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What I learned from giving my mothers eulogy
Make a toast to your loved ones
I took a public speaking course in college. I was abysmal. I trembled from head to foot each time I gave a speech. Despite my best intentions, I rambled and never improved substantially.
Now I am an advocate of making spontaneous and public toasts. What changed?
At 25, I wrote and delivered my mothers eulogy. There were around 500 people in attendance. At least 10X larger than any audience I had previously spoken in front of. I calmed my nerves and delivered the speech with grace. I could feel in my bones that I did right by my mom.There are very few things that I am this confident about or proud of myself for accomplishing.
What I learned
People want you to succeed.
An audience wants to be inspired. To gain solace in times of despair. Harness their energy.
Grounding activities are powerful
My friend stopped my on the way into the chapel and changed the way I process anxiety moving forward. We were at our high school on the main road near the chapel. She told me to feel my feet on the ground. Become aware of my body’s sensations. It clicked. I felt my power. I felt the energy and love from…
