The Intersection of Peace and Storytelling

But over the years, my understanding of peacebuilding and peace itself has evolved quite dramatically.

When I describe the work I do for Kahanee, people often ask with genuine curiosity: "How exactly do you build peace through storytelling?" It sounds like such a novel concept to many. But the truth is, peacebuilding and storytelling have been intertwined throughout the human experience since the dawn of mankind.

Stories, like the ones etched on rocks by our ancestors or the ones that adorn the high ceilings of historic chapels, all paint vivid pictures of love, life, and grief, or in other words, peace. It is the telling of those stories and the interpretation and listening that brings about peace to both the storyteller and the story listener.

Ancestral Wisdom and Timeless Traditions

Storytelling as peacebuilding is a tradition that has been central to how many Indigenous peoples across the world have sustained their communities. Over centuries, they have told stories as a means to bring communities together, pass down wisdom, and profoundly move the listener.

A story can exist until the end of time, long after its author is gone. This is why we still hear stories from centuries ago, and why storytelling is integral to religions, spiritual traditions, and cultural identity. Every group or community has stories of some sort, telling them through different lenses that we can all relate to on some level.

Personal Connections to Story and Peace

In the traditional Buddhist upbringing I had, there is something called the "500 Tales of the Buddha" or "Jataka Katha." These stories describe the past lives of the Buddha, conveying lessons he learned throughout his many existences.

Whether fictional or non-fictional, these stories moved me as a child and continue to guide me as an adult teaching me to move through life with love, gratitude, kindness, and reciprocity. Always give back, with no intention of getting anything in return, but always remember to give back once you receive something.

Everyday Acts of Peacebuilding

Peacebuilding can happen through stories, but it's also incredibly versatile and deeply personal. Going through your house or apartment twice a year to get rid of things you no longer use and donating them is a process of building peace for yourself and for others who may not have the same privileges you do.

Or if you're like me, an avid thrifter, your "junk" might end up being the centerpiece in my living room! This cycle of giving and reusing creates its own kind of peace.

Beyond Definitions: Finding Your Peace

All this to say that there is probably a technical definition out there for peace and peacebuilding. But truly, peacebuilding comes down to what gives you inner satisfaction and makes you feel like you've lifted a weight off your shoulders.

This could mean:

• Giving back to your community
• Learning something new
• Challenging something you already knew and believed in
• Telling or listening to a story that shifts your perspective

We humans are always geared to find meaning and purpose in everything we do. We sometimes get lost in that process, instead of stopping to think about what gives us peace in this moment and how we can share that with someone else.

Creating Peace Around the Table

If you're still confused about what peace or peacebuilding means, don't worry. It doesn't have to have one meaning. It can be what you want it to be.

For us at Kahanee, peace happens around a table, when we share stories, laugh, cry, and see different perspectives, even ones that challenge our own. The act of storytelling creates a sacred space where peace can flourish between people who might otherwise never connect.

Join the Conversation

If you feel like it, I'd love for you to share what peacebuilding means to you. How do you create peace in your life and community? What stories have brought you peace or changed your perspective?

After all, the conversation about peace is one that never truly ends and perhaps that's exactly as it should be.

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