Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?
I have absolutely given a speech, actually several of them, on stages and regarding performing, I have been in some ridiculous plays in school.
I have read some poems and literary work on stages for school shows and I also sort of “hosted” a few events during my school career. I usually did it when I was very, very young and stopped with time because for some reason I started to speak uncomfortably fast.
I don’t know what happened and why I started speaking like there’s a gun to my head. I toned it down with years, but it was definitely a problem when I was younger and I would often get comments from teachers that I need to “calm down” while I am speaking. The biggest problem was that I wasn’t aware of it. It was so normal for me to speak fast, that I didn’t understand that I was doing it.
Honestly, I don’t miss being on stage or presenting in front of people. I grew a bit of a distaste for public performing with time. It was really stressful standing in front of a lot of people with a mic in hands and speaking. But it is a nice memory today!
Don’t forget that my first novel is available on Amazon: Little Rebellion
Also you can get my poetry books: Rehab and Identity crisis
I used to ‘market’ myself as a public speaker — who was I kidding!
My audience comprised lawyers in the main and they usually crossed their arms and leaned back in their chairs with a look of disdain. I did lose it once and say “shit” and immediately felt a pang of remorse, thinking that I might be struck off (I was a lawyer as I still am).
I have no desire to go back to those days. Instead, I’ve got this sense of sharing a space with a few fellow travellers about our actual experience of life absent the conditioning, history and all the labels. I’m not expecting many takers but it will be good in a small way to saddle the open forum space again. I agree with you it’s a nice memory to have but that’s all it is. Take care, Julian