This is an archived blog from when I ran Conscious Public Relations Inc. from 2008-2018. Excuse the potential outdated-ness!
More lessons learned from my grandmother’s life
I am a descendant of heroes. I think that who you came from is just as important as where.
At my grandmother’s eulogy given by my aunt yesterday, I realized how easy of a life I have compared to the times my grandparents lived. I have talked a lot about my late paternal grandfather, who was an airline pilot, army veteran, and survivor of the Bataan Death March. And my grandmother, who passed away last week, who rescued my grandfather from a Japanese prison during World War II. Hearing the story of this heroic rescue, and how many grandmother was kind to everyone in their family’s neighbourhood, including the local gangsters, made me realize how fearless she was. I know that she wasn’t actually without fear. No one is. But the point is that despite the fear, she did amazing things and was therefore rewarded with a great life and children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren who are able to pass on her legacy.
In addition to trying to complete one of my new year’s resolutions – making Conscious PR a B Corporation – I have been getting many signs about speaking, including potential content for a talk. I still haven’t gotten over the fact that I don’t like speaking. I can do it, and it’s obviously something I’m good at. Recently I watched a video by Wendy McClelland who said that we must all share our knowledge.
And today I got two more signs – from Danielle LaPorte – and a video from Narges Nirumvala below, on how to overcome your fear of public speaking.
I think that if I overcome both the fear and the dislike, that I won’t be able to measure the ripple effects of my speaking. I’m anxious because of this lack of knowledge, but I think that the best moments in my life have come after pushing through that anxiety, so I am just learning to trust it.
