Stories

Living Stories

Living Journeys brought StoryCenter to Crested Butte in 2017 and 2018, empowering individuals from the Gunnison Valley to create their own digital story. The act of writing and creating stories gave authors the opportunity to reflect in new ways and a cathartic experience emerged. Each story is a window each unique experience while common threads weave the stories together as a collective testament to the power of the human spirit.

"When I was diagnosed with cancer I didn't live in the Gunnison Valley. There was no support group I could turn to or organization that could help my family through that difficult time. I understand the difference it could have made and hope the work I do through Living Journeys can help others."

I Don't Have Cancer When...

Murray Banks

Sadie & Me

Al Smith

Life, Love, Loss

Marv Weidner

Highly Overated

Pat Anderson

Milagro de Vida

Pilar Lara

The Drill

Renee Emmitt

A Letter to Nathan

Rachel Gardner

"I thought the storytelling workshop was very beneficial because:

It was three days.
They forced you to hone in on one very specific issue that needed address which I thought helped pinpoint the healing process.
For me, this was more effective than traditional counseling because I couldn’t talk around my issue and deflect my focus from the real issue to the ripple effect issues.
I think this type of therapy would be very beneficial to adults and children once they are a year or two removed from the cancer issue."

Labyrinth

Mark Schwiesow

"I was diagnosed with Stage 3 prostate cancer at age 60 and used a combination of mainstream, alternative and supportive therapies to fight this disease. Financial and emotional support provided by Living Journeys has been a vital part of my return to health."

Fifteen Years

Betsy Welsh

"I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease when I was 15 years old. I am now 30 and I've worked as a nurse with cancer patients of all ages for over 6 years. The living stories workshop was an event unlike anything I've experienced before. We spent 3 full days with a small group of people who have all experienced very similar hardships yet through different perspectives and stories. It was raw and real and refreshing."

Blessings From Your Soul

Corinne Cram

When the idea of eating, not to mention cooking an organic, nutritious meal was overwhelming, Living Journeys gifted me the delivery of pre-prepared meals. Thanks Living Journeys for what I needed when I needed it. And thanks for including me in the digital story workshop. What a therapeutic process it was to capsulize for myself what the power of this journey has been for me. ~ Corinne Collier Cram

Surrender

Janet Welsh Crossley

I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer right before I turned 50--the exact age at which my grandmother died from breast cancer. To say it was terrifying is an understatement! Living Journeys' Gunnison support group was such a Godsend--to regularly meet with others who did not catastrophize my situation, who understood my journey, who encouraged and helped me learn to laugh through my fears, was immeasurably valuable.

Road Reflections

John Jordan

"I noticed the 'little things' around me and how special they were ... certain ways tree limbs have twisted, cloud formations, etc. How so very much I loved my family. How the tangible things I thought were important didn't amount to a hill of beans.

Two songs have become my favorites: "My Story" by Big Daddy Weave, and especially "Blessings" by Laura Story.

To Want to Breathe

Wendy Beukelman

Not Yet

Darcie Perkins

When I was diagnosed with cancer, I didn't live in the Gunnison Valley. There was no support group I could turn to or organization that could help my family through that difficult time. I understand the difference it could have made and hope the work I do through Living Journeys can help others.

You Have Cancer

Eric Larsen

It's no small stretch to say that Living Journey's helped save my life. It is a vital organization to this community and one that needs support. I know a small 'thank you' may not seem like much, but on behalf of my family and I and all the other cancer patients in the valley, 'thank you'.

This project was funded in part by a grant from the Town of Crested Butte and funding from the Gunnison Valley Health Foundation.