Lives are being transformed by powerful questions., questions based on the belief that everyone has a story worth knowing and sharing. My role as the story catcher of Victoria grew from my appreciation for a great questions, an intense interest in drawing stories from others, and people’s encouragement to create a way to save and share the stories I was hearing.
My background includes over thirty years in the a wide range of classroom settings, from senior math to kindergarten music, from introductory Japanese to entrepreneurship. I soon realized that sharing stories is a key to learning. I created Community School Interviews, a non profit charity to help students, teachers and the general public understand how the wider world works. We do this by bringing speakers into schools for the students to interview around themes that are important to the speakers, and shaped to draw the students in as well.
It’s not just students that benefit from understanding the power of asking good questions. We began to offer workshops in the community, government and organizations that showed participants how to draw out ‘golden stories.’
One of those questions is ‘What is a moment that stood out for you?” When I randomly asked an elder on a ferry, he told me wonderful stories that included his being a military attache for Prime Minister Trudeau on his last Asian tour. At the end of 40 minutes, this grand master of the Masons, said, “ I don’t normally talk to strangers, but you have a nice face, and you listened.’
Community School Interviews has expanded its range of services to become ConversationWorks.ca All of our work encourages curiosity and brings great questions to any interview or gathering. The site has a StoryCatching section with links to most of the stories we’ve collected at conferences, events, and in the community at large.
After attending a discussion on gratitude at our church, I walked away wondering how I could give this idea ‘legs.’ This question came to mind, “ What’s Gone Well Today?™ ( WGWT)” It can be asked throughout one’s day. Using it for self reflection is helpful to sort out the gold from the many details in our days. Its real payoff can be used with friends, colleagues or strangers. With a bit of finesse it can result in immediate engagement, a shift of thinking , sometimes within a moment or two.
What’s Gone Well Today ™ is a meme, a sticky idea, value or behaviour that can easily be passed from one person to another. It’s easy to remember, fun and rewarding to use. Our web site, WhatsGoneWellToday.com , has over three hundred written or video posts of WGWT experiences people have submitted.
Whether asked in person or by email WGWT draws a warm response, ‘it makes me think of all the things that bless me in my life and all I have to be thankful for. Thanks for the email. Caused me to do a “shift” ‘
Another wrote, “ Thanks so much for your email Christopher. It really did get me onto some better thoughts and therefore the whole day went better. Your note was very much appreciated and I did have a good read on WGWT. Sharing good experiences is helpful and I thank you for reminding me there is always help if you look.”
We welcome your visiting WhatsGoneWellToday.com and sharing your response to this thought-shifting question.