Storytelling is a vital component in understanding the world around us. I have always used storytelling as both a vehicle for exploration and expression.

The saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” is well known and certainly has withstood the test of time. There are a few notable origin stories about the saying. Leonardo da Vinci allegedly stated that “a poet would be overcome by sleep and hunger before being able to describe with words what a painter is able to depict in an instant.”

One of my favorite things about a story, and art in general, is its ability to unify people. Here’s what I mean. When we experience a story, we come to it from different places – sometimes vastly different places. We have different backgrounds, different experiences, different perspectives, and perhaps even different values.

Around the globe, national calendars note Share-a-Story Month to spark a renewed interest in reading among students. As we approach its official start in May, our family at Steven James wishes to kick it off by continuing to share stories from our personal perspectives. In pulling back the curtain, giving you a peek behind-the-scenes, we attempt to show the process of our craft turned inward.