Storytelling: The oldest wisdom that is as fresh as ever.

During a recent coaching conversation, the concept of storytelling came up, and it brought back wonderful memories of my childhood.

Growing up in India, storytelling was how wisdom, values, and spiritual teachings were passed down. Some of my fondest memories are sitting in a semi-circle with my siblings and cousins around my ammama (maternal grandmother), who would hand each of us a ball of soft rice dipped in gravy along with the vegetable of the day while narrating stories from the epics and other simple yet powerful tales of life. We would obediently put out our right palm, waiting for our turn while staying fascinated by the story being told.

My mother continued this beautiful tradition, turning subjects like history, language, and even science into meaningful stories that have stayed with me. I remember lying on woven mats on our terrace during the warm summer nights and gazing at the night sky while listening to her narrate stories of the stars, the planets, and the moon. My favorite was imagining what could be floating in the black hole. These stories created curiosity and a way of understanding life through imagination and a certain awe.

Many of her stories were steeped in philosophy and spirituality passed down through generations. It was her way of grounding us in a deeper awareness of who we are and why we’re here.

Years later, I found myself doing the same- writing and narrating stories for children at the Santa Clara Library. Storytelling is how I connect experiences, ideas, and emotions.

Now, as a coach, I see how that early exposure to storytelling shaped the way I hold space for clients. In our sessions, stories often become mirrors—tools for reflection, healing, and direction. Every person is living a story that’s still unfolding.

The tradition of storytelling lives on not just in tales from the past, but in the evolving story each of us courageously write every day.