Passion for Stories

Recently, I watched a cartoon series called Avatar: The Last Airbender.

While watching this show I felt a familiar and missed sensation. A euphoric feeling that connected me spiritually with the characters, the world, and the story they were telling. It is a moment of bliss that lingers long after the ending, leaving me yearning for more. Naturally, I wanted to examine this further and explore the inner workings of why I was so moved by this story.

That’s when I stumbled upon Avatar co-creator Mike DiMartino’s blog titled “Why Story Matters.” It almost seems inappropriate to dub it merely a blog, because, for me, I felt as if I discovered a magical tome rich with insight about the mysterious art of storytelling.

We need stories so much that we’re even willing to read bad books to get them, if the good books won’t supply them. We all need stories, but children are more frank about it.

DiMartino kicked off his blog with a quote from Philip Pullman: “We need stories so much that we’re even willing to read bad books to get them if the good books won’t supply them. We all need stories, but children are more frank about it.” DiMartino emphasized that stories are not simply entertainment, they are an essential part of life. “They help us understand the world around us, help guide us how to live, and show us the potential of what we can become.” His words deeply resonated with me. I finally found an explanation that effectively describes my passion and drive, and that’s when it hit me. All this time, I desired to be a storyteller.

They help us understand the world around us, help guide us how to live, and show us the potential of what we can become.

I’ve long described myself as someone who is “passionate about video games and their ability to entertain and inspire others.” I authored this self-descriptive little phrase years ago, but DiMartino’s words better reflect my inner-most thoughts on the matter. Truthfully, my passion isn’t limited to just games. This is why I’ve dabbled in many forms of expression: music, theater, art, photography, game design, writing, etc. I was trying out various methods of storytelling.

I truly believe that stories have the power to change lives and enrich our existence as human beings. My greatest desire is to one day be involved in crafting a story that is meaningful to someone else, just like how many stories, including Avatar, were meaningful for me.

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I want to continue pushing forward with this. Following a suggestion by DiMartino, reading “Stealing Fire from the Gods” by James Bonnet seems like a solid step forward. I would also like to read the Avatar comics too.

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