I spake… though the ability to speak does not make me intelligent, nor brave, nor normal. Ha.
Yes, that’s meant to be a garbled reference to the scene in The Phantom Menace when Qui-Gon Jinn inadvertently rescues Jar Jar Binks. Because I will defend the Star Wars prequels until the day I die. And people keep talking about Ahmed Best’s “redemption” like he did something wrong when he didn’t – it’s the stupid toxic fandom that needs to redeem itself.
Alright, now that I got that off my chest…
I hate public speaking. It’s the worst. I know I’m not unusual in that regard.
But I also hate regular speaking. I’ve just had to get over it in order to, you know, function in society. I’m basically a walking introvert meme with a huge dose of millennial angst.
So I can’t say I’ll ever be thrilled about public speaking. But I did it this week – presented a 3.5 hour workshop to a disability organisation and I think it went okay. Could’ve been better, but to be fair, things can always be better.
Over the years, I’ve gotten pretty good at masking the more extreme manifestations of my anxiety and awkwardness in most social situations. I mean, chatting to someone is still very different to public speaking. But I guess the thing for me to remember – at least in this week’s situation – is that I know my subject matter and I’m just sharing things I know.
Also, that I’m lucky enough to have a roof over my head and a comfy bed so I can go home and recharge after all that effing talking. 😛
Lee-Ann Khoh 