Prisons
Since the Richardsons had a strong reputation in the drug and rehab system , it was only natural that they ’ d be asked to begin telling at prisons .
“ Some of the state prisons actually are devoted to drug and alcohol treatment , and the prisoners there are there for that reason ,” Peggy says .
Today , the Richardsons are mostly involved with the Ft . Worth federal penitentiary . “ It ’ s a federal medical facility for women ,” Peggy says .
They have performed for a program that runs the women through almost a year-long program for starting over again , dealing with jobs , budgets , and coping skills , with a mother-child day camp for incarcerated moms , and in the prison ’ s hospice group .
Gene loves the day camp because of the many opportunities it allows .
“ They get to go outside and play games and they wanted hadn ’ t talked in weeks , months , even years will say ‘ I stole a melon once ,’” Gene says . “ Then they start to remember .”
He says they have seen these types of results many times .
“ The reminiscence bubbles up and they remember things that they thought they had forgotten ,” Gene says . “ It kind of helps to rewire the brain and improves their quality of life .”
Citing much research , Gene describes how patients involved in reminiscence have decreased blood pressure , lower cortisol and a decreased need for pain medication .
Dallas Storytelling Guild
As special as this couple is , they are not alone in their passion for storytelling .
In fact , when they originally decided to begin storytelling full time , they moved in with Elizabeth Ellis , a Dallas local and renowned storyteller and shadowed her , traveling the country on a festival main stage route .
In the end , Peggy said she prefers to be able to hug the people she ’ s just told to and a crowd the size of a festival main stage may not exactly make that possible .
But wanting to stay in the Dallas area does not limit them . Among a number of other Texas guilds , that Dallas Storytelling Guild hosts more than 30 members , who share similar interests but a variety of paths to how they got there . us to come and tell stories for the kids and the mothers ,” Gene says . “ It was a great opportunity to reinforce the value of narrative as ‘ how do you look at this situation with mommy away ?’ and talk to them about the various stories and lessons you need to have .”
Alzheimer ’ s and Hospice Just like in the prison ’ s end-of-life area , in hospice , the Richardsons focused on helping to distract and decrease pain .
“ There ’ s no cure for death but there ’ s an easier way to die ,” Gene offers . “ Telling in hospice is a great way to do that .”
One of those physiological examples he ’ s referring to is part of their work with Alzheimer ’ s disease .
Telling to Alzheimer ’ s patients is a challenge , they acknowledge .
“ Sometimes they get up and walk away or sometimes they start talking , but a lot of times if you ’ re telling a story about kids peeling watermelons , all the sudden somebody who
Peggy listed membership including everything from librarians , motivational speakers , professional tellers , a motherdaughter team from India , business people , and those working to learn English .
“ We also have two members of the Dallas Storytelling Guild who no longer live in the United States ,” Peggy recalls . “ One lives in Norway , and the other in Oman . They ’ re both ESL teachers , and they use storytelling as part of their ESL classes .”
The universality of a story , the couple explains , is key to its effective aid in language acquisition .
“ The Chinese have a Cinderella story , and they recognize the motif , and it brings them into ways to use language and words that they wouldn ’ t normally use because so many stories are told in the vernacular .”
Impacting people worldwide through the use of stories and faith in their ability to help heal , the Richardsons continue to tell stories as their contribution to society .
Says Gene , “ You change the world one narrative at a time .”
To learn more about Gene and Peggy Richardson and find out where they ’ ll be telling , visit their website at www . twicetellers . com .
DENTON COUNTY Living Well Magazine | MAY / JUNE 2016
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