The Gift That Keeps On Giving

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Storytelling at Briarcliff School – 3/2007

In 1981, an event occurred that changed the direction of my life, both in teaching and in retirement. I was asked by the previous school I had taught in if I was interested in becoming the lead actor in their Middle School musical production of “Hans Christian Andersen.”** 

That one play spurred me into the field of storytelling. Through research, which included a lot of reading and going to storytelling events, some even funded by my school district, I started to tell stories to others. It started in my class, then my school, then on to other venues, including some festivals. 

The more I learned, the greater my repertoire became, and the more I expanded the talents that I had. I loved it.

I loved the looks on the faces of my listeners, whether they were an audience of one at home or an entire crowd of people while I was on stage. 

I loved sharing folktales that were created by others and stories that I created myself. I loved the reactions that I got from the listeners when I ended my tellings. 

But the stories didn’t stop there. Listeners would come back to me the next day and tell me they shared my stories at home with their families. Years later, when siblings of one of those listeners heard me tell a story, some said, “Oh, my sister told me that story when I was younger.”

Mentioning a book or a story I’d shared with someone years ago still brings up characters from the story for them that they can name, that I’ve long forgotten. 

Just today, David, my child, who I read the book, Wolf Story more than 20 years ago, when I mentioned the title of the book, said, “Oh, that was the story about Rainbow the chicken.” And they were right!

A lot of times, when I ask ex-students of mine who are now in college or are adults, “What do you remember most about 5th grade?” the answer I get is a specific story I told or a song we sang in class. 

Good stories are remembered.

The gift that I enjoy giving and continue to give is the gift of story. It’s a very powerful gift. Watch anyone’s face when you start a sentence with, “That reminds me of a story.”  And as those stories continue to get shared by the people I tell them to, and they continue to share them, the gift keeps on giving. 

**If you wish to read more about my performance as Hans Christian Andersen in the Middle school play and its impact on me, here’s the link: https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=483