I’m in Maine, in the most lovely cabin. I have the door open (it’s 45 degrees) but the air is clean and the chill is invigorating. I’m working on my speech for the TedxYearlingRoad event coming up later this month.
I submitted to be a speaker on a whim. My boss had forwarded an email to me about the upcoming event with a simple line, “this looks like something you’d be into.” I honestly reviewed it and then forgot about the opportunity until somehow the deadline for applications popped back in my head. At that moment I was on a flight to Anchorage. I looked at my husband Mike and said, “the Tedx applications are due today….and you have to submit a 90 second video.”
Since I was unprepared and don’t like being recorded I chalked it up to “maybe next time.” And in true Mike fashion, he told me to get over it and submit. With his encouragement while on the plane I wrote a short 90-second introduction for a Tedx talk based on the theme of time. It’s centered around the work I do at the Alzheimer’s Association, the idea of living in gratitude and how I continue my work to shape this Cups and Conversation project.
I’ll spare you the next steps of me trying to become a director and main star of my 90-second video but in short my perfectionism made this an hour long video shoot at multiple locations during the first moments of our Alaskan vacation; but the submission happened by the deadline and weeks later I was accepted.
I’ve been to two rehearsals and have met the most amazing volunteers that work to put on this Tedx event. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to share the final “talk” with the world. Now back to rehearsal.
Three things I’m grateful for today:
the fall colors of Maine in October
ability to slow down and take time to read, write and create
my husband for his unconditional support
In gratitude… ~j.