ALLENDER JOURNAL – CHAPTER TWO 1
Allender Journal – Chapter Two
Kendra Smither
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Author Note:
ALLENDER JOURNAL – CHAPTER TWO 2
My name is Kendra Smither, I have no known conflict of interest to disclose. Correspondence
concerning this article should be addressed to Kendra Smither at Ksmither@liberty.edu Allender
Journal – Chapter Two
In chapter two of Allender (2005) he sheds light on the power of our names. It is
emphasized that we are given these names and identities through who we are and through the
people in our lives. He discusses how we are all a “collage of stories” and that it all began with
the ones that our families tell us about ourselves.
When I think about the sorts of stories that my family told me about myself, my first
thought goes to the ones my Nana tells me. She is an amazing storyteller, and she always has so
much to say about us and how great we are. The great thing about her stories is that she seems
to remember every single detail, even to this day she does (whether she made them up or not
I’ll never know). She used to tell me all about my personality when I was a baby and how I
started out making funny faces very young just trying to entertain people around me. I was also
told about my sense of music and how I showed interest in this so soon in life.
This prompt got me thinking, and I just don’t remember my parents sharing much with
me about my childhood. I remember random things like them telling me how I got my scar on
my wrist and how my sister and I got up one morning extra early to cut each other’s hair but
nothing that spoke too much volume. It got me thinking about all the different people who
knew me as a child and made small remarks about remembering me when I was little. Distant
cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc. I remember being told stories by my grandparents
when they used to babysit me and these would include good and bad ones. I’ll never forget a
certain story that my grandpa talks about every Christmas, in which I hit my head on their brick
fireplace when I was 2 years old. He will always warn the kids even now when in that room.
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I also remember my older sister telling me her versions of our childhood stories. We are
only 13 months apart, so we were brought up to be best friends. Some stories I don’t
remember but she does, like the time she allegedly trapped me in an outdoor sandbox and
scared our parents half to death.
This prompt made me think hard about the stories I’ve been told over the years and
sparked my thinking. The biggest aspect that comes to my mind is my Nana shaping me in this
way and always telling me how extraordinary I have always been. It gave me a sense of self and
confirmation within myself, and I really enjoyed that. The other silly stories here and there
definitely contribute too, but there was something so meaningful about my Nanas stories that
made me feel like I was the most spectacular person on the planet.
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References
Allender, D. B. (2006). To Be Told: Know Your Story, Shape Your Future. National Geographic
Books.
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