Heart's Ann Wilson, storytelling, and night cheese

Ever listen to a song on repeat until you ruin it for yourself and everyone within earshot?

Me, too. (I’m still laughing about my obsession with Elton John’s “Goodbye England’s Rose” tribute to Princess Diana during sophomore year. I played it so many times the laser scratched up the CD within a couple months.)

You know what song I could never overplay (besides “September” by Earth Wind & Fire)? “Alone” by Heart.

I mean…Ann Wilson’s voice? I can’t even deal. At 69, she’s as strong as ever. I know firsthand ‘cuz I saw Heart live in Tacoma earlier this week (#brag).

Since the concert, I’ve surfed YouTube for live Heart performances like any good low-level stalker would do. 137 plays later, I realized that Wilson’s mastery lies not just in her incomparable voice…but also in her ability to masterfully tell a story.

I’ve always been drawn to stories—not just what happens, but how the story is told. Stories are essentially about one person saying to another: This is who I am. This is how I see the world. Can you understand me?

As a certified coach/experienced teacher/budding writer, I believe our stories form the core of our lives and give them deeper meaning.

The story we start out with may not be the story we end up with.
What first got included in the telling may now be left out, and what was left out may become a central plot point.
Some major characters might become minor ones, and some minor characters may take on star billing.
Our own role might change, too—from bit player to lead, from victim to hero.

This notion of changing your story is what your early midlife is all about, friends. (And I don't mean buying a red sports car.)

I learned to change my story as I navigated through my own health, career, and relationship muck. Friends consistently remarked that they admired my resolve and wondered how I was able to have such a great perspective on it all. "It's the night cheese," I whispered.

Just kidding. It was all coaching.

My world opened as wide as my fivehead from coaching and I wanted to help others change their stories. I know first-hand how hard it is to see ourselves in ways that we haven’t before—but also how rewarding and liberating this process can be.

Though people work with me for any number of reasons, I’ve noticed a common theme: Their stories are no longer serving them…no matter how many people are in their lives, no matter how much career success they’ve achieved, no matter [fill in blank accomplishment].

As a coach/teacher/writer, I’m interested in going inside ourselves to get outside of ourselves…because the process of taking ownership of our stories is transformative (for us and the world around us). It’s time to revise your well-worn stories…to move forward in telling new, more helpful stories…with Ann Wilson-level mastery. Let’s talk…but in the meantime, check out this clip of one of rock and roll's greatest singers. And check out this second one, too.