Telling a Story

This morning my son reminded me of the importance of telling a story. Stories communicate thoughts and feelings...experiences and changes...a story can be told in a variety of forms with as many morals, but a stories impact is defined by the audience. To tell an effective story the teller must not only have an audience, but must also know and understand the audience. From infants to elders, college students to politicians, arts enthusiasts to truck drivers, a story teller must be able to communicate their tale in such a way that it elicits a response. Many responses may be considered merely good or bad, but the best response will be one that encourages action. The right response however may only be obtained when the teller receives or observes action that reflects the desired response (now this raises questions of another kind for another time of whether or not there indeed is a "right" response). This does however raise a relevant question of why tell a story? A story teller ought to have a purpose in telling the story, whether for the audience mere pleasure, to communicate a tragedy, to challenge a stereotype, or for any other reason under the sun, but the teller must have a purpose. I tell stories to my one-year-old son because I want him to have fun. I read him stories because I want him to learn. We watch stories together because they are relaxing and comforting. Regardless of the story or the form, I always have a purpose. I know my son well, and I know what kind of stories will help him to learn, which ones will bring joy and happiness, and which ones will bring comfort and relaxation. The moral to this story...know your audience and have a purpose.