The Art of Talking Story

By Marie-Rose Phan-Lê

We live in fast times. Our modern world is in a distressed state with people settling for the fast food of self-help, spirituality or transformation, reaching for it so they can fill their hunger, but not being deeply nourished. I have made it my life’s work to document traditional healing and spiritual practices that are fast disappearing in this age of globalization, because of their contemporary relevance. In my travels, I have learned that one of the most impactful ways to not only preserve, but to also perpetuate the evolution of these traditions is to do as indigenous people do—share through the art of storytelling.

One of the prescriptions to heal the ailments of our epoch time paucity—is to practice talking story. In Hawaii, we invite each other to hang out by saying, “Come over, let’s talk story.” The idea is simple. We make the space to spend time actually being present with people who make us feel seen, heard, and included, and who are willing to share of themselves with no talking points to cover, no need for an out time, or planned agenda. It’s actually the stuff that forges the bonds of healthy relationships—the shared experiences of joy, sorrow, and discovery. This, of course, is not unique to the Hawaiian culture. It is the equivalence of what was called visiting when I lived in the South and was beckoned to sit on a neighbor’s porch to sip lemonade and shoot the breeze, or having café time in Paris to people watch with a friend.