Storytelling is such a beautiful part of the human experience.  Wherever you are in the world, stories are a part of the cultural framework.  They delve into moments of triumph, failure, love, tragedy and everything in between.  Every story whether simple or grand has deeper meaning.  Cultural constructions can be teased out.  At the core of any story you will find the storyteller's values and beliefs.  Through their words you can understand how they see the world around them. 

As part of my usual ritual, I came home from work, threw on some lounge pants, and sat at my computer to check out my favorite blogs.  I was reading through the wonderful blog A Cup of Jo and I noticed that she had posted a video by StoryCorps called "Marking the Distance".  StoryCorps is an amazing nonprofit organization whose mission is "to provide people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives".  I had heard StoryCorps sound clips before but never had I seen animated versions of their stories.  For the past hour I have been watching their clips and I have swung through the full range of human emotions.  I chuckled and I cried.  I felt my heart sink and soar in a matter of minutes. Below are a few of my favorites: