Stories are a part of our lives from an early age. As children, we are told fairy tales and stories of animals. In school, we read stories considered essential to our overall education and understanding of the world. And as adults, we follow stories about real-life events through the news and watch movies with completing stories and characters. We use social media to tell our own stories.
As a writer and avid reader, I am constantly looking for powerful stories. It is a little weird to say I like a month, but my own love of stories is why I like March. March is a month filled with special days centered around storytelling.
March 2nd is Read Across America Day. Inspired by the birthday of Dr. Seuss, Read Across America Day is a day to encourage people, especially kids, to pick up a book and read. Elementary school children around the country are dressed as their favorite Dr. Seuss characters, and time is set aside in classrooms for reading. At home, parents can encourage their kids by making time each day to read with them. Parents can be strong role models for their kids when it comes to being an active reader. When your kids see you reading, they are more likely to want to read for themselves.
March 3rd is World Book Day. Around the world, people celebrate the power of a good book. Whether an old favorite or discovering a great new author, picking up a book can do wonders for your mental state. Books give you a chance to meet great characters and travel to new places from the comfort of your couch.
March 4th is National Grammar Day. As a writer and language nerd in general, grammar is important. Is my grammar always perfect? Absolutely not, especially when it comes to quick hit statements social media. And in spite of what other may think, I don’t go around correcting any error I see on people’s Facebook posts. I might cringe a bit every time I see “your” instead of “you’re,” but I don’t make a big deal about pointing things out to my friends. When it comes to formal writing and speaking, a strong command of grammar is important in any field. Whether writing a novel or sending a memo to employees, grammar mistakes can compromise an otherwise good idea.
March 15th is the Ides of March. Okay, I admit this is a bit of a stretch, but being a Shakespeare fan, I had to throw it in. In Julius Caesar, Caesar is warned to “beware the Ides of March.” Ides simply referred to the middle of the month, but for Caesar, the middle of March was his undoing. Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15 in 44 BC. Shakespeare turned the specific date into a storytelling device by incorporating the date into dialogue. The month of March became a significant story element in the play.
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. I love St. Patricks’ Day. Next to the big dogs of Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day is my favorite holiday. My mom’s family is Irish and Scottish, so I’ve always been interested in Celtic history. St. Patrick’s Day is fun in and of itself. I’m not much of a drinker so I don’t really do the green beer thing, but I love decorating my cubicle at work and dressing from head to toe in my Irish regalia. I make Irish stew, colcannon, and soda bread. I make fun St. Patricks’ Day themed treats for my co-workers.
But beyond the fun of the day itself, part of why I relate to the Irish (and Scottish) is their love of storytelling. For centuries, storytelling has been an integral part of the Irish culture. Stories of ancient heroes and legends are shared at family gatherings. Musicians turned those stories into songs that are sung in pubs and at festivals across the country.
Although we’re several generations removed from our Irish and Scottish ancestors, the love of stories is still prevalent in my family. My grandpa used to talk about when his family would sit around in the evenings and play a game about who could tell the biggest “whopper” (made up story). As a child, he didn’t realize the key was going last so you could be sure to outdo everyone else. Today, any time my mom’s cousins are together, there are multiple exclamations of “Do you remember when…” and another story about their past is shared. I come by my love of stories naturally.
Whether it’s reading an old favorite book, hearing family history, or listing to Irish legends through music, March is a great month for anyone who loves stories.
Call to action: If you don’t already, take some time to read with your kids. Have them tell you about a story they read or have them read out loud to you. If you don’t have kids, take time to pick up a book or magazine and read, even if it’s only 10 minutes a day.
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