Hey friends! Adam Flores here, one of the Campfire class facilitators.

As Spring approaches we all emerge from our Winter burrows and stretch to see the world thawing out. This also means we get the opportunity to run into old friends and meet new people. The time of year when birds return to provide the score of our day is a perfect time to lend our ears to others.

An often overlooked part of storytelling is that at its best it is a team sport. Every story needs a listener. The story can bring truth to the listener, because in some capacity the story is for the listener. We can miss this fact, because we often don’t do a great job of practicing listening. A benefit of a storytelling class with others is you getting to practice this skill. Going to a Campfire event also lets you flex that listening muscle.

The act of listening also makes us better at telling our own stories. It’s not just in technique that we become better storytellers; the more stories we hear, the better we understand and can speak for the listeners in our lives. Hearing how you tell your story, helps me consider how to tell you mine. This sharing of attention from listener to storyteller and back again is the building block of community. I feel so lucky to be in a city that values this, and to have made contact with organizations like Campfire who foster community in this way.

I look forward to hearing your stories at upcoming events and classes.
Adam