What if...?

The essential question that's taken me down many paths, each one vastly different than the previous, has been the seed of every story, plot twist and character. Once asked, the answers that appear on the pages often amaze me, as the tale unfolds.

Frequently, I have no idea what the characters are going to do or what will ultimately happen until the story comes to an end. Similar to life itself, while in the process, the ending may not be as originally envisioned and seldom apparent until it has arrived.

Being open to receive what life offers, when unsure of how to ask for what is wanted or needed -and those two ideas can be worlds apart- is the beginning.

Why...?

Traditional storytellers, from early cultures diverse as the Cherokee Indians and the tellers of tales in the marketplaces of Arabia, explain: from stories we learn how to live.

In books, movies, and stories of every sort, exploration of vicarious experience can, if one chooses to learn from the lessons of the story's characters, help us to make better choices when faced with comparable dynamics in our own lives.

For a more definitive understanding of the meaning and application of these legendary elements, I recommend Joseph Campbell's The Hero With A Thousand Faces.