It’s Story Doula Time 

{A guest Blog from YBB Chief Creative Officer, Jen Tate}

MeiMei and I have been besties for 30 years. We’ve had many a costumed adventure and have ridden life’s roller coaster together through all of the ups and downs. But our actual paths have rarely aligned. 

Our careers have flowed at different paces, our kids are part of two different generations, and we haven’t lived in the same city since 2003. So we’re pretty thrilled to be waltzing into 2025 side by side as we launch our new online community The Story Cure. We’ve even started calling ourselves Story Doulas.

What’s a Story Doula, you ask? For us it means helping others bring their stories to life.

MeiMei has spent years as an author, a therapist and a life coach. She talks to people. She listens to people. And she guides people through the births and lives of their stories.

As for me, Jen Tate, I work with documentary filmmakers and aspiring writers to help them craft, shape and coax their stories into existence.

So Story Doulas feels like a perfect description of what we do. (Plus it sounds badass and witchy!)

Why am I telling you all of this? 

For two reasons: You, too, have the ability to be a Story Doula. And you might find you could actually use one yourself one day.

Reason #1

Anyone can be a Story Doula. In fact, it might even make you a better storyteller yourself!

I encourage you talk to people about storytelling whenever you can. 

•  Ask about their stories. 
•  Ask what’s giving them hope. 
•  Ask what they are struggling with. 
•  And then listen, REALLY listen, to their answers. 

Not only is it a priceless gift you can offer to others, but I’m willing to bet that something they share will inspire you in your own storytelling pursuits.

Reason #2

Everyone can use a Story Doula now and then. 

Lots of people with great stories never quite figure out how to get those stories out of their heads, and could use a little help. 

The very simple act of sharing your story with someone else can be all it takes. All you need is someone who will truly listen and reflect back to you what they hear you say. Who knows…it might just trigger the magic spark you need to let loose your story upon the world. 

So whether you’re an aspiring Story Doula, or in search of one, consider joining us in The Story Cure. That’s literally what we sit around doing all day, and we’d love to have you.

WRITING TIP OF THE WEEK: Try out being a Story Doula yourself

• Reach out to someone you know who has a story to tell.
• Schedule an hour long, one-on-one conversation with them where you pepper them with questions about their story.
• Listen. Listen. Listen. Don't worry about offering advice, unless they request it.
• Follow up with an email about what you heard, what you learned, and what it made you think about.

 Then sit down and take a look at a story of your own with a fresh Story Doula brain!

Aloha, 

Jen

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

~Maya Angelou