Who Are You?

Man, from his earliest days, felt compelled to tell stories. Myth, legend and history, from the cave drawing to the tribal chief’s tales, and to the monk’s zen koan, we leave the mark that we were here. And it allows us to share our culture.

As many of our readers are Evolving Martial Artists, take a spin outside the martial realm with us today and think about the story. The roots of Charles Hale’s blog are steeped in the history, through storytelling, of who we are. He writes about his ancestors and their experiences in coming to New York from Ireland. Although it may seem at first glance, like a personal journey, the stories seek the threads that connects us to one another. It is world history, America history, New York history. In fact, it’s called STORIES CONNECT LOVE HEALS. The stories are often paired with a music video, and are filled with genealogy, psychology, art, music, old photographs, baseball, heroes, street sweepers, street sweeping heroes, tenements, immigrants, inspiration, joy, and sorrow. The writing is filled with life.

Many of us have our own diverse collection of ancestors. As Charles Hale said, “I am an immigrant dressed in rags and a peasant digging potato drills. I am a marauding Viking and a Pagan dancing around a fire…” We are a family of man, weaving together our tapestry. He posed two question to his readers: Who are you and where are you from? it is a powerful exercise. And he was kind enough to post my response.