In our final year of high school, we went to a ‘self development’ camp designed to boost our late-teen self-esteem. I remember one group activity vividly…

While sitting in a circle with about six other students from my year, we were asked to write our names at the top of a piece of paper. This paper was then passed around the circle so each person could write a positive comment about us on the page.

By chance – or design – the circle was filled with people who didn’t know each other very well. After six years of shared schooling, I felt a little embarrassed that all I could offer Jacob P was “nice hair” and Susie B a “friendly smile.”

The intrigue, of course, was real. What would they say about me?

At seventeen, I had a reasonable sense of self, but I was nervous about how these six-year-long acquaintances saw me.

When the list on the paper came back, the words were kind. I remember they said I was:

nice · funny · musical · sense of humour · kind · nice jumper*

The nice jumper was a little left of field – I’d forgive Jacob if he’d penned that one!

Almost Thirty Years Later…

Fast forward twenty seven years.

On the final day of training to become a Story Circle Facilitator (with the wonderful Nele Vandersmissen from Wondr Global), our group of trainees sat together in Circle for a spoken honour round to share our impressions of one another.

After days of sharing our stories, as we learned to guide Story Circles, we’d moved quickly from strangers to people who understood each other deeply.

In the honour round, I remember they said I was:

a storyteller · kind · calming · artist · nice jumper*

Yes. Can you imagine my surprise when, in a repetitive twist of fate, someone mentioned my jumper again?!

I’d worn a soft, pale pink knit on the first day of training, and a lovely fellow trainee thanked me for bringing that calming colour into the room.

The Lasting Power of Words

This is a story of delightful coincidence. But more importantly, it’s a story about the lasting power of words.

I can still recall what my classmates from school said about me thirty years ago. I can still remember what a room of fellow storytellers said three years ago. Whether we seek it or not, other people’s words have a way of making an impact.

Imagine the effect of having an everlasting honour round in a personalised audiobook – a spoken tribute from the people who truly know and love you. Imagine the affect of their words repeating in your mind when self doubt creeps in or life feels challenging.

It’s not healthy or necessary to build our whole sense of self from the validating words of others. But there is something powerful about knowing how you land in the hearts of the people you trust.

A Beautiful Keepsake of How You are Seen

Story Collection audiobooks are created to celebrate memories from the past – but they are equally created to show someone NOW how the people who love them truly see them. Beyond the nice hair. Beyond the friendly smile.

And yes, beyond the nice jumper!

I should add… Jumper is the Australian and British word for sweater. I was never much good at track and field, so I can confirm no one was referring to my ability to clear a hurdle!