When Things Just WORK

I had my biggest speaking engagement EVER last week.

I spoke to nearly 500 people from the Fairfax County Public School system; their staff, faculty, teachers, and parents, all about mental health, supporting our youth, connecting with teens, and more.

Walking into the event that morning, I was terrified. I’ve been speaking for years, but never to that many people, and I was SO nervous that they wouldn’t like me.

Would my accent be too strong?

Would they take me seriously as a woman?

Will they doubt my education?

What if they think a “life coach” is silly?

Before stepping up to the podium for the first time that morning, I stood behind the curtain and looked out at the crowd. A sea of faces I didn’t know.

I grounded myself.

Threw my shoulders back.

Walked up to the podium, adjusted the microphone to the right height, smiled...

And began to speak.

I could go on and on about the way I felt while speaking, how the day went, and all the wonderful people I chatted with. But at the end of it all, I leave with one word.

Grateful.

I love my job.