I subscribe to DailyOM, and love their online courses and daily inspirational emails. Today I received an email about Knowing Your History, and it embodied why I want to write people's stories. I know so many people are intrigued by genealogy and mapping their family trees, but what about the stories behind those maps? That's what I want to know. That's what I want to write.

Here's a quote from that email this morning. Take a second to read it, think about it, and consider what stories you want to hear this Thanksgiving.

Knowing Your History

BY Madisyn Taylor
"In researching our individual histories, however, we may encounter relatives who made interesting choices or were involved in traumatic events. It's easy to overestimate the importance of these pieces of our past and to cling to them. Balance is key. While your heritage has influenced the development of the person you are today, you are more than an ethnicity, a culture, or a family name. You should not feel driven to alter your likes and dislikes, dreams, preferences, or values because you feel your heritage demands it. Knowing your history is about loving who you are, understanding where you've come from, and preparing for your future."

I have a few new projects on the horizon after launching Dani Rhea, and I couldn’t be more excited. I have so many ideas of stories I could tell, but the ideas coming from clients give me goosebumps!

1-Life in Four Quarters: I’m working with a friend to create a sample product about her father’s life. I plan to interview her and a few members of her family to tell her dad’s story. He passed away a few years before the last of the grandkids were born, and I’d love to provide a concrete showcase of his life, love, and legacy. He was a football coach, so four quarters seemed like the perfect way to nod to his love.

2-A retirement present. I’m working with a client to showcase a lifetime of professional work. What a treat! I hope this project becomes a treasure of memories.

3-Letters from Grandpa. I’m working with a dear friend to create a book for her toddler with stories from both her grandfathers. They both passed away before she was born, and this book will tell their stories and legacies as she grows up.

These are a few of the types of stories I want to tell, to put on paper, and to publish, but there are so many more. Every graduate has a story about their childhood. Every parent has a story about their life before children, or the hope of children. Every teacher has a story to tell about their own growth or the growth of their students, perhaps one specific student. Every new business owner has a story to tell about their inspiration, plan, and launch. Every doctor or therapist has patients with stories of survival, personal growth, and triumph. Stories are everywhere.

Which one do you want to tell? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Yes, I am a blogger. Yes, I am a columnist. I'm hoping to grow both of those parts of me as I step into the role of Storyteller, because that's what I do-I tell stories, and I'm best at telling them on paper.

As a blogger, I plan to organically and casually chronicle the experience of Dani Rhea , and how I hope to turn my passion for storytelling and celebrating into a passionate, soul-filled, business of my own. I also will throw in a few stories about the crazy of my life--I have enough material to keep us in words for quite some time. The freedom of a blog is its spontaneity and gut level honestly. Heck, I may even throw a cuss word or two out there just for kicks.

As a columnist, I will continue to tell stories of motherhood, friendship, family, marriage, small town living, life milestones, and perhaps even a few political nods on occasion (not too often though, I like my energy harmonious.) The opportunity to write Life is Kid's Stuff through the Wise County Messenger has been such a gift for my craft. I would never have published in any way if not for this newspaper taking a chance on me. The Messenger has kept my passion for writing alive all these years, and now I want to fuel that passion and live in it.

As the founder of Dani Rhea I want to take my craft of storytelling to a new level. I want to tell other people's stories. I want to create keepsakes for generations and presents for milestones. I want to talk and connect with people, get their memories on paper, and portray their feelings with words. In addition, I'd love to make that milestone, that event, that memory even more special with a celebration-big or small. Because of my extreme empathic nature, I can help you bring heart to any celebration, an that's the heart of my business: storytelling and celebration. On my Work with Me site, I outline the services that I offer. They include:

• Celebration Coaching : For some people planning a graduation party, anniversary party, or even Christmas Eve with the in-laws is an overwhelming task. I'd love to sit for coffee, take some notes, offer suggestions, and write a plan to take the worry out of hosting.
• Your Story : This was my first brainchild. As a storyteller, I can write history, create connections, explain feelings, and portray a person on paper. Through questioning, interviewing, and looking at photos, I can create the story of a loved one--be it after death, for a graduation gift, a wedding gift, a new mommy gift--the possibilities here are truly endless. We are the sum of our experiences and stories. Let's write them down. 
• Story Coaching: Some people love the idea of getting a story on paper, but they want to do the task themselves. Excellent! I love a wingman! Again, we could sit for coffee, talk , take notes, offer suggestion, and write a plan for you, the storyteller, to write something in your own words.
• A Story to Celebrate: This idea was suggested to me through friends after I hosted large events to memorialize special moments. For example, I planned and hosted a 50th Anniversary Dinner and Celebration, A Summer Solstice Sweet 16, and even a small Memorial in our backyard for my dear Grandpa. All these celebrations were significant, and needed that extra touch of family, of connection, of magic. Writing this story and planning an event to remember would be a great honor, and one that I would love to serve.

I hope to grow this business and offer additional services as I grow in my role as a storyteller and celebration planner. Please consider me to tell your story, or to help plan your event. I have a few projects in the books already, and when those are complete I will post examples, pictures, and growing pains along the way. I appreciate you so much already-those that have called on me to do the honor of telling their story, and those that I know the Universe is sending when I am ready.

Much love,

Danielle