I love the outdoors and nature.
Time stands still. I escape from the words and pictures in my mind to the sights, sounds, smells, and touch of the forest: trees, flowers, dirt... everything. It is there where I live loved.

I also love stories.
As an English teacher, I geek out when the students are able to temporarily escape from their perceived pressures and insecurities that weigh them down. They lose themselves in a story. Life takes on a different energy, and their view of themselves is temporarily silenced. While discussing the deeper messages being conveyed in literature (aka themes), the classroom comes alive. Both fiction and non-fiction literature gives us opportunities to connect, clarify, and change the conversations inside our heads and outside in our communities.

STORYTELLING is the evolution of
“a hero’s journey.”
So many stories filled my head. The words I was saying to myself began shaping the themes in my life. I was busy and frantic, filled with a nagging anxiety, trying to keep up with the world’s narrative of success. “A race to nowhere.”

Sadly, I was never taught HOW to deal with the external narratives that were defining my worthiness and significance. My mom used to say, “It’s an INSIDE job, Mary Pat.”
I've come to understand that my mom was talking about the inner work of self-love, building resilience, acceptance, personal growth, and ultimately, freedom. So many of us remain disconnected from our authentic selves, unable to grasp the meaningful ways we contribute to the larger community.

A hero’s journey is a path of loving ourselves while embracing the strength and gifts we have to give to others. Through our stories, we see ourselves in others.

It’s time to bring literature and stories to the forefront of education to help us learn, grow, mature, lead, and change the narratives. We have the strength to inspire, and lead … powerful tools needed today.

To help discover your own hero’s journey of personal growth and change, my hope is you see yourself in the stories we read, the thoughts we share, and the the work we create together.

Let the story you tell yourself
”take care of you.”