Living a Better Story

It can be very tempting to dip into the fantasy world when writing about the story you’d like to live. ‘Well, I’d like to live a story that includes me having chiseled, six-pack abs. Maybe I could save a beautiful damsel in distress – from some shape-shifting vampires. That seems popular these days!’

In reality though, none of that really makes for a good story.

The kind of story I want to live is a simple one, really. It’s a love story.

No, I’m not talking about the cookie-cutter romantic comedies starring Richard Gere/Hugh Grant/insert other heavily-accented actors (probably with those freaking chiseled abs) here.

I’m talking about a real love story.

In 1967, some band named The Beatles famously sang “All you need is love.” I don’t know if truer song lyrics have ever been written (and I am a music nerd, so I’ve heard a lot of song lyrics through the years).

You see, love really is the most powerful thing in the universe. Perhaps more importantly, love is everlasting. It’s the only thing in the world that is.

Too often in these often vacuous times we live in, high importance is placed on possessions. However, clothes fade, cars break down, buildings crumble – even our bodies wither, but love, true love, is eternal.


Maybe the best part about true love is that it’s completely selfless.

Buying clothes or a car is nice, but really, it’s selfish. Even though clothes are a necessity (you can’t get milkshakes or Chick-Fil-A – or better yet, milkshakes at Chick-Fil-A – without clothes), usually we buy clothes because we like them, or like the way we look in them, which in turn affects how we feel about ourselves.

There was a time, not that long ago, when I placed all of my value, all of my self-worth on my job status or status in society. Then, seemingly in an instant, it was all gone. Losing everything I thought was important in life showed me that love is greater than any possession or job title. When you accept love and allow it to take over your life, it will change the way you think, the way you act – it will even change the way you treat other people. If you want to make a real difference in this world and in yourself, love someone.

It’s actually easier than you may think. Tell someone close to you that you love them, hold the door open for a total stranger, give cheerfully to someone in need with no desire to gain anything in return, be there for a friend going through a tough time.

One of the most quoted parts of the Bible is 1 Corinthians’ “Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails.” But, in my opinion, the most poignant part of that chapter is a bit earlier where Paul says, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

Once we accept the love in our lives, the only thing we have left to do is share it.

My story is about unconditionally loving the world and all the people I encounter in it. Attending the Living a Better Story Seminar would allow me to meet and interact with new people, learn their stories, share new experiences with them and, most importantly, show them how love can transform their lives. Only then can we go out and live a better story – changing the world through the power of love.

Plus, there’s that swanky hotel, fresh mints and bottled water you spoke of.

Living a Better Story Seminar from All Things Converge Podcast on Vimeo.