Our Little Human Lives

I am fascinated by the question of why we tell stories. The answer will vary depending on who you ask. A psychologist might talk of dreams and memories, a sociologist about a cohesive force that binds us to one another, and a neuroscientist about how the brain is stimulated by narrative. Whatever the explanation, we end up at the same place: Human beings find meaning in story. 

The WHY TELL STORIES blog category is a place to gather insights from others who have contemplated this question before me. By listening to the thoughts of a broad variety of people across disciplines, we might shed some light on the mysteries of story.

I'll begin with a quote from American author Madeleine L'Engle. Enjoy!

"Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving. Why does anybody tell a story? It does indeed have something to do with faith, faith that the universe has meaning, that our little human lives are not irrelevant, that what we choose or say or do matters, matters cosmically."

-- Madeleine L'Engle