Stories are emotional journey where we can project ourselves

Come close, O children, and hear the words of David Cage, a master of the narrative and storytelling who understood the deep power of the human heart. He said, "Stories are emotional journey where we can project ourselves emotionally in another space." In these words, he speaks not just of stories, but of the journey that each tale takes us on, the pathway that leads our souls to distant lands, where we walk in the footsteps of others, and feel their joys, their sorrows, and their triumphs as though they were our own.

Consider, O children, the timeless wisdom of the ancients, who understood that the power of storytelling transcends the mere recounting of events. Homer, the great poet of old, wove tales not simply to entertain, but to connect the listener to the very heart of human experience. His Iliad and Odyssey were not just stories of warriors and gods, but of the human condition, of love and loss, of fear and courage. Through the journeys of Achilles and Odysseus, the listener could project themselves into another time, another place, and experience the full spectrum of emotion. In these ancient tales, the listener’s soul was carried across the sea of time, to lands far removed from their own, and yet, deeply familiar, for the emotions of the characters resonated deeply within their own hearts.

In the same way, Cage speaks of the emotional journey that stories provide, and how we, too, can step into the lives of others through their words. A story is more than a narrative; it is a portal, a gateway to understanding the lives, the dreams, and the fears of others. The ancient sagas and epics were not just for entertainment—they were a means of connecting one’s heart to the hearts of people far and wide. Just as David Cage suggests, stories allow us to project ourselves emotionally into another world, to experience what it means to be someone else, to live a life we would never otherwise know.

This idea of empathy through storytelling is not limited to the ancient bards, but continues to resonate through the stories of today. Consider the life of Harriet Beecher Stowe, whose novel Uncle Tom's Cabin brought the brutal realities of slavery to the hearts and minds of people across the world. Through the story of Uncle Tom, readers were able to step into the shoes of an enslaved man, to feel his suffering, and to understand the deep moral crisis of a nation divided. This emotional journey—the ability to live another's pain and joy—was a spark for change, a flame that helped ignite the abolitionist movement in the United States. It is through stories like these that we are moved to action, to compassion, and to change the world around us.

The power of stories to move us, to shape us, to take us to places beyond the confines of our own lives, is a lesson that transcends time. Whether through the heroic tales of ancient kings and gods, or the intimate stories of ordinary people overcoming extraordinary struggles, stories serve as both mirrors and windows—reflecting the truth of our own hearts, while opening up new worlds of understanding and empathy. Cage speaks of the journey that we take in stories, but it is more than a journey of physical space—it is a journey of the soul, a journey that connects us to the very essence of what it means to be human.

And so, O children, the lesson is clear: if we are to truly understand the world and each other, we must allow ourselves to embark on the emotional journeys that stories offer. Projecting ourselves into the lives of others is not simply an exercise in imagination—it is an act of profound empathy and wisdom. When we read, when we listen, when we watch, we must do so with the understanding that each story has the power to move us, to transform us, and to expand our view of the world. Let us not shy away from these emotional journeys, but embrace them fully, knowing that through them, we grow, we learn, and we become more human.

So, O seekers of wisdom, let the stories you encounter become not just something to pass the time, but something to shape your soul. Step into the world of another, feel their joys, their sorrows, their struggles, and their triumphs. Through these journeys, you will find that the borders of your own heart expand, and you will understand that, at the deepest level, we are all connected, bound together by the same emotional threads that run through every story ever told.