Dancing with grief
I was talking with a widowed friend recently. I asked her how she was doing and she replied, "I was okay last week and then I felt awful." I know exactly what she means. Anyone who has experienced a...
View ArticleThe Telling Life: Matching work to ethics to life
Storytelling is an incredibly powerful tool. We are hardwired to respond to narrative; it's one of the most direct ways to trigger emotion which in turn triggers action.As a storyteller I have to make...
View ArticleLiving in the moment
There are so many things I have learned through Kevin's illness, death and mourning him. There have been painful lessons and a few, enormous gifts. One of these is about being in the present moment.I...
View ArticleThe world through my eyes: Summer 2015
A few images from around Kansas City, Philadelphia and Atlantic City. As always, images are not adjusted. I'm starting to play with Lightroom so that will change. All images and text (c) 2015 Laura...
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The Telling Life: Vulnerability
Performance storytelling, at its best, is about connection. It's about creating a piece where the teller can say here is something I know to be true and the audience can sigh back in recognition of...
View ArticleMusic and other inoculations
Music has always been a big part of my life. When I was a kid I played the flute and dabbled with cello, penny whistle, bodhran and guitar. I was never very good at any of them, but I loved being able...
View ArticleThe Telling Life: On retreat
Part of living a balanced life is understanding when you need renewal. I am on retreat in the Adirondacks, where I am contemplating the water, chatting with loons both human and avian, and considering...
View ArticleLife after death
Not long before Kevin died we had a conversation about the afterlife. He believed there was someplace beautiful beyond this world, without pain, that he would continue. He promised that he would do his...
View ArticleThe Telling Life: Continuing Education
The National Storytelling Conference starts tomorrow, right here in Kansas City. I'm looking forward to it; it's an opportunity to see people I care about, do a little work and learn a few things.If...
View ArticleBravery
Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death.- Earl WilsonI had a powerful experience recently. For the first time in public I told a story about Kevin's death; it begins...
View ArticleThe Telling Life: Community and isolation
I spent this past weekend at the National Storytelling Conference. It was wonderful. It was exhausting. I spoke with, hugged and listened to more people in one weekend than I may typically do in a...
View ArticleStill breathing
Writing about grief has helped me understand my own mourning process. Each time I sit down and come up with something to write I have to examine my own feelings and reactions with greater clarity than...
View ArticleThe Telling Life: Abundance
Living the freelance life can be hard. It's a constant hustle, always looking for work and always wondering where the next paycheck will come from. For the most part I manage this fairly well, but...
View ArticleThe world through my eyes: July into August
A few images from my late July and into August.ProfusionTimeuntitled (and unadjusted)Hello up therePinkBut what happens when it wakes up?(c)2015 Laura S. Packer
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