Me? The Keynote?
The proudest and most honourable opportunity of my life…
I worked as an Activation Coordinator in Long Term Care for close to a decade. Activity coordinators created, coordinated and provided activities for the 5 main needs Emotional, Social, Intellectual, Physical & Spiritual, customized for each resident.
I kept in contact with my college professor (Anne Marie) after graduation. Within 10 years in my career in later years I moved to Documentation Coordinator then the Quality Improvement Coordinator. I even was a guest speaker a couple times for one her class, teaching her students on documentation and the important role it plays in funding.
After the bt happened, we still stayed in touch- when able, I visited her class and gifted all the students a copy of my book Day By Day. If anyone, they could relate to my story.
I was blown away when Anne-Marie invited me to be the Keynote of the ‘Activity Professionals of Ontario – 30th Anniversary Convention’ – I was beyond honoured.
Ah, life…. a couple months before the Keynote I was told I needed full head and spine radiation (4 years after THE surgery). I could have understandably bowed out from the keynote speech. Pffff. No way I was going to miss the opportunity! Pfff.
I was to speak for 45 MINUTES LONG in front of a FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE.
I had the speech ‘ready-ish’, but…. could use more organization and feedback; Not only did I have recent ‘radiation brain’, I had never given a speech in this magnitude!
….. hear that?…*faint whispers* “Helllpppp meeeee”
Professional Speaking group “Toastmasters” to the rescue!!
So incredibly grateful for the Markham Ontario Toastmasters. Especially Jean, Eric B and Hitesh who met with me outside the group for an ’emergency rehearsal’ of the speech and provided much needed feedback and tips. I was even made a binder of notes in large print I could gaze at if lost concentration.
(my Public Speaking Toastmaster in the next story)
In awe, I took this pic from ‘my’ podium I was to speak from. In only 1 hour the doors would open. I remember standing up on stage looking out to this enormous empty room. The deafening silence made me take calming breaths deeply in and out. Me? This is for ME?
As time crawled closer and closer my nerves were starting to take over. Just as my shaking started something incredible happened- I told myself I was excited not nervous (mind trick) It worked! Eeeeee exciting!
As an intro to the address, I had my childhood bestie’s little brother (Bobby Allen) play on this acoustic guitar, what else? but cover of Doug and the Slugs’ song “Day By Day“. (gushing proud of him for recently getting radio time for his original music). Bobby’s Mom Sue also surprised me by coming to hear me speak.
Well… I did it! Such an electrically exciting experience! The opportunity to speak at this convention will always be my greatest honour. Can’t help but doubt the quality of my speech because of my radiation brain… I know, I know- ‘don’t be too hard on yourself’. Forever grateful. xoxo
Speeches ranged from