It happened in Morocco.
He's a short older Arab man with a long grey beard and
a twinkle in his eyes. He's wearing a traditional white robe. He is animated, waving his arms around, his voice changing pitch, volume, and speed.
A crowd has gathered around him in the busy marketplace.
They are listening intently, with smiles on their faces.
It's all in Arabic, a language I don't speak at all. But I can tell by the way
he moves and by how captivated his audience is that he's a master.
The story builds, reaching a climax, and then, suddenly, he stops.
He looks at the ground where there is a small brass pot.
The young Arab men listening all reach into their pockets for bills and coins, and place them in the pot.
The old man watches. When he is satisfied with the amount, only then does he continue the story.
In that moment, I decided to become a storyteller.
I was always a storyteller.
I just didn't know it yet.
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5 years of being a social host on cruise ships
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6 years of tour guiding
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Diploma in Expressive Arts Therapy
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Studied improv comedy and physical theatre
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Facilitated an arts-based program with Syrian Refugees
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Worked with at-risk youth
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Creator of many community art projects
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Facilitated workshops for clowning, storytelling, puppetry, and creative play
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World Traveller to over 60 countries
I draw inspiration from many sources
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Mythology gurus like Joseph Campbell
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Masters of the business world like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk
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Folktales and mythology from around the world
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Inspiring TED Talks like Sir Ken Robinson
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Leaders of movements like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela
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Hollywood's best storytellers like Pixar
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Politicians like Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy
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Non-Profits that found unique ways to fundraise like Save The Children