The Stories We Share
“Listening is a magnetic and strange thing, a creative force. The friends who listen to us are the ones we move toward. When we are listened to, it creates us, makes us unfold and expand.” –Karl A. Menniger
I have found that one of my greatest joys of participating in shows, is during lulls when there is opportunity and time to meet and hear the stories of people who visit our booth.
Sometimes the stories are entertaining, others can be heartbreaking, informational and inspirational, but with each encounter, my sense of the potential bonds that exist between us are strengthened. Shared stories allow us to not only recognize but to celebrate that spark of humanity that unites us,
Sometimes the stories come from customers who we look forward to seeing once a year. Adventures and events are shared, bringing forth hugs, laughter, celebration and sometimes tears. Other stories are shared from first time visitors, who leave us feeling like we’ve been given a special gift of connection.
At the Blueberry Festival this weekend in Machias, Maine, we experienced again the power of stories. Most memorable, was one woman who shared the story of how after her husband was given the heart rendering diagnoses of incurable cancer, they made the decision to spend time having adventures and exploring as much as possible. They ended up traveling 60,000 miles. Now she wraps herself in the warmth of the memories they made together.
At the end of every show, we have a tradition of asking each other, “who was your favorite customer?”. We have found that our choices have nothing to do with any purchases made, but with the stories that touched our hearts.