You Have A Story Within You

The woman I was talking with told me how she helped raise more than 200 kids.

NO! They were not all biologically hers. Nor were they foster kids.

These were more than 200 kids and their friends that for the past 20 years have called her “Mom”.

It started out like most stories, small and mostly ignored by the larger community.

Yet over these past 20 years, she and her husband have poured their lives into the lives of these kids.

Some have become doctors, lawyers, police officers, firefighters, pastors, youth leaders, members of the military and more.

Some have even gone on to adopt children of their own.

Blinded To The Story Within

As we talked, I told her numerous times that she had a great story and at least one book in her.

She smiled and laughed it off each time that I mentioned it.

It saddened me that she didn’t think what she did would interest others or would have enough themes or teachable moments.

We laughed when I mentioned that if those 200 kids each helped 2 kids (400 additional) and those 400 additional helped 2 kids (800 additional) that would be 1200 kids’ lives that were touched. Like the commercial from when we were younger (see video).

Hours after talking with her, I realized that she is like most people that I meet and know.

The majority of people have become blinded to the story that is within them. The story of their lives and the lives they touched.

As Derek Sivers says “Everybody’s ideas[story] seem obvious to them.”

What this woman and her husband did was just that, “what they did.” They were living it and it just seemed normal.

I don’t know how you could have 40+ kids over your house 4-5 days a week and think that was normal, but she did.

Finding Your Story

What about you?

What are things in your life that you “just do” and think nothing of it?

Trying to find your story does NOT need to be hard.

When you sit down to find what your story is, look at your calendar for the last year or so.

Look at your bank statement, credit card bills. Where are you spending your time and money?

Where your money and time go, that’s a pretty good indicator of where to look for your story.

The woman I was talking with mentioned that her family of three was spending about $450/week on groceries. Obviously, food was important to her story. Why? She was feeding 40+ kids multiple times a week.

Ask others for their thoughts on what your story is. It might surprise you.

Sharing Your Story

Once you have identified what your story is, you need to share it.

Share the actual story, but also share the principles that you learned from going through it.

While you might not relate to feeding 40+ kids, you might want to know how to stretch your food budget. Could you learn from this woman? Certainly.

Can she share how to talk with teens and connect? Certainly.

In her story, she has dozens of principles that she could share.

In your story YOU DO TOO!

Your story could help you make a living doing what you love to do.