OUR CHALLENGES CAN BECOME OUR SUCCESS STORY.

Whenever I speak to an audience, be it an intimate networking group in Northern San Diego or an assembly of 1,500 high school students in Austin, Minnesota, I am always 100% committed to bringing my speech impediment with me.

When I think of navigating the big and small challenges that come my way, I think of “Doing my Imperfect Best.”   

What does it mean to do your Imperfect Best?

I’ve asked this question to hundreds of guests on my Awkwardly Awesome Podcast. And, you know what, they EACH have had unique and wonderful answers.

To me, doing my Imperfect Best means that I envision what I most desire for my own life and for the world.  Then I go towards that “best” with intention and joy.  When mistakes come up and obstacles get in my way, instead of giving up, I try to learn everything I can from them and then renew my focus, once again going after my “best.” 

I experienced Imperfect Best before I even knew how to say a single word.  You see, when I was in the process of being born, my parents were faced with the frightening possibility that they might not get to meet me.  During the birthing process, my umbilical cord became pinched and oxygen was unable to reach my brain for a period of time.  You could say my birth was imperfect because of this complication.  But it was also the best because I survived.

I asked my friends lots of questions to keep them talking, which meant I could talk less, hoping to partially hide my unusual speech pattern.  

I focused on excelling in academics.  Fortunately, I was successful.  I graduated college with a double major– English and Social Work– and later obtained an MFA in Poetry.

To my chagrin, I found that academic success alone did not lead to the kind of happiness and fulfillment I desired.  In fact, I thought my life would have been far better if I’d been born without complications. 

Nowadays, I have an unique sense of humor that often causes laughter; but can sometimes, admittedly, cause a groan or two.  Along with a passion for taking photos, I enjoy having conversations of all shapes and sizes. I have given a TEDx Talk to standing ovation, authored a book entitled “Awkwardly Awesome: Embracing My Imperfect Best,” and host a weekly podcast called Awkwardly Awesome Podcast.  It brings me joy to say that I offer presentations at colleges, middle schools and high schools; at churches; for the dis(ability) community and agencies; and at conferences and businesses. 

I definitely didn’t turn my challenges into success alone, I’ve had the support of my beloved parents, countless teachers, friends, and colleagues. 

The last thing I will say is that none of us have to navigate the challenges in our lives alone.  We have each other.  

We truly have each other.