Stories make a difference-by Mark Ash

I first began to connect with Stories from the Street when I was off work with depression at the beginning of this year. To say this was a difficult time is an understatement, I couldn’t look at a bus without thinking of throwing myself underneath it. It was only a brief thought to the poor sod of a bus driver and how it might ruin his day that sometimes stopped me taking things further.

During this time I read “Stories from the Street” compiled by Steve. The tag line of this book is, “Extraordinary Stories from Ordinary People”, which is very true. What I found most extraordinary was that almost every story I read resonated with my own story. I could identify with the authors because; as well as their honesty; most of their stories were far from finished and not sown up in a neat and tidy fashion. Pain still lingered, quetions remained unanswered and closure was still deferred for some of the writers. With the turn of every page I kept on hearing the same message, sometimes you have to live in the middle of all the crap, but it won’t last forever. That gave me hope, other peoples stories gave me hope.

As a result of this I began writing my own accounts of what was going on in my life through prose and poems as a kind of therapy. In many way that has worked for me as putting pen to paper helps me to untangle thoughts and emotions and I’m even sure that I swear less as I write more.

A few people have said that they like what I write, although 1 or 2 of them rate Andy McNabs, “Bravo 2 Zero” as a modern classic. With this in mind I have been asked by Steve to contribute to this site and I humbly accept.

Please never underestimate the power of your story and don’t fall in to the trap that I once did, that your story has to be one of triumph before it can make  a positive difference to other people.

Mark Ash

Risk and failure

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”  Another great quote this time from Teddy Roosevelt, using  language understood by every risk taker down through the generations.

So to add to my list of favourite risk takers, first for today is a guy called Dan Brown. No not the famous author but a wonderful artisan who this summer along with his theatre company Pointed Arrow will be spending three weeks pushing…………..yes a  boat through the cities, housing estates and rural villages of West Yorkshire. You can read why by clicking here. Inspirational stuff.

Dan, for me, encapsulates all that is amazing about the many actors, writers, musicians and performers who risk much for the pursuit of their craft and the love of performance. Imagine a world of economics and science, devoid of art, music, theatre, poetry and so on. No thanks. So big respect Dan and all those like him.

Second for today are my many friends who have chosen to adopt some of the thousands of children in the care system within the UK. People like Mark and Claire, Al and Paula, David and Diane, Dave and Helen and so on. No not just because of issues of infertility, but because they are provoked and outraged by such injustice. Completely amazing people.

Last for today, all those who have taken the risk of posting something of their story onto our web site. Thanks for taking the risk of public scrutiny. I could mention many but today I just want to mention someone who calls herself redhead. Her story looks back on a 40 year journey to comes to terms with the suicide of her Mum. Click here to read more.

A complete honour to be trusted with such material.

My favourite risk takers

“Some people are so cautious with their lives they tip toe through life hoping to arrive at death safely.” What a great quote from Tony Campolo! Has so inspired me that I am going to post over the next few days on my favourite risk takers. No not the chuffs in the square mile who have helped wreck our economy. Have no interest in posting on those who take risks with other people’s livelihood. No, rather those who in the pursuit of great adventures are willing to put themselves on the line.

So my first nominee. A woman called Bernie who ten years ago started a childrens club in Leeds that over this last decade has helped literally thousands of the most needy kids in my city. Yep I mean thousands! She and her husband Graham have sacrificed an easy passage into the middle years of their lives by repeatedly giving themselves to those kids who others have no time for. One amazing woman and one great risk taker.

Second on the list, a woman called Vicky Ward. She is currently on a career break from work in the city of Sheffield that connects her to some of the drug users of that city who’s home are the streets. What is she doing this year? Well walking her way down through France and Spain, exploring the ancient pilgrim paths, carrying her home on her back and wondering what her future might hold for her. I love that! Completely reckless and out of the box. Good one Vicky.

Finally, all those taking part in the fourth plinth project in Trafalgar Square. Love it! Completely random, but space being found for ordinary people to have an hour of fame, and a bit of fun. Not seen it yet. Take a look here.

More tomorrow.

Good one Boris! When is it my turn?

Now I am not big on alternative art and sculpture. My problem; nobody else’s. The thing is I just don’t get it! More often than not whatever the artist is trying to get over is well beyond me.

Not Anthony Gormley’s fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. Over the next 100 days one person every hour will stand on the plinth amongst the statutes of the good and the great. And Boris got it spot on when he said “It’s a profound meditation on the nature of fame and talent.” Good one Boris! I can understand that; yep everyone deserves to be famous for at least one hour.

I like that notion. Click here to read more. To view the live web cam click here. Boris goes onto say

“Do these toga’d buffoons cast in bronze around Trafalgar Square deserve any more celebration than this person up there? This is the question – that’s what this operation is trying to answer, but I leave it to you.”

Shame I might have missed out on this one. Still hope though as have just applied! Standing on the fourth plimph sounds well good to me.

Meanwhile I am  waiting for the phone to ring and some more work from my 19 yr old nephew/ boss of all holes that need digging. How funny is that!

Independance Day!

So its July 4th and the whole of the USA is celebrating its deliverance from imperialism. Wow! How wonderful and how totally absurd. How does it happen that the one who has been oppressed and wronged through the greed and vanity of empires long gone then, in time, turns into the monster that haunted them?

Now I’m not here to have another dig at the incredible nation of America. Everywhere I have travelled I have continually found Americans to be some of the friendliest and most optimistic of all. I love their confidence and passion for life. Yet as in the words of Bono, speaking after the tube bombings in London, “in attempting to defeat the monster (of terrorism ) lets be careful we do not become a monster.”

So the storyline of history repeats itself; wounds inflicted in time gone reappear to haunt and confuse world events bening played out across nations. Who is it who said “History repeats itself; it has to cos nobody listens.” Can Obama bring a fresh flavour to this next year of the life of American global politics? Can this cycle be broken? Cairo was a promising start but there is a long way to go.

However celebrate well today America. It  was my nation that wronged you centuries ago so I have no soap box to stand on. I love your beautiful country and I love the largeness of your heart.

It’s a good day!

(Well if you ignore American idol, Roddick, beating Murray!)