One thing I have learned this semester is the power of a story. I realized that that's what much of the world is -- storytelling (which, as a professor I know often says, is the second oldest profession in the world).
There are stories everywhere in life. They can be found in news reports, personal statements, and job interviews. Even the final powerpoint presentations we make for TBG are narratives; we're telling the story of a company, and how to solve one problem that the company has.
Every single slide must contribute towards the ending or to the overall narrative. The secret to good essays or personal statements is that they're well told stories that are focused on conveying a point and building a strong narrative theme.
Thinking of the world as an anthology of millions of stories helps because it simplifies people into characters, happenings into plot points, life-altering circumstances as moments of catharsis or redemption or a completion of the hero's journey (remember that?). And life would be so much easier if we could pinpoint the antagonist, differentiate between our true love and the character that's just a distraction or a step towards the real thing, or if we had the power to read that convenient summary on the back of the book so we know what we're getting ourselves into.
So tell me a story. I can't wait to listen.
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[update: Dec 2, 2008]
In the meantime, Thanksgiving break is over and WOWZA, finals are around the corner!! I'm almost in near-panic mode but the problem is that I've got loads of catch-up to do while still recuperating from my Sunday night/Monday morning writing spree.
Tonight I rediscovered Stars. I find that sometimes I listen to a song often just because it's auditorily pleasing, but in the process gloss over the lyrics. It's not until later that I stumble upon the lyrics, when I usually have a newfound/renewed appreciation of the song because it's now lyrically and musically compelling.
Such is the case for two songs, "One More Night" and "Sleep Tonight." I'll close this entry with a verse from the latter song. I hope you read, even though most people tend to ignore reading song lyrics...
With buried heads we both forget
All of the past and its regret
Wind picks up, the window shakes
We won't hear the morning break
You will cry
And I will cry
Cuz all the love's
Alive tonight
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What I've Been Listening To (not much variety lately, just listening to Belle and Sebastian over and over again...)
Belle and Sebastian - I'm a Cuckoo
Belle and Sebastian - Asleep on a Sunbeam
Belle and Sebastian - If She Wants Me
The Pipettes - A Winters Sky
The Pipettes - Judy
Band of Horses - Our Swords
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