Today I will be making my first speech since the onset of the Pandemic.

I trust that the venue and protocols will include safety for all. I have no concerns about that. However, I am rusty…. yet passionate.

Are you feeling rusty in some practiced area of your professional or personal life because of the Pandemic?

I gave the client several options for topics, and they picked my passion project: The sharing of the story of how rescuing a dog changed my life and provided me with lessons to live by.

Today, I make my debut as an advocate for being kind to animals, rescuing, rehabbing, and funding for animals. And talking about how animals can be our teachers. Also woven into my speech is how the good and bad formative experiences of my life make me the person I am today.

These two topics may begin a path into a new way to approach the last chapter of my career life. (Which I hope will last another ten years!) I may find myself devoting more and more time to advocacy in the areas of animal rights and rescue, and for quality of life for seniors. Both of these topics are reflective of the formative experiences of my past ten years: the rescue of Big Boy and then the rescue of my mother from a locked dementia ward. For the last months and years of their lives, both Big Boy and Betsi came to live with me and my dog Buddha Bear in a 900-square-foot cottage on a lane leading to Lake Erie. As a result, I stretched, grew, sacrificed, and learned mighty life lessons.

I now wholeheartedly believe that individuals bring the gifts of their formative life lessons to work, embedded into their character, displayed as competency, and contributing to their coping and confidence abilities. My goal is to tap into these great gifts and encourage their collective use at work and with their co-workers while maintaining my dedication to all I have learned.

What new directions are opening up for you?

Back to the topic at hand.

The speech was written. The materials prepared. Revised and practiced. I knew where I was going. I was familiar with the format. All lights were green for me. Except, I have gained weight during this pandemic and my clothes selection was lean. I styled my hair, squeezed myself into some spanks (gentlemen you should know what spanks are), put on a dress and heels (a first since the Pandemic), jewelry to match, and make-up to suit. I felt like a dressed-up sausage.

I wondered if I would find my voice again; if the story and talking points would stick in my muddled, pandemic-stressed mind; if I would connect with the audience. Or would I struggle?

Running through my head this morning is the classic phrase from the children’s book, The Little Engine that Could: “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can….”

Yesterday, as I drove, I have to admit, I was not quite that confident. I need to be careful of the voices in my head and how they might sabotage my efforts.

Well, I will now race to the end of this story.

I was warmly welcomed. I sat next to a senior gentleman who had written his own book about being in a prisoner of war camp in the Philippines during WWII as a young child. That really tugged on my humility and quashed my voices — but it also caused me to stand tall and speak loudly and clearly. I put my notes down and launched into my presentation.

The preparation and commitment showed up for me. The secret that I rediscovered is that if you present a topic that holds your heart and passion, you will find your words easily and your energy will show up without effort.

I am so very grateful.

I found an old skill set that will be useful in the future. I shared my passions and made some new friends. I put myself out there both as an advocate and now as a children’s book author. The future seems a little brighter with the prospect of a new path to follow.

During the Pandemic, it was easy to narrow my life. But, it took effort to do something that caused me to go out into the world and be big again. Mostly, I liked the quiet life. Now, I am going to slowly pick up my more ‘out there’ pre-pandemic lifestyle. It is all good — yet very stressful.

I am curious to learn how you are navigating the new way of living and working as we continue to make our journey through this life.

What message(s) would you like to carry into the world?

Where are you going to use your voice?

Leslie

Post Script: This experience is motivating me to tackle my weight gain. Here I go with clean eating and exercise: