Collection

Tonight was the all-dorm meeting, which was big and manly and such. But afterwards we broke down into our individual suites. 30-Cinco Met with 36ia and we all got to know each other by sharing some random crazy story about ourselves.
While I think one-liners are funny, and sarcasm can make me laugh, the best kind of humor is definitely personal anecdotes. It's great in groups because you can relate to it, it seems so intimate because you're sharing something.

I consider myself a connoisseur of stories, in a way. I love hearing and memorizing stories that me and my friends have, because being able to share a story is the single best way I have found in connecting with other people. You can be in the most awkward situation ever with a complete stranger, but by sharing a personal memory that makes them laugh, or at least feel comfortable, can open up doors in people's hearts that otherwise take months to dig into.

The more I learn about public speaking, the more I hear that sharing personal stories will radically change the response a speaker can get. If a speaker does not connect with his audience, they decide that they have no reason to listen to him or take his advice and expertise, even if he is otherwise qualified.

So, by collecting these stories, I have a small little tale on almost every subject, in order to relate to people as quickly and as deeply as possible. This is great for a youth pastor, who will meet tons of new people weekly and need to create an atmosphere of comfort.

The only problem is, while they relate to me better, it does not actually create intimacy. I am sharing a story, but they are not actually getting to know me, and I am certainly not getting to know them.

So, the real problem with only sharing stories is that interaction and personal response plays less of a role. It makes me a better speaking figure but a less intimate person.

I have to make sure that the personal me is not just a collection of stories.

Selective Memory

Moving in was fun and eventful, for those concerned. I missed the dorm. I get a lot of great fellowship here. And my roommate is one of my best beds, which helps.

Complete change of topic time.

I have tons of songs memorized. Lyrics, melody, all kinds of things. But recently I've realized that I hardly know any of the lyrics to all of my favorite songs. Mostly songs that I have only started listening to in the last year or so.

At first I thought this might be due to me just getting a weaker short-term memory or something. I was really paranoid for a while that I was growing stupid. I think the paranoia over that was more stupid than anything.

Then I realized that I remembered so many details about those songs that aren't lyrics.

I was in choir up until 10th grade. Singing was my big thing, and I was decent at it. I'm still a decent singer for a guy without any musical training. But my singing days were the same time period where I was learning all the songs I have the lyrics memorized for.

At this point in my life, I have probably spent more time studying guitar and music as a whole than I have singing, since I quit singing way back then. I've spent dedicated time practicing and training my ear and my skill for guitar. So that has become almost entirely what I focus on in music. It actually makes it harder to listen to non-guitar music just because I'm so used to listening to it and figuring out how to play it with my ears.

Because of this, I have to really concentrate to learn lyrics from songs and I naturally pick up the guitar and instrumentals in them. I could probably sing you the guitar solo of most songs I've listened to in the last year, but I could barely recite any of the lyrics, compared to the perfect memory I have of songs from way back when.
It's not better or worse, just different. I really do think it's interesting how much my ability to memorize songs has changed over the years.

Kawaru

It's amazing how a single week can remind you what makes a story really good.
Sure, big events can be fascinating, but the real joy of history and stories is the way we connect with the quiet thoughts from within someone else.

I have a week's worth of fun memories, but the only thing that has changed about me because of this week is only visible on the inside.

I spent a week watching, listening, and observing, and as a result, I changed on the inside. I just had to constantly remind myself to shut up and soak in.
And I did.

Now here I am, ready to face something that would have terrified me 8 days ago.



By the way, I totally jumped off of that waterfall.