Family Inheritance

A great new book just came out - "The Next Conversation" by Jefferson Fisher. In it, he writes "That night, and for the next years of opening weekends, I received my family's inheritance: a passed-on identity dedicated to advocacy through storytelling…" Such a wonderful and true thought! That our truest and most helpful family inheritance is a family identity that is passed on through storytelling.

Fisher also feels compelled to pass on his life stories and best words of wisdom when he writes that the reason he is writing the book is, in part, "To preserve a piece of me for my kids and my family."

It is a very comforting and helpful feeling to be part of family with deep roots. A family that has overcome challenges generation after generation. A family that has funny stories to tell with both powerful punchlines and great learnings. Fisher writes about how after he reached a certain age he was brought into the circle of elders that told their stories. It is easy for me to see in my mind's eye a circle of people gathered around a fire at night hundreds or thousands of years ago, bonding through the sharing of stories.

And for me, I imagine one uncle that tells the best stories. Always funny. He stands when he talks and changes his voice from low to high. His face can change from happy to sad to shocked to silly. He delights the young and the old. He tells the best stories.

Be that person. Tell the stories of you life. Make them entertaining and full of the life you have lived. Delight the young and shock the old with narrative embellishments. It's your story - own it!