Storytelling Makes the World Better

Why small talk with strangers is storytelling and can change the world.

A story is powerful even when it’s just small talk between two strangers.

I had a conversation with a support agent over the phone. We talked about the festival and empowering people through storytelling using the camera on their phone to make films. What happened next is meaningful.

I recalled a story, a moment in a single day to emphasize why I am passionate about storytelling. What drove me and continues to inspire me with the work I do.

San Diego Trolley Downtown during SDCC. Photo credit: Susy Botello

I was waiting at the trolley station in July heading to San Diego Comic-Con International, to avoid parking downtown which is a nightmare any day, much more during the biggest event in San Diego.

I shared how an older woman, a homeless person, wearing torn dirty clothes and sunburned was approaching everyone standing in a row. She was asking for change. I stood there watching her and noticing no one was giving her change. I realized I was not going to be able to give her change because I only had a $20 bill in my pocket in case I lost my card during the event.

When she approached me, I looked at her before she asked for change and said, ‘Hi!’ with a big smile. ‘How are you? It’s a beautiful day. Yesterday was a bit cloudy.’

The woman looked startled for about two seconds and smiled from ear to ear. She and I talked about the weather. We finished our conversation and I told her I wished her the very best for the rest of the day. She walked away, past the rest of the people standing to the other side of me. She walked without crouching.

People value being heard and stories more than money.

What a dollar is to you and me, is not what a dollar is to a millionaire. It’s not what a dollar is to a homeless person.

I’ve shared how I became fascinated about storytelling in my first post here.

Photo by Josh Hild on Unsplash

The power of storytelling runs deep.

Why did that homeless person walk away satisfied and smiling even though she had not succeeded in getting any change, not even a nickle from anyone there?

When you watch a movie or read a story, perhaps one by one of my friends like

Bill Adler

you realize that there is dialogue. The dialogue is only a part of the story.

One of the books I read as a teenager, I actually read a book! It was one of the fattest books I ever read by choice. Come to think of it, I think it was! I had seen The Shining with Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. Here in the wall to wall library at our house were several rows of The Rolling Stone magazine dating back to the sixties, and a bunch of books about philosophy and and all sorts of interesting subjects.

Wedged between those books was The Shining by Stephen King.

One thing that stood out was how Stephen King uses italics to emphasize different things, including the characters’ thoughts.

In movies, we “read” the mannerisms and camera angles and such things, including music and sound effects, tone and much more during a dialogue between two people.

During the small talk I had with the homeless woman, she felt whole. She felt like a normal human treated in the same manner people who are not homeless treat each other (normally).

No one cares.

My mom, who was raised in Spain, always criticized how strangers ask “how are you?” but don’t really care how you’re doing. A lot of people find it shallow. But most people don’t answer you with how they truly feel.

No one says, “I am so screwed up right now I just want to die.” or “I think my boyfriend is cheating on me and I want to choke him.”

It’s a common way of acknowledging someone’s presence in a way that encourages a sense of caring. It’s like saying, “I see you and I feel you. If you fall on your face right now, I’ll totally help you out. I’ll help you up and if you hurt I’ll get help.”

I’ve replaced my “How are you” (most of the time) with something real I instantly notice that can put a smile on someone like, “I like your boots.” I genuinely love boots!

The woman at the trolley felt normal as a result of the small talk. She felt respected as a human being and not disregarded. Her presence in my space was acknowledged. It was effortless for me because of who I am.

I generally have no problem treating strangers within my radius as humans I can connect with. I honestly cannot help myself unless I am going through something terrible.

AI generated image of homeless woman smiling by Substack.

The best way to connect is storytelling.

We all yearn to connect with others. Whether it’s through cultural or through community, or even through a moment like the pandemic, or September 11. We are wired that way, and have been throughout our existence.

Stories are all around us. And the story between that little conversation with the woman was beyond the weather. I could feel her thoughts as she walked away. Much like the conversation I had with the agent I spoke with on the phone whom I shared that moment with. The agent was smiling throughout our conversation.

I could hear her smile through her voice.

“I really enjoyed our conversation,” she said as we were saying good-bye. “You put a smile on my face for the rest of the day. Thank you!”

The thing about storytelling is that it goes both ways. That woman at the trolley smiled and felt good and so did I. The agent and I hung up the phone and we were both smiling and felt good. Enriched. Fulfilled through storytelling.

A dialogue is an interaction and so is a conversation. Both have elements to the story that are not expressed in words. That is what makes even the simplest moments meaningful.

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Did you know I host a podcast? Check out over 145 episodes of the SBP Podcast Mobile Filmmaking in your favorite app where you listen to podcasts.