Nothing can stop you

I heard a phrase from a new movie last night that said, "When you do something for the right reasons, nothing can stop you." That momentum will carry you past any doubt, any fear, and opinion that is not in your favor. But you have to believe in what you are are doing first. Mike and I went out to dinner last night as we visited a friend's new sandwich shop and we saw a few of the workers that we have known for some time. One of them, MK, was in attendance Wednesday night when I gave my speech. He told me he stayed awake during the speech (maybe it was because he knew me), but also he said he really liked it. I told him it was my first one. He asked me again, "Really?" I told him that seriously it was my first one, but was hoping for more. I think it impressed him that he never would have known that it was my first speech if I had not told him. Thanks, MK. You all know what I am talking about. When you KNOW, without a doubt ever, that what you are doing is right. You know it and you feel it. You feel it so deep you are not sure you will ever reach the bottom of your soul. It keeps going. And you also realize that because you can feel it that much, and the passion behind it is so greeat, that nothing can stop you. There will be nothing that will stand in your way. I told someone recently that when you ask yourself THE question, and you find that the answer is the same, then you know. But you have to be willing to let it come from your heart, not your head. Emotion is so much stronger than thought. What are you doing for the right reasons?

Here goes!

Ok. So I am not even sure where to start. I was asked several people how I did last night with my speech and me being me, I probably downplayed it more than I should have, but that is me. Because of those wonderful people in my life, called friends, I receive phone calls and texts telling me that I did great and that they really enjoyed what I had to say, etc. Very, very humbling. Last night, I woke up about 1:15am and noticed an email from a reader of this blog (S) and I could not stop thinking about what she said in the email as she called my life "amazing". I would have no problem describing my life using other words, but "amazing" would not have been one of them. Intersting, S. Thanks. Then, I get a nice email regarding another door that I have knocked on before about an opportunity, and I may have another speaking opportunity in Janaury. YAY! Here is the topper...one of my friends tells me that her daughter posted on her facebook a status that includes part of what I said last night in my speech. Here is was thinking no one was paying attention!! Then, about 15 of her friends "liked" it!!! OMG!! It has been a great day. With just one of these, it would have been awesome, but all together, plus my husband came home from a work trip and I got to see Rocky. As I continue to ride this rollercoaster today, I can only say one thing...here goes!

Did it!

Last night was my first big public speaking engagement in front of about 300 people or so. All day, I went around getting "knuckle touches" from everyone I saw to carry the excitement and momentum going into last night. Ok, ok,...it was really about not getting nervous. Funny thing is that I wasn't nervous. Even when I got there and sat on the stage for about 20 minutes prior to the start of the program. Even when I knew people in the audience. Even when I heard my bio read and saw my name listed in the program. Then, I started reading my speech. My voice never cracked, but I could tell that my left hand was shaking when I spoke those first words. Since I was standing behind a podium, I am not sure the audience even saw it. Then, something happened. As I continued to read and look into the audience every so often, it stopped. My hand stopped shaking and I began to feel so at ease that I knew that I was born to do this. Please understand that I am NOT a spotlight seeker. People that know me know that I shy to turn the attention away from me. In fact, when I introduced Rocky to L one night, one of them commented about me being special (or something like that), and Rocky was agreeing with L and I quickly turned their attention back to the task at hand. I can talk all day long about those things that I am most passionate about and last night was no exception. I was told later by a couple of friends that I did a great job and also received some nice comments from others that attended. But last night was not about me being on stage or about any compliments that came my way. Last night was the start of something bigger. Last night was the first of many speeches yet to come. I told someone once that any potential invites that come after last night is what terrified me the most. Because that would mean change, but today I feel different about that. Today, I feel that whatever comes as a result of last night will be just fine. If nothing happens, then I am very grateful and glad I had the opportunity to speak last night. No regrets. If anything, I hope the words I spoke last night triggered something in anyone to look at their life and move forward in better and bigger ways than ever before. If that happens to one person, then it would have been worth it. If it doesn't, then it was worth it to me and I can say, "I did it!"

Standing on a star

Has this ever happened to you? When you felt like there was nothing bigger than you, right at that moment, and NOTHING could change it? Today, that is how I feel. Like I am standing on a star. Not because I am better or bigger than anyone else, but today is a day for me. People that know me very well know that I am not one to shout, "Yay for me!", but today is different. It is different because tonight is another piece of the puzzle coming together regarding my dream. I have two passions and dreams - one, to be a life coach for women and that began two months ago with the G.I.F.T. and two, to be a motivational speaker for teenagers and my first speech for that is tonight. People have asked me if I'm anxious or nervous about tonight but I'm really not. I really like my speech and the one person who got the trial run beforehand, liked it too. I made some minor additions (can't believe I forgot THE question...LOL) and I hope it gets people to think, but it may not affect just the teenagers in the room. Maybe the impact is greater. I do not know what comes next. It really doesn't matter and is out of my control. I can only continue to do what I am doing, giving it my all, and things will happen as they are meant to. Today is another step towards everything I see in my future. I also want to thank everyone who has been on this crazy ride with me...I would not be here without you and hope you know how much you mean to me. TYFE. So tonight, when you look up at the night sky, you just might see me as I will be standing on the brightest star! Atta, girl!