We all have them. Those times when you are not ready to speak up in a crowd or to give a report to a demanding boss. I hated standing up in class and giving speeches or even speaking. Who hasn’t been in the situation where they simply are not prepared and you have to ‘wing it’ or face the truth and admit defeat? I’ve been there.
As I grew older I developed the skills to better equip me to deal with these situations. Life experiences helped, of course, but also acting. In High School I joined the Drama department by accident. Yes, you read that right: by accident. As a youth I was great at ‘moral support’ for my friends. One such friend wanted to audition for a play. So I went along for moral support. She auditioned and then I was asked to go on stage. I could have refused but I did not want to be appear stupid so I did as was asked. I got a part. It was a big part. And I was good.
That is exactly where my journey to self-awareness began. I learned to protect the shy, introverted 6-year-old inside and display only poise and confidence. It worked.
As the years went on I got better and better. My confidence grew. I learned to prepare my self for any possibility I could think of. At parties I had topics lined up to speak about. This is where my Daily Quips originated. Of course I never wrote any of them down but those situations were the genesis.
I learned to do things that frightened me. I spoke in public. I had techniques that allowed me to appear just as I wanted to be seen. I had years of performing on stage to make it all work.
But some situations require a different approach. Wisdom comes with age. Sometimes the honest approach is to admit that you do not know. That is tough. Now, I have more respect for an individual who openly admits that they do not know the answer. There is no shame in that. I will admit that it was a hard lesson for me to learn. But I did learn it.
One of the best days in my 40+ year career was a day I said “I don’t know”
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And that I believe shows an open mind!
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Wow! This really hits home Pam. In junior high, our English teacher had us writing book reports and essays almost daily. We were required to stand up and read them to the class. I had such panic attacks and I would shake uncontrollably. So the teacher would read mine for me because she thought I wrote good essays….but never missed an opportunity to remind me I was “too wordy”!!
To this day I can’t speak to a crowd. But I’m real good at talking to myself!! Lol. I wonder if joining the Drama Club would’ve helped me too? Of course, there’s that ‘minor’ problem of where I would have found the courage to join!
But somehow over the years I did manage to learn that I don’t always know the answer…..ummmmm, usually don’t know the answer, and I have no problem at all owning up to that.
Love today’s painting.
🐾Ginger 🐾
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I think that shows wisdom! I would never have joined on my own but I was too afraid to back out. Yes I do credit the Drama Club with setting me on a path to confidence. Of course it is a never ending journey!
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I had a similar experience to yours Pam, only I never got the big part in the school play. I had to pass any opportunity by due to having a mother who was depressed and ill all the time and no one to help me get to practices. My real loss was being asked to join the volleyball and gymnastics groups but not being able to do that. It would be much later that I learned to pretend I was not at all nervous and atep in front of students in a tech class to teach ophthalmic assisting. The best part about ageing to me is that, less and less with each passing year, I care what anyone may think. I hope you had fun acting and doing all those things you hadn’t dreamed possible. Life, if not an oyster, is at least a fine bowl of spaghetti that we can eat any way we choose. Wind it around a fork and stuff it or take it one slow strand at a time….
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We will always wonder about the paths not taken.
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I’m not sure why, “I don’t know” is so hard for people to say. It is very frustrating to seek answers and come across those who are afraid to say, “I don’t know.” In fact the phrase, “I’m not sure,” evolved from that fear. (Means the same but easier to say.)
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It always throws them when I ask what they are sure of!
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I’ll bet.
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Thats a tough lesson for most people, but how freeing is it when we finally admit our shortcomings.
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Oh it is, it really is!
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