Storytelling and the curation of personal memory have an interesting symbiosis. Each practice is susceptible to editorializing one’s past, one where you’re either transformed into a hero or your sins are absolved by way of hindsight - which lends you supernatural perspective. I’ve always struggled with this, believing instead that the rougher edges and mistakes of your life are what makes a story worth telling. It could be my Catholic upbringing, often (always) intertwined with my complexes of guilt and responsibility, but each time I’m compelled to tell a story, it’s often propelled by contrition - a need to purge my soul of shameful memories. To be the hero I wish I was, at the time.
However, in the rare moments where the act of storytelling can become an opportunity to heal, I’m grateful to make that connection with others. The ”story” can become a gift to both the audience and yourself, when you're able to reclaim a part of your past as a teachable moment, while transforming that moment on stage. Recorded live at The Moth LA's GrandSLAM at The Regent Theater, January 28th, 2019 - this is a story about confronting my fears of reaching out to my family & friends after having disconnected my phone for two and a half years. Difficult to put into words, but worth every bit of the struggle.
Thanks to my friends at The Moth - Los Angeles for inviting me into their community and hosts Brian Finkelstein & Gary Buchler. Special thanks to Suzette Burton at The Moth, for editing this video.