Given that I have absolutely no sense of direction, it should come as no surprise that I got pretty lost in the woods. Part of me honestly believed that if I could face my fear of deadly things that go hiss in the night, she would be okay. And I felt so horribly powerless to help her that I had this overwhelming need to do something brave. This was happening at the same time that someone I dearly love was going through a hard time back in the states. I know that I was scared witless.īut our elder said that if we could find our way to the cave and return with our stick, well…then we could do anything. I’m pretty sure all of us were terrified. Right after one of the elders had spent hours telling us stories of this creature around a fire. Everyone in our group had to leave a stick in this cave and then return for it by ourselves in the dead of night. I saw the glowing red eyes of a mythical creature when I was studying abroad in Australia. What’s one thing that readers would be surprised to find out about you? Stories can also help strengthen your belief in a happy ending even when you can’t imagine one for yourself.

They shaped the person that I am today and I’m incredibly grateful to have had such great literary sources of inspiration, especially during high school. I know I am a stronger, braver, more empathetic person because of the books I’ve read. They provide a safe space where you can put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Stories let us imagine that we could be someone or something other than ourselves. Why is storytelling so important for all of us?

Decked with holly by marni bates