Why Stories Are So Important?

Some of you who have been reading my articles, will know that I had an horrific experience many years ago, a few years after I first became qualified as a social worker.

A child was killed by one of her parents and as a result, whilst traumatised, guilt ridden, depressed, and totally ill-prepared for giving evidence, I was placed in a witness box.

The emotions of trepidation, anxiety, doubt, fear, guilt distress and confusion were all swirling around inside of me, overwhelming me...and that was before stepping into the witness box.

In hindsight I learned an awful lot from the entire ordeal; pain is often instructive.

Well...I won't bore you with how poorly I presented and gave evidence on that - my first occasion - but as a result of the terrible mauling I was subjected to that day, my life has never been the same.

You see as a result of that horrific experience, I chose to go back to court regularly, with the sole intention of ensuring that I would never ever again experience that abuse in the witness box.

I swore that to myself many many years ago, and it's been an oath I have been able to keep.

But the entire experience - the child's death, my lack of experience, traumatised state and inability to provide anything like suitable evidence at court - was one that was so excruciating to me, that it has taken me decades to feel able to tell.

But stories I realise are so important because they allow people to understand why you do what you do, and feel as you do.

Stories, when told, can resonate with others, providing them with a context, meaning and purpose behind what the story teller does and feels.

Stories can also empower and inspire others to do. or achieve things that they otherwise might not have achieved.

They can touch others hearts, awaken within them a sense of empathy and integrity.

In addition telling stories can be cathartic, evoking emotion, feelings and thoughts that have long been buried inside.

The legal system is the way it is. It is the way it is for a purpose.

Your feelings, thoughts and needs are not something it is concerned with and for this reason, when you step into the witness box you have to know how to defend yourself, because if you don't, you could well be in for a mauling that you neither want or need.

I share my story or parts of it because I now feel I can. I don't feel people need or deserve often what they are subjected to at court. Life is stressful enough, so learning from other people's experiences, is a sensible thing to do!

I would love to hear from you if you have experiences at court you want or need to share. It may be therapeutic for you to do so, and who knows your story may also play a role in helping others deal with their court experience in a more positive way.