Updating Old Stories

A few days ago, I listened to a podcast about storytelling. The guest, a coach, mentioned she had written and posted one story a week for ten years. That stuck with me. And in the spirit of “why not give it a shot?”, here’s my first go:

A couple from my hometown in Wisconsin now lives just three blocks from me in Denver. Funny enough, we only realized a few years ago that we were neighbors again. One of my favorite things about reconnecting with them is how easily we fall into reminiscing. Last night, that meant flipping through our high school yearbook, The Wahiscan, from 40 years ago.

Looking back with older (hopefully wiser) eyes is kind of amazing. I find myself rethinking old memories and telling new, more generous versions of those stories. And hearing how my friends remember the same events – through their own lenses – adds even more layers.

One of my coaches often about the value of “learning out loud.” He usually means it in a classroom or workshop setting, but I think the same idea applies here. Sharing stories with people from long ago helps bring old memories to life – and even changes how I see them.

What used to be “I didn’t really enjoy high school” quickly becomes, “Wait, I was on the golf team? And honestly, I look pretty good in that photo! I’ve got to show my kids this.”

So, thanks to my old friends for helping me revisit the past – and update it with a few more laughs and a little more kindness.

Got a story to share - or update? I'd love to hear about it!