The Importance of Storytelling

 Everything around me is clean. Not like a hospital, sterile and starched, but raw and untainted. The crispness of the air makes me shiver and huddle closer to my best friend as we stare in silence at the beauty that is Ireland. The soft, unfamiliar sound of the horses' hooves clip clop along the muddy path tugging the buggy that holds my whispering peers and I as we explore the wonders and magic of Ireland's largest national park. The scene is familiar enough with the abundance of greenery and the white skies and the damp, earthy air, but there is a deeper existence surrounding us, pushing against our souls as we delve deeper into the woods.
We pass by a woman walking her dog and the buggy driver greets her cheerfully. I am surprised a little. More often than not I've observed that strangers like to ignore each other, but these two greeted each other like old friends. The small gesture puts a smile on my face as I begin to appreciate the connectedness that this little island has. I huddle closer to my friend pulling our blanket tighter around us as I wonder what life would be like if this kind of friendliness and kindness was universal. I have always dreamt about that as a reality, but seeing it in action was something else.
That augmenting feeling, that deeper existence, seemed to amplify in that moment. Like a hum whispering from the ground, reverberating ever so slightly in my chest. There is an energy all around us, the likes of which I had never experienced before. It is old. Ancient. The low, whispering hum; the earthy, raw air that permeates my soul. As we pass by the vast, sloping hills I watch as battles of old rage across the countryside. In the still, mirror-like lochs I observe fishermen in handmade boats sitting on a summer's day as bright fairies flit across the surface of the water. Amongst the trees, elves and creatures dance to the tune of a flute playing tricks on the human children scampering through the woods on a cold, autumn's day. The energy is magic, and it is the eternal depth of the history of this one little island. I am overcome with the power of the stories written across those rolling pastures- peaceful now, but once racked by war- and the lives that breathed into the earth that this buggy is now trundling over carrying half a dozen kids who would never know them. It is in this moment that I realize the connectedness between the buggy driver and the dog walker. It is not simply a friendly greeting common among Irish folk, but an acknowledgment of their history and the love for their culture. A love that is so often forgotten in the controversial life of the United States of America.

It is here and now that I decide what I want to do. This moment teaches me that hundreds of years of shared stories can cause two complete strangers to act as old friends. To greet each other in a gesture of unity. Throughout my high school career I have been learning about the importance of storytelling as I have explored the world of creative writing, drama, and opera. Up until this moment, though, I simply told stories because it was fun and I was good at it, but then this moment happens, and then this moment passes, and I realize there is far more to storytelling than simple entertainment. Stories create unity and inspire love through connectedness, and that love is what we seem to be missing in so much of our society. A sad reality. In this moment, the energy- the magic -of this land fills me with a passion to seek and learn and tell. How could the stories I tell influence society? What impact could I have on the people I love through storytelling? It is in this moment that I choose my path. I am scared to follow it.
Storytelling is not an easy life to live. I am uncertain about my future and the stability of my comfort, but a buggy driver and a dog walker show me that your own home comforts are nothing compared to love shared through one's culture and one's history. How many stories are out there that have never been told and may never be told? How many of those stories could change someone's life? These questions circle my cacophonous mind every time I doubt myself. To live selflessly is to live for love and that is what I will need to do. I must be honest and genuine if I wish to influence even one life with a story I tell, whether it be through writing or music, both of which are my mediums. This moment is completely genuine. This moment is full of love. This moment teaches me that stories are not just created, but also create.