We need stories. But more importantly, stories need us.
Fairytales, ghost stories and thriller murder mysteries would not be what they are today, if not for human creativity, imagination, experiences and emotion.
Stories are magical.
Growing up, I knew I wanted to be a writer after being enticed by children’s author, Enid Blyton, into a world of adventure and mystery. Her stories of children playing pranks on each other, pixie dust and living with gnomes had given me an imagination so wild and magical, I was living in an enchanted world I had built for myself, simply by reading.
I created supernatural stories and would act them out with my cousins, where we would live anywhere but the real world. With lots of positivity and determination, I declared that I would be another Enid Blyton, allowing the imagination of children to be just as magical as mine had been.
Stories hurt.
However, little did I know that if I wanted to be anything, it required sweat, blood and lots of tears. After hearing stories of individuals who would have a hard time making a living from doing what they love, I started thinking that maybe storytelling was better off as a hobby and not a career.
‘Maybe I should do something I can easily get a job in.’
‘I am not cut out for this line of work.’
‘Can I succeed if I continue pursuing this dream?’
The last question is still a work-in-progress to answer.
Over the past few years of graduating from high school, taking a gap year, to have real-world experience through part time jobs and living in different cities, has allowed me to know what I am passionate about and what I cannot imagine not doing; the process of storytelling. Not only am I constantly reminded about the consequences of whichever path I choose, but I push myself to keep having faith although achieving your dreams will not be easy.
Stories can build you.
The good, the bad, the bold, the beautiful and the ugly, stories are a part of our everyday life. They help us to learn and remember lessons, memories, as well as the reason why we do what we do or live the way we live. However, the thing about stories, is to keep writing it till the end, in every retrospect. My story still has many more chapters to unfold, but there is nothing I find more wonderful, than the stories that are waiting to be written. That is my dream, it will not be easy, but if our dreams do not scare us, it means they are not big enough.
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petiteshark 