Scared to Speak, Still Showing Up

You ever agree to do something bold and brave… and then immediately wonder what demon possessed you to say yes in the first place?

Yeah.  That’s me right now, packing my bag and my nerves to head to South Dakota for a speaking gig.  Public speaking, they say, is scarier than death for most people.  And today, I believe them.

But here’s the thing, I’m still going.

Not because I’m not scared.  I’m terrified.  I’m sweaty-palmed, heart-racing, second-guessing-my-entire-outfit scared.

I’m going because I’ve finally learned that courage doesn’t mean the fear is gone.  It means the mission is bigger than the fear.

And this mission?  Helping others grow food, find themselves, and live a little more like their great-grandma told them to?  That’s a mission I’ll shake through.  That’s a mission I’ll stand up for, even if my voice cracks and I forget my notes and need to breathe into a paper bag behind the curtain.

Here’s what I remind myself (and maybe you need to hear it too):

You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful.  Some of the most memorable talks come from people who were real, not rehearsed.

The nerves mean you care.  And that care is exactly what makes your words land.

You can be scared and still spectacular.  Fear doesn’t cancel out your magic.


So if you’re staring down something big, something brave, something that makes your stomach flip?  Good!  That means you’re alive.  That means you’re stretching.  That means you’re becoming.

Wish me luck!  I’ll be the one with the quivering hands, the oversized thermos of protein coffee, and the wildly passionate heart that refuses to shrink back.

Now it’s your turn!  What’s the “South Dakota” in your life right now?  What’s the scary thing you said yes to, and how are you showing up for it anyway?

Let’s be brave… together! 🥰