StoryTelling for Life, Holistic Use of Story for Education, Healing & Helping, Cultural Connections & Community Bldg, Book Blog

I am a member of the Canadian Association for Professional Speakers, (CAPS). I joined in 2005 because I wanted to improve my speaking skills and grow my business as a speaker, and workshop and meeting facilitator. My business at that time was about 80% storytelling for youth in schools and libraries, and the rest was speaking and facilitating for education, health and wellness, and aboriginal events and conferences. I wanted to do more of the professional development work because I saw that as a place to express my message and to grow.
 
At CAPS we have monthly professional development meetings with engaging and challenging speakers, -some of the best in the world. At out last meeting we covered the topic of Mentoring. We were challenged to acknowledge the people that have mentored us. As I pondered that, it immediately shifted into the framework of the book.
 
Who had mentored me in storytelling regarding education? Who had mentored me in regards to storytelling for healing and helping? Who had I turned to for cultural connections and community building? As I wrote down the names of the different people that came to mind, I realized that I wanted my readers to have the opportunity to connect with these teachers too.
 
I thought about carefully choosing quotes to include in the book, and I did decide to do that. But that wasn’t what I really wanted for my mentor list. I looked at the list and I wondered if I could dare to connect with these people – many who had mentored me with their books, never in person, and ask for them to help me make my book a more rounded offering to the storytelling community.
 
Then I reminded myself of the reason I was writing this. To step out of poverty consciousness and powerlessness and as my friend and elder counseled me, to step into my mastery. Why wouldn’t I acknowledge those that I feel have taught me?
 
So I looked at the first name on the list. A prolific writer, educator and storyteller – Joseph Bruchac