You ARE the Future. What’s Your Story? | Abbey Richter | TEDxYouth@EB

Summary

Abby RoR shares the timeless human desire to tell stories, from prehistoric cave paintings to modern social media. As an author, she writes about overcoming hardships through love, inspiring readers of all ages. Abby emphasizes the internet's role in democratizing storytelling, allowing anyone to influence millions. She encourages everyone to share their stories, as they can change lives and create a global, interconnected narrative.

Takeaways

• 🌐 **Human Nature to Share**: People have always felt the need to share knowledge and experiences, from prehistory to the present.
• 🎨 **Evolution of Storytelling**: Storytelling has evolved from cave paintings and oral traditions to modern forms like written words, theater, and digital media.
• 🐾 **Pets as Family**: Abby RoR sees her pets as family, chosen in love, and her books about them focus on overcoming hard times through love and support.
• 📚 **Books as Life Lessons**: Abby's books became popular for their honesty and the life lessons they offer, appealing to both children and adults.
• 🏆 **Bestsellers**: Each book in Abby's series was a number one bestseller on Amazon.
• 👶 **Appeal to Children**: Children love Abby's books because they are stories about animals.
• 🧑 **Appeal to Adults**: Adults enjoy the books for their stories about overcoming hardship and for inspiration in their own writing aspirations.
• 👵 **Engaging the Elderly**: The books have been used to read to the elderly and disabled, keeping them engaged and connected.
• 🌟 **Storytelling's Impact**: Sharing stories creates conversations that help both readers and writers to achieve more.
• 🌍 **Global Storytelling**: The internet allows us to share stories globally, with YouTube being a major platform where billions of videos are viewed daily.
• 📈 **Influence Through Storytelling**: The term 'going viral' shows how anyone can influence millions with their story, proving the power of storytelling.

Q & A

What is the fundamental human instinct that the speaker discusses in the script?

The fundamental human instinct discussed in the script is the need to share knowledge and experiences with others.

How did the method of storytelling evolve according to the script?

The method of storytelling evolved from cave paintings and oral traditions to written words, theater, audio, video, and interactive social media.

Who is Abby RoR and what is her connection to storytelling?

Abby RoR is the speaker and an adopted child who sees her pets as family. She is a storyteller who writes books about her pets, focusing on overcoming hard times through love and support.

What is the main theme of the books written by Abby RoR?

The main theme of Abby RoR's books is overcoming hard times through love and support.

Why did Abby RoR's books become popular according to the script?

Abby RoR's books became popular because of their honesty and the life lessons people could take from them.

Who are the target audiences for Abby RoR's books?

The target audiences for Abby RoR's books are children who love stories about animals, adults who enjoy stories about overcoming hardship, and those who find them inspirational for their own writing aspirations.

How have Abby RoR's books been used in a community setting?

Abby RoR's books have been used to read to the elderly and disabled as a means of keeping them reading and engaged.

What does the speaker believe stories do beyond transferring information?

The speaker believes that stories are a form of communication that improve the lives of both the listeners and storytellers by creating conversations.

How does the speaker view the impact of the internet on storytelling?

The speaker views the internet as a tool that allows anyone with a computer to publish stories, making storytelling more accessible and influential.

What is the significance of the term 'going viral' in the context of storytelling?

The term 'going viral' signifies how anyone can influence millions with their story, showcasing the power of sharing stories in the digital age.

How does the speaker describe the current era for storytelling?

The speaker describes the current era as the most amazing time in history to be alive for storytelling, with the world being interconnected in ways that were unimaginable to our ancestors.