Just because people couldn’t gather together in 2020 doesn’t mean that they didn’t have stories to share. This year the Yorkton Arts Council’s Story Slam event went virtual, with five local storytellers submitting their story virtually.
This year’s judges - Michelle Goulden, Marj Dech, Calvin Daniels, Amber Harvey and Tricia Friesen Reed - each scored the submitted stories and in the end came up with one winner. That winner was C.V. Sastry with his tale Escape from Manhole.
This week we will be reprinting the submitted stories. To listen to them tell their story visit yorktonarts.ca.
I don’t seem to have a purpose today. Nope, at least not right now, not today. All I am purposed for it seems, is to buy groceries and plan meals -yes I am in a funk!
I feel lost without a purpose right now and the social media is not truth -or genuine -or authentic. Not at all authentic.
I truly don’t feel like writing in my journal today but yet here I am writing any thoughts that pop in. Talking to my pen and paper about not having a purpose.
So how do I be genuine, be authentic and let it out by writing genuinely. I own a blog/website and have for 12 years. That blog has given me a voice with posts and photos about my feelings and thoughts and adventures. So I write and…
…..at this moment I am writing in my morning pages, as I do most mornings. I notice outside my dining room window one of our burning barrels lying on its side waiting to be used. The other barrel is still used for burning paper but it is getting messy and stuff coming out the bottom from a large hole in it. Some things get put in the paper burning barrels that shouldn’t and that which didn’t burn is lying on the ground, like tin foil pieces, for example.
I kind of feel that way at the moment like a discarded piece of shiny foil that is resilient enough to still be here, but wondering what is out there for me right now.
So that burning barrel that is just lying on its side and not being used will eventually get used once the other barrel is cleaned out and discarded.
Ah ha….maybe I need to get rid of the worn out and bring in the new (like the barrel). Let’s throw out the barrel with the hole in the bottom and move the new barrel upright and start anew.
That was a light bulb moment.
Then my mind switches and I thought about how my son and I twist words around all the time for a bit of fun. And I thought what does a PORPOISE do? What is its PURPOSE?
A porpoise is similar to a Dolphin, with a dorsal fin as its stabilizer in the water and as it moves through the water alternately rising above and submerging.
Rising and submerging. Yes that helps me to realize that my purpose is submerged right now but it will rise and show itself and my dorsal fin is my writing and speaking and sharing and being vulnerable with my thoughts.
I have a purpose. I alternately rise above and submerge. My dorsal fin is my voice.
