“Speaking of the history of stories and especially of fairy-stories, we may say that the Pot of Soup, the Cauldron of Story has always been boiling, and to it have continually been added new bits, dainty and undainty” – J.R.R. Tolkein
While we lived in Alsace, I learned about the Pot-au-Feu, the French version of hot steaming soup! Although there are modern recipe versions of this classic dish, the core of this French stew resides in its perpetuity. In other words, as the soup is consumed, more ingredients get added to the pot for the next meal. Then the next, and next with new flavors infused each time.
I am sure it is this dish that Mr. Tolkien had in mind when he compared story to this pot of soup. When you think of it, as we are born, we step into an already boiling pot to which we add our life and experience.
The pot of:
- our family and all of its history,
- the community we live,
- the church we attend,
- and social groups we join.
The pot simmers, while stirring experiences in and so it goes, adding “new bits, dainty and undainty.”
So it is with generational stories. It is an ever growing, living thing. Whether the story be fiction, as the Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, or non-fiction in capturing our personal story, we build and erect them on a backstory of previous ingredients and seasonings.
I designed my recently released workbook to lead you through the process of recognizing, articulating and recording your personal stories. The generational story can be very satisfying to capture and share. The process is a delightful adventure of discovery, every bit as glorious as reading a Tolkien saga. The difference is, it’s real and you are in the tale!
What Hot Steaming Soup story will you start this summer? Start today. Download the free PDF below!