New Year

New Year, New Look, New Outlook

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As my intelligent and beautiful ones of readers have already noticed, I’ve not only changed the look and feel of my blog, I’ve changed the title too. A Look Through Lorie’s Lens was created when I was working in video, and while video production will always be my first love, it doesn’t reflect me or what I want to do any more.

laptop-820274_960_720I want to tell stories, my own and other people’s. So, We’re All Just Stories in the End was born from what was on editing room floor. (Bonus points to anyone WHO knows where I got the title from.) With the change in title comes a change in perspective.

We’re All Just Stories in the End is going to focus on telling stories. I’m going to look at how business and individuals can use stories in their marketing to grow their reach and their profit. I’ll be talking about how different mediums can help tell stories. Of course, I’m also going to talk about telling my stories.

Regulars readers will also notice that I’ve added a page with samples of some of my writing. This is all part of my plan to continue to work as a freelancer to help people tell their stories. If you’d like to talk to me about your story, and what I can do to assist, just drop me a message here.

I’m really excited about the opportunities that lay ahead in 2017. I hope you’ll join me.

 

 

 

My 2014 Review – From Craptastic to Possibilities in 2015

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My 2014, in all honesty and to put it bluntly, sucked. It’s actually pretty hard to find the words to express the total craptastic nature of the last 365 days. (Since writing those first sentences I learned of the death in the family, so the nasty that is 2014 seems to be holding on to the last.) So I won’t.

The best part of the year was spending time at  the beach with my family. The whole year comes down to a week in August when looking for bright spots. Certainly not my best year by far.

So I am looking toward 2015 to go a little better. It’s already started actually. I may have some amazing news that will very literally change my life. I got a hint at it last week, but until things are set in stone in the next few weeks I’m keeping it to myself. So watch this spot!

I guess that’s what we do at the end of the year. We tally the losses and the gains and try to make sense of it all so we have a little more hope going into the new year. Here’s hoping there are more losses than gains on your 2014 tally sheet.

Happy New Year my friends. May it be filled with love, laughter, and most importantly — hope.

 

Dedicated to Jerry Bock, you will be missed.

A Tell Your Story Tuesday Worth Waiting For!

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Thanks for hanging around for Tell Your Story Tuesday, on Wednesday!

A picture is worth a thousand words, or so they say. Since we seem to have a lot of folks who are too shy to share words around here I thought I would give you a different challenge this week. Tell a story with a picture.  If you’re anything like me you’ve got a couple of pictures that tells the story of a trip, a place, a person or an event. As a matter of fact, here’s one of mine!

Two girls looking out the window at the beach.

My daughter's couldn't wait to hit the beach!

Now, I can’t claim to have thought this up all on my own. I found a website called Cowbird earlier this week. They encourage people to tell a story starting with an image. They’re kind of like a diary using pictures to help tell a story. I thought why not take a cue from them and see if we can’t get some people to tell us a story using a picture.

The regular Tuesday Rules remain:

The Ground Rules:

  1. Be nice! Constructive criticism is fine, but this is strictly a “No Troll Zone“
  2. Keep it clean! This site is for folks of all ages, anything not suitable for a PG audience will be removed (sorry, but my kids can read this blog and my 6 year old is a great reader – there are just some things I don’t need her sounding out!).
  3. Keep it fairly short! This isn’t the place to write the next great novel. Let’s see how short stories go before we move into long form writing.
  4. Nothing Copyrighted Please! Please make sure that you’re telling your own story and not someone else’s.
  5. No bashing other people/companies/political parties/ethnic groups/sexual orientation/career choices/physical appearance or ability/musical tastes! Again, this is a “Troll Free Zone” – leave the mean and nasty at the door. It’s one thing to have a funny encounter in a strange situation or a strange encounter in a funny situation. Using your story to insult others is another thing all together.
  6. I reserve the right! This is my blog and my face to the Internets, I reserve the right to change the rules, or remove content that break the rules. Sorry folks, but I’m sure that if you can find someone willing to let you post a story about a liberal Republican that walks with a limp and listens to Yani while sheep herding and why you hate them. I am not that someone, and this is not the place.

Look through your phone, check your folders and find a picture worth a thousand words!

Go ahead – tell me a story!

New Year? New Stories! Tell Us Your Stories Tuesday!

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It’s a new year, that can only mean one thing…that you’ve got a LOT of stories about all the crazy, funny, touching and unbelievable things that happened over the holidays! Let’s hear them!

This is YOUR chance to tell us your story. Telling stories is more than entertaining. It’s sharing a part of you with the world. It’s about making connections with other people. Storytelling is about touching another life by sharing your experiences.

I’ve shared a couple of stories so far, and I know people are following along so  it’s your turn again. Tell me a story. It doesn’t have to be long. It doesn’t have to be funny. It doesn’t even have to be good. Just take a few minutes to put thought to keyboard and tell me about something you experienced over the holidays.

Did your parent/kids/in-laws/neighbors/family do something that even YOU can’t believe? Were you surprised by a gift? Did you manage to surprise someone? Did your kids have a great reaction to Santa’s visit? Did you miss someone this holiday season who’s wasn’t there to celebrate with you? Tell us about it!

As with any good endeavor, there are some ground rules.

The Ground Rules:

  1. Be nice! Constructive criticism is fine, but this is strictly a “No Troll Zone”

    Troll free zone.

    Image via Wikipedia

  2. Keep it clean! This site is for folks of all ages, anything not suitable for a PG audience will be removed (sorry, but my kids can read this blog and my 6 year old is a great reader – there are just some things I don’t need her sounding out!).
  3. Keep it fairly short! This isn’t the place to write the next great novel. Let’s see how short stories go before we move into long form writing.
  4. Nothing Copyrighted Please! Please make sure that you’re telling your own story and not someone else’s.
  5. No bashing other people/companies/political parties/ethnic groups/sexual orientation/career choices/physical appearance or ability/musical tastes! Again, this is a “Troll Free Zone” – leave the mean and nasty at the door. It’s one thing to have a funny encounter in a strange situation or a strange encounter in a funny situation. Using your story to insult others is another thing all together.
  6. I reserve the right! This is my blog and my face to the Internets, I reserve the right to change the rules, or remove content that break the rules. Sorry folks, but I’m sure that if you can find someone willing to let you post a story about a liberal Republican that walks with a limp and listens to Yani while sheep herding and why you hate them. I am not that someone, and this is not the place.

Grab your quill and pen. Or your mouse and keyboard. Spend 5 minutes telling us a story. Don’t be shy!

Go ahead – tell me a story!

Cautiously Optimistic

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There are those who mourn the end of a year. There are others who look forward to the start of the new year with wild abandonment. In the past I have been in both of those places. I dreaded the end of 1994, the year my mother passed away, because it would be the first new year without her. I looked forward to the start of 2003, the year I would get off the roller coaster ride that had been my 20’s.

Godt-nytår-2004

Image via Wikipedia

Here I am at the beginning of 2011 and I realize I don’t fall into either category. I am firmly in the Cautiously Optimistic  column.

I am looking forward to new challenges and opportunities. I’m wistful at watching my children move another year closer towards being  “big girls.” I’m excited at the idea of doing the kinds of things that I do best. I’m anxious over all the question marks that have carried over from 2010.

To paraphrase Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gable series — each new year is a chance to make new mistakes. It’s also a chance to find new adventures, and yes new sorrows. But, most importantly, it’s a an opportunity!

So I will try to stay firmly in the Cautiously Optimistic column as 2011 marches forward. I’ll do my best to look forward to what’s to come and savior each new day for the opportunity it is.