quote every
and a Clark says and I quote every generation has written the history of
generation has written the history of
generation has written the history of Australia quite differently without
Australia quite differently without
Australia quite differently without historical revision we would still be
historical revision we would still be
historical revision we would still be perpetuated the horrendous myth of terra
perpetuated the horrendous myth of terra
perpetuated the horrendous myth of terra nullius that this land was uninhabited
nullius that this land was uninhabited
nullius that this land was uninhabited when the English first arrived without
when the English first arrived without
when the English first arrived without historical revision we wouldn’t be
historical revision we wouldn’t be
historical revision we wouldn’t be celebrating the great contribution of
celebrating the great contribution of
celebrating the great contribution of women whom had been written out of the
women whom had been written out of the
women whom had been written out of the history records simply because they were
history records simply because they were
history records simply because they were women it is right and proper that we
women it is right and proper that we
women it is right and proper that we looked at history through the eyes and
looked at history through the eyes and
looked at history through the eyes and mind of the present that’s how history
mind of the present that’s how history
mind of the present that’s how history serves us it enables us to look at the
serves us it enables us to look at the
serves us it enables us to look at the past in order to improve the present and
past in order to improve the present and
past in order to improve the present and anticipate the future we have whole
anticipate the future we have whole
anticipate the future we have whole departments degrees libraries museums
departments degrees libraries museums
departments degrees libraries museums dedicated to various forms of history
dedicated to various forms of history
dedicated to various forms of history but we don’t have a simple regular way
but we don’t have a simple regular way
but we don’t have a simple regular way of understanding our own histories it
of understanding our own histories it
of understanding our own histories it seems we’ve reserved that practice for
seems we’ve reserved that practice for
seems we’ve reserved that practice for men Waris or people in long term therapy
men Waris or people in long term therapy
men Waris or people in long term therapy but both of those apart from being
but both of those apart from being
but both of those apart from being fairly monumental undertakings miss the
fairly monumental undertakings miss the
fairly monumental undertakings miss the reciprocal communal aspect that is oral
reciprocal communal aspect that is oral
reciprocal communal aspect that is oral storytelling storytelling enables us to
storytelling storytelling enables us to
storytelling storytelling enables us to do many many things when I first started
do many many things when I first started
do many many things when I first started to choose to tell that story about my
to choose to tell that story about my
to choose to tell that story about my sister’s 21st birthday it was simply
sister’s 21st birthday it was simply
sister’s 21st birthday it was simply because there was a storytelling night
because there was a storytelling night
because there was a storytelling night where the topic was celebration and I
where the topic was celebration and I
where the topic was celebration and I thought there’s a climactic moment I’ll
thought there’s a climactic moment I’ll
thought there’s a climactic moment I’ll just tell that they might people might
just tell that they might people might
just tell that they might people might relate to it but as I started to prepare
relate to it but as I started to prepare
relate to it but as I started to prepare I had to ask myself are you ready to
I had to ask myself are you ready to
I had to ask myself are you ready to tell this story I had to sit it aside
tell this story I had to sit it aside
tell this story I had to sit it aside and do some songs to
and do some songs to
and do some songs to some sell forgiveness in order to tell
some sell forgiveness in order to tell
some sell forgiveness in order to tell the story not shrouded in shame but
the story not shrouded in shame but
the story not shrouded in shame but telling that story you know wouldn’t
telling that story you know wouldn’t
telling that story you know wouldn’t need to see how Shane was blocking me
need to see how Shane was blocking me
need to see how Shane was blocking me from my own understanding of the gifts
from my own understanding of the gifts
from my own understanding of the gifts that was in that failure telling that
that was in that failure telling that
that was in that failure telling that story enabled me to understand my drive
story enabled me to understand my drive
story enabled me to understand my drive to and fear of expressing myself and it
to and fear of expressing myself and it
to and fear of expressing myself and it reminded me of my original intention to
reminded me of my original intention to
reminded me of my original intention to speak well as something that’s a core
