Those that matter...

So, my first blog post is about public speaking and special occasions. Everyone has to speak publicly at some point. It’s a fact of life these days. Everyone gets nervous, maybe forgets what to say and maybe cries openly. We all deal with it differently.
Some of us get graded on it. Some of us have been promoted or even fired because of it. Other times, well, other times, people pay tribute, express love, share important experiences or make the world a little better. That is what I want to focus on; making the world better even if it’s just one person’s world.
I did a little research for this blog post. I read other posts about how public speaking can be scarier than death. That it’s all in our heads. You should picture the audience naked! We’ve heard that and probably have tried it. Yeah, until you realize that your father-in-law’s mother is in the audience and now you have to cover up the fact that you just threw up a little in your mouth. After my research was done, I realized that I didn’t need to do any of it. All I really needed to do was share my advice and hopefully some wisdom. So, here goes…..wish me luck.
There are many special occasions in our life: weddings, funerals, and holidays to name a few. Sometimes during these occasions you are asked to speak. This honor may fall to a best man at a wedding, a friend at a funeral or a co-worker at a retirement party. I call it an honor because it is.  You have been chosen to honor a person by speaking on their behalf. What a beautiful gift!
You don’t have to be instructed on how to say what you feel. I’ve always said that whatever you’re feeling isn’t wrong. If you are sad, happy, angry or indifferent over something that happened it’s alright. Just write it down. Feel it. Read it. If it moves you, it will move your audience. Be proud of what you’re about to say. It will radiate to the listeners. Recently I was asked to write something for my friend’s mother’s memorial service. I didn’t know her mother well but I adore my friend. I took that love for her and put it into my writing for her mom. The speech turned out to be a lovely tribute.
That’s it. That is my advice and wisdom. It’s not a lot because it’s not complicated. To sum it up: feel it, write it, say it. If you’re still nervous and don’t know what to say, remember this old adage: Those that matter do not mind and those that mind do not matter.