The Value of Telling Your Story
By, Liv Hayes
Little did I know that a community service evening designed to offer the opportunity for our Family Solutions Program participants to give back to their community, would have a powerful impact on all of us who were involved. The Wesley Court Assisted Living Community allowed our group to come in and lead the nightly bingo game for the residents. The Family Solutions Program students and their parents joined various residents at their respective tables and helped them with their bingo cards. Before we knew it conversations were being had and bonds were being formed.
As I was walking towards the other leaders I heard a weak voice almost whisper into my ear, “Who is going to help me? Will you help me? This girl is going to help me.” She had asked and declared I was going to help her before I could even respond, and I loved how she did that. Primarily blind due to macular degeneration, Ms. Allie Ruth and I were fast friends. As she played bingo and I helped her to locate the numbers that were called we started a conversation that had a profound effect on me. As she shared bits and pieces of her story I quickly realized she has been through so much. She didn’t seem to want my sympathy but just my ear. She simply wanted to tell her story and have someone listen. Isn’t that all anyone wants? To be given opportunities to share examples of meaningful experiences we have lived through helps to validate our significance in this world. Allie Ruth was a survivor in many ways. She had outlived many in her family and had been through multiple personal tragedies. Yet, through all of this, she maintained a positive outlook and she inspired me. She made me step back and look at my own life, my own story through a different lens. She reminded me how important it is to listen, to be available to listen.
I hope I can always be someone people feel comfortable sharing their stories with. There is much to be gained by doing this, both for the storyteller and the one who has the privilege to hear it. Tell your stories, be there for others to tell theirs to you and never underestimate the power of getting involved.
