#174 – What Makes for a Great Story?

An Update on My Biggest Regret

This is Adventures in Storytelling your bi-weekly note with resources, insights, and actionable tools for better communication through storytelling. Enjoy. I’m sorry I missed the last post, I was stranded in Newark by Air Canada and too depleted once I finally made it home to do more than rest.

I have a confession to make.

I love fall. The colours, the scents, the crisp cool air. I know that is an especially unpopular opinion as we watch summer give way to the season of endings (or new beginnings depending on whether you’re a glass half full type). But there is something about the season that feels hopeful to me. The potential of what’s next. And as I consider new paths and make plans for evolutions of my business and Re-Work I can’t help be glad for the feel of a new year that September brings.

I also had a rough start to 2024. I just didn’t’ have the space to consider and reflect at the start of this particular year. But here I am, having survived that rough patch and starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel of healing I’ve been in for months. (Sidenote: if you’re interested in a note about my healing this year let me know in the comments, I’m happy to share with a storytelling lens).

And this second chance for reflection has me thinking about the direction of my life and the choices I’ve made recently that influence that. I should note, I have few regrets in my life. I sort of make a decision and accept the outcomes and/or consequences. So, when I have a regret, it often marks an important shift for me.

But less than a year ago I shared my biggest regret of 2023. It was a post about my choice to get a puppy. His name is Logan Tobias Ramsay, and I have spent the past year learning from him even as I worked to teach him how not to be a wild animal. He’s taught me patience (and levels of frustration I didn’t know I was capable of). He’s taught me how to be kinder to myself when I mess up. And he taught me to give even fewer fucks about the opinions of others.

He also taught me a new kind of love and care and responsibility. I don’t want kids; I’ve known that for a long time. A dog was the closest I was willing to get to that kind of responsibility and he confirmed that choice for me. Because it is hard to train a puppy (much less a human child). I actually wouldn’t even recommend it to someone I hated. From the early morning walks and late-night pees to the rugs ruined and violent diarrhea all over your apartment, it is not easy.

But with him has come a necessary flexibility, greater openness and grace. I am forced to be more thoughtful—I have the life of a small (very cute) being in my hands and I respect that for the honour it is. So, I care for him and give him the love he so desperately seeks any chance he can, I train him so that he knows how to make good decisions for himself and me. And I feed and clean and brush his teeth and things I was once repelled by offer a strange sort of reassurance that I am doing life right. If I screw up an entire day I have these sweet, serious eyes that think I am just the absolute best and that is something I do not take for granted.

So, my biggest regret has over the months and walks and mistakes become my best lesson. A lesson that has started to play into how I think about myself, my story and my place in the world. All the things I looked forward to with him—walks where he didn’t pull, when he was finally crate trained, when he stopped eating things he’s not supposed to (still working on this one😅), when he listened to commands have happened. When you are committed and patient and persistent and kind (to yourself and others) is also when change happens. And that was a lesson I needed to learn and continue to ruminate on. I know, not everyone who gets a dog has these type of infinitesimal but life shifting realizations but I’m lucky because I’m a storyteller and am ever considering the opportunity in the tension of my own story. (I hope you are too).

Flexibility, commitment, patience, persistence, and kindness. Those are what make for great stories, I think. And perhaps also great lives. Try it and let me know.

I must admit, I still have days where I think about sending him back (I would never though there were moments over the last year when I was close). But overall I’m glad I have this little wonder in my life.

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A Story Well Told

The Re-Work story continues to evolve. For those who don’t’ know, Re-Work is an organization I started with a friend developed to help people develop healthier and more sustainable relationships with work. Born out of our own experiences of burnout and the belief that work doesn’t have to suck. We help people avoid or heal from burnout and re-imagine what work can be for them as they grow with a community. This time around we’re doing an immersive pop-up experience in Toronto. To finally celebrate the launch of our workbook and make a special announcement about the next chapter of our efforts to help people re-imagine work. If you’re in Toronto come out and experience Re-Work in person (it’s pay what you can). And if you’re not, be sure to join the community and follow along online if this resonates with you. Big things coming.

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