I like to read people’s stories – and think about what factors and influences led them to be where they are today.  I was listening to an interview with a biography writer, and I felt inspired.  Why are biography’s just for a select group of people?  What if every American high schooler had the assignment to write their own “autobiography”?  What if, just for that time they were writing it, they had to stop and think about their lives – who they are to the people who love them; how they came to love dance, singing, juggling, soccer; what things are motivating to them; what are their regrets, losses, grievances about life?  What if every American high schooler had the chance to think about those things and then had the opportunity to share and talk about some of those things?  Then I think about the value there is for each of us in telling our stories.  Just putting words on paper or saying something out loud gives us a different perspective than when it’s just roaming around in our heads.  True – I’m not saying anyone would pay to read  my story – but value is often not about money.  I know my story matters significantly to at least a couple handfuls of people.  It makes me who I am – and I, along with you – my fellow humans, have tremendous value in this world.  I also think that telling our stories is a little like studying history.  It gives us opportunity to reflect, consider, and learn from our past.  It gives us an opportunity to approach our future with intention.  Today, let us take a moment to pause and say out loud or write down a part of our story.