As I mentioned last week I was asked to read my piece The King and Us, Myth and All as part of the Bookmark series that took place during Troy Night Out. My friend and follow unicorn Pam was kind enough to film it for me. If you’re interested, check it out below.
Overall, the experience was a really positive one. I think it was powerful for people to hear the words and the voice simultaneously and to be able to connect them. I had several people come up to me after the reading and say they had seen the article in the TU but that they really enjoyed hearing my reading of it. It was important – both for them and also for myself.
This also marks the first time I’ve seen myself stutter in quite some time. It’s always a bit funny to compare how you think something went in your head to how it actually played out. I felt good reading it and I’m very comfortable with the video version. It’s not perfect, but it will never be. What’s important is that I shared my story and that a conversation was opened. That’s worth taking a risk for.
It was a great night. One where many inspiring stories were shared and where I could introduce friends and connect a few circles. Thanks to everyone who came out to support me. It meant a lot to have so many good friends there and people whom I’d be lost with out.
Pam
I am so happy that you have posted this. Connecting some circles makes our circles stronger, and since we are all inter-connected anyway, may as well physically connect where we can as well.You wrote: "I felt good reading it and I’m very comfortable with the video version. It’s not perfect, but it will never be".What was not perfect? You? The reading? The video quality? There is no such thing as perfect – every single one of us is imperfect and flawed in some way. And that is not a bad thing – our imperfections make us who we are, and very often we find that it is the imperfections that are the gifts. It just often takes such a long time realizing that.If we strive for the elusive "perfect", we wind up missing out on things along the way. Don’t do that Lisa – don’t strive for "perfect" or sound resigned to, "but it will never be". Just strive to always be the best Lisa – our best is always good enough!
Lisa
I completely agree with you, Pam. I was really happy with my reading and the level of stuttering. Thanks for capturing it. Even I can appreciate how a few posts ago I was reliving the horrors of the tape recorder and here I go posting a full out video. 🙂
Pam
yeah, up next – podcast!
Burt Albrecht
Wow.I really liked the article (although I don’t necessarily agree with everything in it now that I’ve see the movie at last), and I find it even more powerful when told by the author.I admire your courage. And as you wrote yourself, what a tremendous positive move since your first posts. If all of us had the same courage and positive attitude as you and Pam do, then maybe we would not even need any other movie like the King’s Speech.One last word: I’m not a native speaker, and I voluntarily refrained from referring to the of the paper. I could follow 100% your reading perfectly without any hesitation. I could not even dream do that for many speeches by English or US fluent persons! This says a lot on the quality of your speech.
Lisa
Hey, Burt, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate the comment about you being able to follow and understand. That’s something I wonder about often. Thanks again.
Marion Roach Smith
I, too, am happy you posted this. You were wonderful.Write on, sister.
Lori
There are so many things about my life that I take for granted, and being able to speak clearly is one of them. Thank you for the reminder that it’s not something I should take for granted. I appreciate that. You did a great job.
Lori
(me again) – Thinking over my comment, I chose my words poorly. I shouldn’t have said "being able to speak clearly" because, as another commenter mentioned, you were completely clear. I just should have said "speak without stuttering". Sorry about that.