It's a neat trick when a story causes the audience to feel the burdens of loss. Perhaps because a seriously bad event happened, something treasured was destroyed, or a beloved character died. Whatever the reason, the feeling of loss is powerful. Ever since we lost our first toy, we've been taught the agony of loss. It comes in a myriad of forms, yet it's always new agony. Perhaps we feel loss in a deeper way than other emotions? I don't know, but grief is a form of loss and when someone is grieving, all I want to do is take the pain away.
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| "Angel of Grief" by American sculptor, art critic and poet William Wetmore Story (1819-1895). |
Of course, stories are either fiction or happened in the past. So, we know the losses we feel are not our own, though many times they sure feel real. We can turn off the television, or close the book, and return to reality. I believe that's one very big reason why stories are always desired. We can run through all human emotions within the safe confines of a story, then turn away and go on with our lives. It's escapism, happy relief, and fantasy.
So, if a story captures our interests so thoroughly that we feel a sense of loss, then that story was a good one. Connections are what binds us together, even connections to imagination. I never tire of sharing stories with friends, talking about things we did or read or watched. Common stories increase the bonds. Have you ever wanted a parent or uncle to tell an old much-heard story again? Why do we do that? Because we enjoy the emotions that come from it. It's like reliving the adventures all over, one more time. And, with the telling, a new generation of listeners enjoy the new connections.
- M
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