The Power in Sharing Our Stories

A few years ago, one of my business coaches told me I had the gift of gab—a natural ability to communicate and connect with others. Whether through writing, speaking, or social conversations, it was a strength woven into everything I did. It made sense. After all, some of my greatest joys come from teaching, coaching, and writing.

But that conversation didn’t just affirm something I already knew—it shifted something in me. It reminded me that sharing my story matters. It was a catalyst moment. Not long after, I sat down and started writing my memoir.

The Power of Storytelling

Sometimes we hesitate to share our stories because we assume they’re too ordinary, too similar to others, or not “big” enough to matter. But here’s the truth: your story is yours alone, even if someone else has walked a similar path. We each bring our own lens, our own voice, our own way of making meaning.

Think about movies—so many follow familiar story arcs, yet we keep watching because of how the story is told. The emotions, the perspective, the little moments at make it come alive.

Case in point: this past weekend, my daughter and I had a little escape—a no-frills girls’ trip to a hotel I booked with Marriott points. We swam endlessly, ate junk food in bed (a rare treat!), and curled up for movie night.

We picked a family-friendly film about a UK ski jumper who, despite having zero athletic prowess, was determined to make it to the Olympics. His teachers, his parents—everyone—told him it wasn’t possible, that he would never amount to anything.

Early on in the movie, my six-year-old turned to me and said, with absolute certainty:

"He’s going to believe them at first. But then, by the end, he’ll prove them wrong and make his dreams come true."

I was stunned.

Did my six-year-old just predict the entire movie? Is she some kind of storytelling prodigy? Or—more likely—has she been exposed to this kind of story arc over and over again?

She saw the pattern. She recognized the universal truth: dreams are often dismissed before they are realized.

And yet, even though the story was predictable, we still felt something as we watched. It still mattered.

Your Story Matters, Too

Our lives are like that. Maybe you’ve been hesitant to share your experiences because they feel too ordinary. But what if someone out there needs to hear your story told your way? What if your voice is the one that makes the lesson click for someone else?

You don’t have to write a bestselling memoir for your story to have meaning. You just have to share it.

So, here’s my question for you:

What’s one experience you’d love for others to know about you?

Drop it in the comments. Let’s celebrate the stories that make us who we are.

Because the world needs who we were made to be.