From Black & White to Full Color: The Power of Hearing Someone's Story

I recently listened to an introduction of a new member at my Rotary Club. At first, I didn't think much of it—just a standard part of our meeting agenda. I didn't know this person or anything about him, and I half expected to hear the usual few lines about a career, a family, and maybe a hobby or two.

But then, something happened.

As the introduction unfolded, I found myself leaning in. The person making the introduction began to share snippets of this man's life—where he'd lived, the work he'd done, the people he'd helped, and the communities he'd been part of. Each detail added another brushstroke to the picture. He had worked in different parts of the world, mentored students, volunteered in places I had only read about, and found meaning in connecting with others across cultures and generations.

And suddenly, a thought popped into my mind:

"Hearing this man's story is like coloring an image on a coloring page, adding color, depth, and perspective."

Before the introduction, he was just an outline. A name on a membership list. A handshake. A face in the room.

But as the story was told—layer by layer, color by color—he became more than just lines on a page. He became real. Vivid. Human.

It struck me how often we live in a world of outlines. We pass people at the grocery store, we nod to our neighbors, we sit in meetings or on committees, sometimes for years, without ever really seeing each other. We assume we know someone—or worse, we think there's not much to know. But everyone is walking around with a story inside of them. Not everyone gets the chance to share it. And not everyone takes the time to ask and listen.

That's what made this Rotary moment special: it was a simple reminder that everyone has a colorful, complex story just waiting to be discovered. And that when we hear those stories, something beautiful happens—we gain depth, empathy, and connection. It's as if we move from seeing someone in black and white to full color.

This metaphor resonates deeply with me—not just because I work with coloring books, but because I've seen firsthand how storytelling adds color to life. Many of the projects I work on are centered around bringing people's stories, places, and ideas to life through illustrations and words. It's one of the reasons I love what I do: transforming outlines into meaning. And in many ways, listening—truly listening—to someone's life story does precisely the same thing.

Think about it:

✏️ Where were they born?

✏️ What shaped them?

✏️ Who have they helped, loved, or lost?

✏️ What have they learned along the way?

Each answer fills in a bit more of the picture.

The next time you're in a room full of people—whether it's a Rotary meeting, a neighborhood gathering, or a line at the coffee shop—consider this: the person next to you is an unfinished coloring page in your eyes. But in truth, their page is already vibrant. You just haven't seen the colors yet.

So ask a question. Be curious. Invite them to open up and share their story.

You'll be amazed at the shades and perspectives that emerge when you give someone the chance to tell you who they are.

Because in the end, we all start as outlines to each other. It's in the listening that we add the color.

And what a masterpiece we can create—together.