AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar --
Every Airman has a story and it may be a story that someone
needs to hear to overcome life’s difficulties. Recently, a Storytellers event
made its way to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Oct. 4.
Storytellers is comprised of individuals wanting and able to
share their life stories with other Service members. For these individuals, the
hope is to show that everyone experiences difficulty and needs help at some
point in their life.
The event is designed to the likes of a coffee-shop atmosphere.
There’s a dimly lit room, no podiums or slideshows playing during the accounts
the Airmen share, with intent of having attendees able to relax and be open to learn
something during the presentations.
For one of the event organizers, Storytellers was a new
experience for him and something he said he wanted to be a part of.
“I had to do some digging, so I checked it out on Youtube,”
said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. James Sanders, 609thCombined Air Operations
Center noncommissioned officer-in-charge of dayshift targets.
The goal of storytellers was to craft an experience that
sticks with people long after the story has been told.
“I think it’s important because it’s easy for people to
relate,” said Sanders. “You hear these stories from people you work with and
your peers, and I think it makes the story a lot more powerful.”
Overall the event was created to leave a lasting impact on
those in attendance.
“If we just touch one person with one story, we have
accomplished what we’ve set out to do,” said Sanders.