Making a Difference

I have had the same kind of thing happen twice now after telling stories even though the stories were very different. One is a story about menstrual cups (audio here) the other is a story about ghosts, note-passing, and kindness from an unexpected source.

The menstrual cup story, which I call "Give Her a Large," was one I was nervous to tell for a long time. I knew it was hilarious, but worried over how to find the right audience. Then, when the Carapace theme was TABOO I thought, "I guess they're asking for it." Now "Give Her a Large" is, I think, my most (in)famous story. I've performed it live twice more already and have plans for two more performances at least.

Not a single person has come up to me to say, "I can't believe you said those things. You're gross!" (Maybe some people were thinking it. I have no way of knowing.) However, I have had a number of people want to talk to me about menstrual cups. This is one of those topics people don't talk about (taboo!) but once you are brave enough to talk about it, people want to talk to you.

Well, then I was the lay leader at church on Sunday, giving a sermon entitled "Open to the Impossible." As part of this sermon I told the story of how I didn't get in trouble for passing a note about ghosts in fourth grade. (I call the story "Unexplained.") The point of the story is how meaningful it was to me that my teacher didn't dismiss my belief in ghosts like pretty much every other adult did. Being "open to the impossible" can make you more open to other people.

The experience I had after the service was very like my experience after the first time I told "Give Her a Large." Lots of people wanted to talk to me about ghosts, aliens, and the paranormal! And being open to the impossible I, of course, entertained all of these conversations. Once again, I had popped the seal on a taboo topic and gave others a chance to say things they don't always feel free to say.

I would like to think that by telling stories I am not "just" having fun; I'm not "just" entertaining people; I'm making a difference. And this is the difference I am making: I'm saying things out loud so that others can, too.