About two years ago,
I was going through some emails for work.
And I ran across one that said,
"Join City of Detroit Toastmasters."
And I thought, "What the heck is a toastmaster?"
And then I go,
"Maybe it's an organization of experts at browning bread
"in small slotted appliances.
"Or it's where they teach people
"how to create clever salutations
"before raising a glass
"or downing a shot of something."
Nothing against you toast lovers out there,
but the latter appealed to me more.
So I clicked it.
Discover and develop your skills in public speaking.
Public speaking?
Uh, no.
See, I was that super shy kid that would dodge anything
that would have me in the spotlight.
I was a little bit better as an adult,
but I still figured,
"I would rather die or have my shins scraped
"with one of those carrot peelers, (laughing)
"than to speak in public."
(audience laughing)
I was pretty comfortable in my own little world,
so I didn't do it.
But I was also going through a tough time in my life.
My mom was losing a short battle with dementia.
It had quickly taken her strong body,
her cool, calming voice,
her razor-sharp and beautiful mind,
and it was devastating.
But it proved to me that there are no guarantees in life.
About two weeks later,
I found that email again and opened it.
I decided to go to the first meeting, you know,
just to check it out,
but I ended up joining the club.
Now initially, I didn't really participate until I thought,
"Why pay this money, show up,
"and not really give it a full go?"
So I did.
A few months in, a request was made
for some of the members to give a humorous speech.
So I told one of a time that I tried this insane hot sauce
that completely destroyed me going in and coming out.
(audience laughing)
But they picked me to represent the club
in a competition.
And I start thinking, "No, wait, wait.
"Here's that spotlight thing, I don't want to do it."
But I nervously stepped in the spotlight
and to my surprise, I won second place.
And that sent me to the next round, and I took first.
I started thinking, "This is a setup, isn't it?"
I moved on another round and I didn't place at all,
but it was okay.
See, I discovered, by stepping into the unknown,
it was scary, but I kind of felt alive again.
So I kept going to the meetings.
And then I got a call from my sister,
A while back, she and her husband had moved Mom in
with their family to take care of her,
but things were really, really bad now.
Through intense fear, I hopped a plane with my brother
and the three of us sat by her side,
consoling her and each other until she transitioned.
December 1st, 2017.
I love you, mom.
For life, for love, for everything, I thank you.
It was a fuzziness
and an anxiousness to my world after that.
So I decided to embark on a "year of yes,"
and vowed to try new things, almost anything,
without second guessing it or overthinking it.
And I wanted to see what's on the other side of the unknown.
It led to me delivering a keynote speech,
talking to students in schools,
jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
(audience laughing)
That was in the air by the way.
(audience laughing)
And taking daily cold showers to jumpstart my mornings.
And then I got a chance to share a story
with another organization
whose logo was this small, delicate bug
that flutters around at night.
Maybe you've heard of them.
Well, I hadn't, but I said yes anyway.
Did you know? Two days before this event,
I find out there will be 1,800 people in attendance.
I'm like, "What?"
"Okay, I probably should research a little bit
"before saying yes to some things."
But I stepped on stage
with four other storytellers that night,
in a beautiful theater,
and my dad was my plus one.
It was incredible to look out there and see him.
And I felt mom's presence
as I spoke on that stage that night.
And I feel it again tonight.
I realized that there are no guarantees in life
and it's been a journey.
You never know what you're going to get.
I realized that stepping out of my comfort zone
was very important.
And I don't know what
stepping into these new territories will bring,
but I do know a couple of things.
It will be more enlightening
and more expanding with each "yes."
Plus, it will make for better stories.
Thank you.