Public speaking. I've always been terrified of it. Most of the time my face, uncontrollably, lights up like a radish anytime I find myself speaking to any large group. But about 6 months ago I sent the board a 'proposal' to let me speak at one of the future Pecha Kucha Charleston events. I made my story sound real good and promised to have people in mud on stage...real entertaining stuff! This event has gotten to be 'quite the rage' here in Charleston, with the latest event selling out in just 30 MIN!!! 400 PEOPLE!!! Being that this particular Pecha Kucha was a special, all-female line-up, I felt particular honored to be asked to participate.
And so, about a week prior to the event, reality hit like a ton of rocks in the bottom of my stomach. 'Why had I asked to do this?!' No backing out now. So I got to work....thinking...typing....meditating....wait I should write in a notebook.....ok, back to the laptop....did I mention that not only is public speaking my nightmare, but I'm also not really fond of writing. Writing papers has always seemed so tortuous to me.
Finally after agonizing over this horrible task, I sat down and just channeled out what I was thinking. I tried to not worry about grammar and spelling, but to just let it flow....relaxed, like talking with friends.
And I told my story. About MUD. About how mud came into my life. And why. And what it means.
My first pass totaled 11 min long. Shit.
This has to be how long? 6 min. and 40 sec?!
How in the world am I going to edit out HALF of this?! It's all good stuff!
Luckily I have very patient and helpful friends and family, who each took a pass at it and scratched and re-worded things here and there....my helpful editors.
I chiseled and chopped away. Timed myself on each paragraph over and over and over (thank you IPhone).
I read aloud. My dog, Boney, was the forced audience time and time again, day after day.
I stacked 3 stools up in my Living Room and pretended it to be a lectern.
I video taped myself and watched it, which is extremely embarrassing!
I rehearsed for my buddies.
And then it was time.
I started my day with an Acupuncture Treatment at Charleston Community Acupuncture.
Then I drank calming teas and Kava.
Neurotic. Yes. However, it got me through the day....calm....clear headed...and ready to take on one of the biggest challenges of my life thus far.
So here it is kids....the hardest 6 min. & 40 sec. of my life..
Pecha Kucha Charleston 13 - Ladies Night!
And so, about a week prior to the event, reality hit like a ton of rocks in the bottom of my stomach. 'Why had I asked to do this?!' No backing out now. So I got to work....thinking...typing....meditating....wait I should write in a notebook.....ok, back to the laptop....did I mention that not only is public speaking my nightmare, but I'm also not really fond of writing. Writing papers has always seemed so tortuous to me.
And I told my story. About MUD. About how mud came into my life. And why. And what it means.
This has to be how long? 6 min. and 40 sec?!
How in the world am I going to edit out HALF of this?! It's all good stuff!
Luckily I have very patient and helpful friends and family, who each took a pass at it and scratched and re-worded things here and there....my helpful editors.
I read aloud. My dog, Boney, was the forced audience time and time again, day after day.
I stacked 3 stools up in my Living Room and pretended it to be a lectern.
I video taped myself and watched it, which is extremely embarrassing!
I rehearsed for my buddies.
And then it was time.
I started my day with an Acupuncture Treatment at Charleston Community Acupuncture.
Then I drank calming teas and Kava.
Neurotic. Yes. However, it got me through the day....calm....clear headed...and ready to take on one of the biggest challenges of my life thus far.
So here it is kids....the hardest 6 min. & 40 sec. of my life..
Pecha Kucha Charleston 13 - Ladies Night!
