Talks

I will be sharing one of my own motherhood stories at the first inaugural “Listen to Your Mother Show” on May 8, at 7:30, in the Kenan Auditorium at William Peace College. To purchase tickets, visit: http://www.listentoyourmothershow.com/raleighdurham/show-information-2/  All proceeds benefit SAFE CHILD.

I love to share this work. People attending my talks have said that, while my message seems so basic — encouraging people to stop and tell and really listen to one another’s stories amidst our busy, modern lives — it is so essential. Over the last decade, Dan Buettner, researcher and writer for National Geographic, has been examining”Blue Zones” around the world, those zones where a disproportionate amount of the population lives disability-free into their hundreds. Why? Certainly, traditions around eating and activity are factors, but of especial importance are our relationships. In those “Blue Zone” regions, such as Okinawa, Japan, people travel through their lives deeply connected to their communities. In Japanese, there are even distinct words which designate a friendship that has lasted over eighty years, over ninety years or over one hundred years. People have on average 15 relationships which they travel through life with, relationships with whom they can share their joys and their sorrows.

In the United States, according to surveys, fifteen years ago, we had three. Today we have one and a half.

We know our modern lives are bad for us. We know isolation kills.

I collect stories as an antidote against our disconnectedness. Stories connect us with what is wise in others and wise within ourselves.

What’s your story?