speak well as something that’s a core
speak well as something that’s a core part of who I am
part of who I am
part of who I am I told many stories since then and each
I told many stories since then and each
I told many stories since then and each time it’s like welcoming home a part of
time it’s like welcoming home a part of
time it’s like welcoming home a part of myself that I had long forgotten was me
myself that I had long forgotten was me
myself that I had long forgotten was me it’s like spilling onto my bones in a
it’s like spilling onto my bones in a
it’s like spilling onto my bones in a new and more satisfying way storytelling
new and more satisfying way storytelling
new and more satisfying way storytelling enables us to stand before others and
enables us to stand before others and
enables us to stand before others and say this is what I remember happened and
say this is what I remember happened and
say this is what I remember happened and I was feeling and thinking this and now
I was feeling and thinking this and now
I was feeling and thinking this and now looking back I can see how I was shaped
looking back I can see how I was shaped
looking back I can see how I was shaped how this taught me and this is Who I am
how this taught me and this is Who I am
how this taught me and this is Who I am today
today
today this kind of storytelling the kind with
this kind of storytelling the kind with
this kind of storytelling the kind with the five qualities are all told life is
the five qualities are all told life is
the five qualities are all told life is no notes it’s true and personal in holds
no notes it’s true and personal in holds
no notes it’s true and personal in holds meaning it’s told in performance time
meaning it’s told in performance time
meaning it’s told in performance time it’s taught as a gift this kind of
it’s taught as a gift this kind of
it’s taught as a gift this kind of storytelling it’s a bit like dream work
storytelling it’s a bit like dream work
storytelling it’s a bit like dream work and like dream work it will lead us if
and like dream work it will lead us if
and like dream work it will lead us if we let it to what we need to understand
we let it to what we need to understand
we let it to what we need to understand about ourselves this type of
about ourselves this type of
about ourselves this type of storytelling enables us to deepen into
storytelling enables us to deepen into
storytelling enables us to deepen into ourselves at the same time expanding out
ourselves at the same time expanding out
ourselves at the same time expanding out when we share
when we share
when we share so if you want to understand yourselves
so if you want to understand yourselves
so if you want to understand yourselves better and give your lives will meaning
better and give your lives will meaning
better and give your lives will meaning then craft and tell your stories and we
then craft and tell your stories and we
then craft and tell your stories and we open to the gifts and surprises along
open to the gifts and surprises along
open to the gifts and surprises along the way tell the stories that are
the way tell the stories that are
the way tell the stories that are nothing inside you to be told not the
nothing inside you to be told not the
nothing inside you to be told not the ones you think you ought to tell and
ones you think you ought to tell and
ones you think you ought to tell and embrace the messiness of the creative
embrace the messiness of the creative
embrace the messiness of the creative process but most of all just have a
process but most of all just have a
process but most of all just have a prank I always think the plan practice
prank I always think the plan practice
prank I always think the plan practice and prepare but sometimes the best place
and prepare but sometimes the best place
and prepare but sometimes the best place to start is simply to tell and if that
to start is simply to tell and if that
to start is simply to tell and if that means starting a storytelling event in
means starting a storytelling event in
means starting a storytelling event in your community your home your school or
your community your home your school or
your community your home your school or your workplace then do that too and
your workplace then do that too and
your workplace then do that too and remember that telling your stories well
remember that telling your stories well
remember that telling your stories well will also review the benefits of its
will also review the benefits of its
will also review the benefits of its impact on the audience where they will
impact on the audience where they will
impact on the audience where they will be engaged connected persuaded and
be engaged connected persuaded and
be engaged connected persuaded and understand you better
storytelling enables us to reclaim and
storytelling enables us to reclaim and restore our history in order that we may
restore our history in order that we may
restore our history in order that we may better know who we are in the present
better know who we are in the present
better know who we are in the present and the future what will you say if
and the future what will you say if
and the future what will you say if you’re asked why would you warm like you
”
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