I'm Gonna Tell!
A friend told his story for the first time on Tuesday night. Though sick as a dog, I simply had to go. (I played leper colonist and stayed away from people, telling them of my puny state.) I'm so very glad I went. Though I know an awful lot about him, hearing him put it all in order helped me "know" him even better. There were also a few things he told that I didn't know. I have chills thinking about this right now.
I've told my story three times now; the last was over a year ago on Super Bowl Sunday. (I was hoping for a small crowd since it was the Big Game. Didn't happen!) I think the biggest thing I've gotten from telling my story is familiarity, becoming more "a part of." In pretty much every meeting I attended after telling my story, I'd run into someone who'd listened to me. It helped make me, the great unapproachable one, more approachable. I was more comfortable in unfamiliar meetings and that comfort helped me to approach strangers and to be approached by them.
You know, as scared as I was to stand in front of a room full of people and bare much of my soul, as soon as I started, I was OK. That brings a grateful smile to my face right now.
I've told my story three times now; the last was over a year ago on Super Bowl Sunday. (I was hoping for a small crowd since it was the Big Game. Didn't happen!) I think the biggest thing I've gotten from telling my story is familiarity, becoming more "a part of." In pretty much every meeting I attended after telling my story, I'd run into someone who'd listened to me. It helped make me, the great unapproachable one, more approachable. I was more comfortable in unfamiliar meetings and that comfort helped me to approach strangers and to be approached by them.
You know, as scared as I was to stand in front of a room full of people and bare much of my soul, as soon as I started, I was OK. That brings a grateful smile to my face right now.
