The hero archetype has been known throughout history, and their story follows the hero’s journey. It is the cycle of being sent out on an adventure, encountering troubles and challenges, reaching a final symbolic death and rebirth, and finally returning to their former environment with newfound knowledge and understanding. We see this countless times in stories, in mythology, and in religion. Today it is my turn.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

— Chinese philosopher Laozi

I’m setting off on a journey to understand various cultures throughout the world. During this time, I hope to gain empathy and insight into how the world is seen differently by each culture. I will most certainly encounter perils and challenges that will cause great trepidation, but with love, I will overcome. My worry is the final symbolic moment where I might hope to be reborn with fresh new insights and experiences. But my greater dread is the possibility that the point of rebirth may not come at all. I will keep my eyes wide, take in all that I can, and throw caution to the wind.

I am ready to grow. I am ready to share my experiences.

I’ve never thought of myself as a photographer, but yet here I am, taking photos and writing stories. I find myself grabbing my camera and taking it with me wherever I go. Whether it’s to a friends apartment, the store, or to the park, I’m always carrying my SLR camera with me. It’s been a conversation starter for many, and has proven to be valuable in more than a handful of occasions.

One time at the park I saw a young man propose to a young woman. Without hesitation, I started clicking away at the event. So many wonderful memories were caught on film. Afterwards I went up to the couple, congratulated them, and offered to send them some photos. They were overjoyed and welcomed my spurious intrusion of camera clicks. In exchange, they bought me lunch and shared their story. I was so touched by their adventures.

Remember my plans to join photography with my love for writing? Well, here’s my first gallery with some of my recent photos:

The joy of happiness is somewhat convoluted, I know. Isn’t joy basically being happy? Yes it is, and I’m joyful about it. Writing has been such a release of stress and an outlet for my creativity, and it has lead me to be joyful for my happiness. I’ve been happy, but now I understand that one of the biggest contributions to that happiness has been my joy of writing. With this knowledge, I’m now experiencing why I’m happy.

I’ll never stop writing and publishing. It’s almost meditative for me.

Communicating effectively has provided an optimistic future. With the ability to reach out to others through storytelling, I’m hoping to expand my love for writing with my interest in photography. Combined, these two media forms will allow me to share and tell my stories with engaging words and photos.

My interests keep growing and my future is ever positive. I’ll keep writing and sharing my experiences so that others may enjoy. With WordPress, my creations can be shared across the globe and publishing becomes something so easy to do. Writing is no longer limited to my pencil and paper, but with my phone, I can now draft posts whenever I’d like, whenever inspiration strikes.

Storytelling is possibly one of the oldest forms of communication. Today it’s used to sell products, create awareness, and engage people. If you desire to become an influencer, a leader, or even a teacher, then storytelling is something you need to master.

A clear and engaging story will be long remembered. The impact created through a story is much more deeply rooted than simple slides shared in an online presentation.

One of the first steps to mastering storytelling is starting with a good story. Good stories are all around us, but when getting started it’s best to pick a simple story with basic elements. Comedians do this regularly. They pull from real life events and exaggerate the details to entertain their audience.

Step two is to adapt the story to the audience. A good story involves both the storyteller and those with which you’re communicating. Stimulate their senses with descriptive words and draw the audience closer by relating them to the protagonist.

Through this all, keep the story brief and simple. Going down tangential routes will lose your audience. Think about the emotions you want to evoke, the response you hope to elicit, and the purpose or message you’re trying to communicate through the story. Communication happens in the details. Know your story well and bring it to life.

If you’ve never read it, check out The Blogging Software Dilemma and see how WordPress got it’s start all the way back in January of 2003.