How Stories Can Help You Make New Friends?
I was twelve years old when I wrote my first article. It was a writing assignment where everybody in my class should write a prompt about the new school year. I found it a bit cliche to write a sequence of sentences and link them together. So, I went the other way. I wrote a small story between two friends who met at school right after the summer vacation, and each one of them was sharing how she spent her summer vacation. Ironically, I made the characters in my story say what I really wanted to say in my article on my behalf. It was unique, and I can recall that the whole class, including the teacher, loved the story and found it endearing. Hence, I learned that people tend to believe in stories-even if they weren’t true stories more than they do with facts. Stories always bring people together, humanize the other, and simplify complicated ideas.
I made the best friends I could ever have through stories, and I knew how bad people might turn out to be via stories.
Want to know how? Simple...
If you tell a story that you may seem vulnerable, weak, and desperate in it, wait and see how your audience or group of people may perceive it. If they used your story against you, then you should be thankful that your story unraveled their ugly truth.
If they sympathized with you, and that’s it, then those folks are good, but better keep them as acquaintances as they will keep your image imprinted in their minds as the weak, the desperate, and they won’t waste more time knowing the bright you.
And finally, If you tell your story to some people who tend to share a similar story to make you feel better, then these people are the best folks you could ever hang out with.
People who like to show their human side to others are the ones who seek true friends and real profound relationships.
Last year, I was willing to give a talk about one of my published books, “I’m different...I’m special!”. I had a feeling that none of the kids in the class liked me, but I went on anyway. I shared my story, how I was inspired to write the book and how it impacted people with different identities, backgrounds, mental abilities, social ranks, the shade of skin color, and faith. My message was clear. I emphasized the fact that we are all different in someone’s eye. After my talk and the big round of applause, the kids wrote back to me why each one of them thought he/she might be special. It was a heartfelt moment when I read their writings. They wrote things like “I think I’m special because I’m the only redhead in class.” Another one said, “I think I’m special because I’m the only Muslim in class!”. Another said,” I think I’m special because I’m funny.” And another kid wrote, “I think I’m special because I came from India.” It meant the world to me! And here is the funny one, someone wrote, "I think I'm special because I ate a lot of french fries."
Apparently, I learned that stories highlight the human side of us. Stories are us!
Now my friends, feel free to reach out to me through my email Shama_farag@outlook.com
Share with me what makes you feel special. What makes you feel unique? Looking forward to hearing your stories!
Also, visit my website
shamafarag.net
Feel free to check out my published writings here
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