Many stories or a single story
This morning while at the gym I listened again to a Ted Talk, “The danger of a single story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
I often need to remind myself that no matter how much I am tempted to look for stories which reinforce a single story I have already logged into my memory bank, if I am truly interested in being part of universal tribe I need to take the advice of wise people such as Ms. Adichie. As a child the books she read painted a picture which did not include her. It was only when she began to read African books that the stories included her. She gives many examples of seeing others only as the poor hired help in her Nigerian family household, of others seeing African as a country with a single story and not a continent of many people with many stories.
As a counselor I am often acutely reminded that early in our childhood we learn or create a story of ourselves, others and the universe. Often when I see those children as adults those stories still dictate the parameters of their thoughts. Some, such as my friend Beverly, learned that despite some physical differences the world was theirs to enjoy. Others, learn a story which dictate a very tiny world with few opportunities, Often if one was to take on the role of a street mime and accurately intimidate the walk of the person with a tiny world, they would discover a lot of fear about changing or enlarging their story.
Just last week I spent time with this man whose life dance was the story of this very tiny man who did not deserve to have a strong, joyful dance. At the end of the hour I “discovered” that he was much taller than I and could claim a story the details of which had yet to be written. This morning I saw a man whose story has often been written as one of shame for being a human. His story was largely written by what he “heard”
the elders of the church teaching him about the sins of his feelings and his powerlessness to be a person who deserved to be loved and respected. That often repeated story became his single story which, no matter his enormous achievements, determined his worth.
Recently when I was talking with someone I made what I intended as a casual remark about the reception of immigrants in this country. Silly me. I should have known that one cannot these days make a casual remark about this subject without being told that there is a single story which dictates the rights of people to come to this country. My story which allows for a variety of ways to be welcomed to my home is a different story than what the other person has learned and believes.
Today my spiritual intention was to open my mind and my heart to many stories about a range of subjects; to listen without determining its validity by comparing it to my single story about the subject being shared.
There are many stories about who we are as United States citizens. There are many stories about who we are as North Americans or one of the countries comprising the Americas. There are many stories of who we are as Native Americans or immigrants; about who we are as a neighbor; about who we are in relation to other countries around the globe. There are many stories of who we are spiritually; about what it means to be human; about who we are as males and females; about who we are racially; about who we are sexually. A single story always limits us and limits how or if our story can live with other single stories.
Written November 18, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
This morning while at the gym I listened again to a Ted Talk, “The danger of a single story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
I often need to remind myself that no matter how much I am tempted to look for stories which reinforce a single story I have already logged into my memory bank, if I am truly interested in being part of universal tribe I need to take the advice of wise people such as Ms. Adichie. As a child the books she read painted a picture which did not include her. It was only when she began to read African books that the stories included her. She gives many examples of seeing others only as the poor hired help in her Nigerian family household, of others seeing African as a country with a single story and not a continent of many people with many stories.
As a counselor I am often acutely reminded that early in our childhood we learn or create a story of ourselves, others and the universe. Often when I see those children as adults those stories still dictate the parameters of their thoughts. Some, such as my friend Beverly, learned that despite some physical differences the world was theirs to enjoy. Others, learn a story which dictate a very tiny world with few opportunities, Often if one was to take on the role of a street mime and accurately intimidate the walk of the person with a tiny world, they would discover a lot of fear about changing or enlarging their story.
Just last week I spent time with this man whose life dance was the story of this very tiny man who did not deserve to have a strong, joyful dance. At the end of the hour I “discovered” that he was much taller than I and could claim a story the details of which had yet to be written. This morning I saw a man whose story has often been written as one of shame for being a human. His story was largely written by what he “heard”
the elders of the church teaching him about the sins of his feelings and his powerlessness to be a person who deserved to be loved and respected. That often repeated story became his single story which, no matter his enormous achievements, determined his worth.
Recently when I was talking with someone I made what I intended as a casual remark about the reception of immigrants in this country. Silly me. I should have known that one cannot these days make a casual remark about this subject without being told that there is a single story which dictates the rights of people to come to this country. My story which allows for a variety of ways to be welcomed to my home is a different story than what the other person has learned and believes.
Today my spiritual intention was to open my mind and my heart to many stories about a range of subjects; to listen without determining its validity by comparing it to my single story about the subject being shared.
There are many stories about who we are as United States citizens. There are many stories about who we are as North Americans or one of the countries comprising the Americas. There are many stories of who we are as Native Americans or immigrants; about who we are as a neighbor; about who we are in relation to other countries around the globe. There are many stories of who we are spiritually; about what it means to be human; about who we are as males and females; about who we are racially; about who we are sexually. A single story always limits us and limits how or if our story can live with other single stories.
Written November 18, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
RSS Feed