The art of telling stories is one of the great communications skills that spans all cultures and time. Learning to tell them effectively helps nearly all relationships.

Every story has a protagonist and an antagonist. When I studied storytelling, I learned that although we root for the protagonist, we usually find the antagonist more interesting. Yesterday I told my friend how I remember that:

Although most religious people say they are religious because they believe in god, the reason they go to church is because of the devil.

Though you have your role models you try to emulate, how much are you influenced by people you want out of your life? Do you ever find that trying to get rid of them keeps them in your life?

Know your antagonist, but don’t become them.

• ← Know your geese!
• Non-judgmental Ethics Sunday: Must I Drive My Friend to Have an Abortion? →