Story Walking is a spiritual detective game that leads players into mystical experiences with Nature and Creative Spirit.
Imagine opening opening the front door, stepping out onto a giant game board and into a storybook life.
Wendy had been researching and testing this science of mind phenomenon ("funomenon") for over ten years. You can play it by yourself, with family or with a group of friends. Look for magical things: the whimsical shape of a cloud, the shape and color of a flower, or the appearance of an unusual bug or bird.
Notice unnatural things: a printed word on a piece of litter, the pictures on a candy wrapper, a colorful pencil, or a lost toy. These signs along the way can also hold a magical meaning. Write about your walks and findings in a journal, and share the clues and thoughts with your club.
How do you start a Story Walking (a.k.a Netwalking) Club? Start by reading this "Walking Journal" entry, Do-It-Yourself (D.Y.I) Walking Clubs for Kids.
The term netwalkingwas created by combining the concept of “networking” with the act of “walking.” Before the age of computers, networking was defined as the exchange of knowledge, ideas, services or personal connections among individuals, groups, businesses, organizations and/or institutions.
Networking is an excellent way to explore career and job opportunities, and netwalking is about cultivating these kinds of relationships while “on the move.” It is about finding commonality and conversing with comfort and ease.
Bring a pocket-sized notebook and a pencil or pen for jotting down names and ideas.
Wear something distinctive, such as a necklace, neck tie, blouse or t-shirt which may end up being a good conversation starter.
Carry a bottle of water, and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Set a goal or intention for the walk.
Connect. The traditional way for Americans to greet one another is with direct eye contact, a warm smile and a handshake, using the right hand. Anyone uncomfortable with a handshake can offer an elbow or a fist bump. Greetings vary from culture to culture, and this is an interesting topic to research.
The Student Leadership Training Program calls a handshake a “webby.” Between the index finger and thumb is a web of skin. When shaking hands these webs make contact and an energetic connection is made. A handshake says something about a person. A limp handshake expresses timidness. A hard squeeze of a handshake is intimidating. Most business people will give a firm, though not too firm handshake. Try to strike a balance between confidence and humility.
Introduce yourself clearly. When you are meeting someone for the first time, state your name slowly and clearly. When the other person states their name, repeat it back to them. Make sure you heard correctly and try to etch the name firmly into your memory. Repeat the person's name somewhere in your conversation, while you are looking at the person, This will impress the other person and will help you improve name recall.
Be prepared with some general questions and listen attentively to the answers. Networking is about gathering information and giving information. The more information you have at your disposal, the more effective you can be in helping and connecting others. Knowledge helps you to become more effective in your own endeavors, as you are better able to relate in terms of shared values and better able to meet another person's needs.
Conduct your conversations as if it's all about them, especially if the person may be a prospective employer. The more you know about them, the better you are able to provide them with referrals, assistance and ideas.
Above all, have fun and be yourself! Make a game out of netwalkng/networking. Converse with curiosity, as if you are an undercover investigator. Networking is more like farming than hunting. The big payoff from networking is unlikely to happen overnight. It takes time and work. You plant seeds, and you go back to water and nurture those seeds. Think positively, and you will find a bountiful harvest. Watch your life story develop in amazing ways.
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Full of whimsy and detailed observation, this collection of Story Walking explorations will show you how to slow down and notice the details and magic of nature. The stories and the music, along with 16 photos inside the jacket cover, are meant to inspire fun conversations. Contact storywalkerwendy@gmail.com or use the form below to request a copy.
Wild Plant Magic Cards" will help you to sharpen your observation skills. This limited edition collection includes 4 clue cards, 6 story cards and 6 affirmation cards, for a total of 16 folding cards. Some of the folding cards pose curious questions and suggest walking detective assignments to spark creative thinking. Lots of ideas for story walking club activities.
Nature detective magnifying glass has a built-in mini-ruler for measuring small bugs, leaves and flowers.
"Growing Up on a Farm," written by Wendy's grandmother, Naomi Newburn, explains what it was like to grow up on a small family farm in the 1900's. Today small family farms are answering today's challenges - supply chains, food security, contamination, affordability and accessibility - on a local level. This story shows what a community food system can look like.
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