Is Evolution a Gift?
At the 2022 Speaker Slam® Grand Slam, the Inspirational Speaking Finals held at CBC Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, Penny Casselman took the stage with a five minute story.
Transcript
giving or receiving both bring me joy and if I spoke a second language I'd be fluent in gifting I just think to remember the year my grandma gave me a gift the size of a shoebox it was wrapped in the Sunday comics I started to tear off the paper and then immediately came to a complete stop because I had caught a glimpse of the box underneath my cheeks felt hot and my hands felt clammy and that pause felt like forever but there was no going back all eyes were on me after all it was my birthday I quickly finished unwrapping and forcing a smile I
held it up for all to see behind the clear plastic front was a gown wearing Crystal adorned limited edition Barbie complete with matching human-sized accessories what was I supposed to do with this I had long evolved Beyond playing with Barbie honestly I was secretly wishing for a set of car keys because I had just turned 16. that day forced a change in my gifting language my new mantra it's the thought that counts fast forward to my 45th birthday and I was surrounded by friends delicious craft cocktails and beautifully wrapped gifts I was in my element and the party was lovely oh and I'm happy to
report that every gift was age appropriate love you Grandma two weeks pass and I was stunned by the arrival of a belated birthday gift the rapping was in the form of an ultrasound and inside I found stage one breast cancer what was I supposed to do with this this was about as useful as that Barbie but I forced a smile not realizing I was about to undergo a massive evolution for days I desperately tried to find the silver lining to this gift then I found it on my first trip to the hospital it wasn't as fancy as the crystal Barbie accessories but it was personalized
with my name and every time I'd go I'd get yet another white plastic patient bracelet and every night I'd go home I'd slip it off and place it in a box but after 24 months of treatments surgeries and infusions and they no longer looked like bracelets instead they looked like an oppressive chain from my first chemo and surgery all the way to my final infusion each one a reminder of the pain discomfort and change my body had undergone for two years I tried to avoid the topic I even wrote a book about it hopeful that within those pages that chain and my experience would find
a permanent resting place and leave me alone but it was a constant companion and I was exhausted then one day I heard a phrase that I had read numerous times before but never embraced when you change the way you look at things the things you look at change could it be that simple so one evening I sat quietly in the darkness of my room and grabbed a hold of my chain and asked it what do you want me to know and it whispered remember that Barbie it wasn't meant to embarrass you your grandma gave it to you because it was unique and special just like
you and as far as me I'm not an oppressive chain I'm still that personalized collection of accessories here to remind you of your strength and your ability to choose your thoughts now of course my chain didn't really talk to me but an evolution of thought now that's something I can shift in an instant today I proudly wear my chain it's one of my most valued accessories because it reminds me of my strength and my ability to choose and in keeping with my love of gifts I have one for you place your hands out and ask yourself how can I change the way I look at
things so the things I look at change it is as simple as inviting change and choosing to evolve I think you'll be pleasantly surprised to find you're already holding a gift thank you
Transcript generated from the recording and lightly cleaned. Some names and wording may differ from the spoken speech.