A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

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This is a great book to read when you are young. It’s all about ‘writing your own story’ in life and making memories along the way. It’s very biographical too, which makes it heart-warming as well as inspirational. It is much easier to relate to Donald Miller because he is speaking from experience. It makes the book a pleasure to read too.

A story is “a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it”

1. Exposition

  • Life is boring compared to a movie
  • Because there is no story
  • A story is “a character who wants something and overcomes conflict to get it”
  • We can make our own stories for our lives
  • Life can be made more like a good story
  • He realised most of this while making a movie about himself in which he had to fake parts to make it more interesting

2. A Character

  • Good life stories involve facing your fears
  • Life is about transformation, we are adaptable people
  • A character is what he DOES
  • A good story needs a character to do things
  • We choose lives that involve very little doing and a lot of thinking, which doesnt make for a good story
  • A good character DOES things
  • You have the opportunity to be a better character in your story by doing things
  • He imagined himself as a character in god’s story, and how he has been choosing the easy and storyless route

3. A Character Who Wants Something

  • We choose boring stories because it is easier
  • Good stories must be forced
  • You can force a good story using an INCITING INCIDENT
    • An action that starts your story which you can’t go back on
    • Kicks the character out of the comfort zone and into a good story
  • “Great stories go to those who don’t give in to fear”
    • Fear will reduce you to a boring life
  • Good stories have risk (to get something you want)
  • They have bad moments too (makes you appreciate the good)
  • “What do you want?”
  • Easy stories bring no satisfaction
  • NB: We can’t fully control our stories (There is a lot in the world that is out of our control)
  • Next leve stories need
    • What the character wants must be very difficult to obtain
    • The ambition must be sacrificial (character must go through pain and risk everything for it)
  • The stories we live mould our characters
  • Idea: Write down all your memories in a notebook like Bob

4. A Character Who Wants Something and Overcomes Conflict

  • Stories build characters
  • Change comes with pain and hard work
    • “get bitter or better”
  • “Our stories are being stolen by an easy life”
  • We look back fondly on overcoming conflict – Face it with courage
    • “It hurts now, but I’ll love this memory”
  • Society has coded into us the belief that a certain product, person or experience will make your life complete and perfect. Not True
    • Don’t expect your stories to complete you
  • Don’t look at your partner as the ultimate problem solver who should complete you and make life perfect
    • Thats bound to end badly
    • She is just a girl, love her for it
  • Be more Danish
  • Work hard to add memorable scenes to your stories

5. A Character Who Wants Something and Overcomes Conflict to Get It

  • Good stories create good memories
  • Good stories don’t always have a happy ending
  • Share good stories with others
  • It’s easier to stay in bed and live a boring, comfortable life
    • Good stories are fulfilling, not easy
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