Do you have a story to share?
The guidelines are simple:
- Tell us who you are and where you’re from.
- Keep your video short, no more than ten minutes.
- Submit a link to your video below. (post to YouTube then share that url).
- If you prefer a written piece, submit it with or without a video. Do what is comfortable and easy.
To hear my tips on how to outline your story using Nonviolent Communication principles, go here. To hear and see some tips on how to make a video and post it, go here.
Your story can be about anything! Let others hear your voice and what you have to say. Some ideas to help you tell a story:
- Tell us about a major turning point or experience that has shaped your life, who you are today.
- Tell us about a relationship you have, or have had, that’s made an impact in your life.
- Do you have a sense of belonging, to a community, family, or other? Tell us about it.
- Are you from the city or the country? What’s it like? Imagine telling city folk what it’s like in the country and vice versa.
- What political party to you belong to? Why?
- Have you lost a child to a drug overdose? Tell us about it.
- Have you lost someone due to the negligence of another? Tell us.
- Have you lost a brother or sister? How did it happen?
- Tell us about your parents.
- When did you first know about _______? How did it shape your life?
- What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and what did it teach you?
- Are you a writer/artist type or do you want to be? Why or why not?
- What would you do with your life if you had no limitations? Why?
- Name an experience that made you feel important, empowered and strong.
- Where do you feel and find love? What is love?
- Do you have a spiritual practice? How did you come to it?
- Do you volunteer? Where and why? How does it make you feel?
- Who are your people? Your culture?
- Do you have any body art? What inspired it?
- What is the last story you heard that caused an emotional reaction? Describe the emotion.
- How do you listen? What does it feel like?
- How does it feel to be heard? Tell us a story about when you were heard? How did it make you feel?
- What are your fears? Struggles? Worries?
- What are your hopes? Do you have hope? Why or why not?
- Who did you vote for in the presidential election?
- How do you feel about Donald Trump winning the presidential election?
- What are your concerns about the outcome?
- What are you most excited about regarding the future with our new president?
- If Hillary Clinton had won, what would be different right now, today?
- Who would benefit the most if Hillary was president? The least?
- Who benefits the most with Trump as president? The least?
- Who are “the forgotten” people?
- Why do you think Trump won the election?
- What can you do to make a difference for yourself and others in the future?
- If you could “reach across the aisle” what would you say and why? Your motivation?
- If you could ask some across the aisle to partner with you on a project to mend our divide, what would it be?
- If you asked your opposition to share their concerns, could you listen without trying to convince them to change? Could you welcome their differences free of criticism or judgment?
- What are some ideas that would get people out of poverty in the United States?
- Why do you think we have such profound poverty in the United States?
- What can we do to help people help themselves?
- What are your thoughts about addiction? Is it a disease, a mental illness?
- Do you know anyone who suffers from addiction? How has it affected others? What do they need? How can we help?
- Use the principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) to format your story. See my video about how to do this (demo included).