This week's prompt for the BU Aphasia Center's Toastmaster's group was "what can we all use?" Here is my speech.
What we can all use from time to time is help.
Right After the stroke, I had to have help with bathing and putting my contacts lens in. I couldn’t see very well and had to have text read aloud to me. I couldn’t even think about making my own food.
Even after I could make some sounds I had to watch people’s mouths in order for me to say the words correctly.
I had always been independent and stubborn. I was so impatient, I wanted to be all better.
At the time, I thought needing help was a sign of weakness. In fact I now realize that it is a sign of strength and self awareness. As I gradually began doing these things for myself, I was proud of how much I could do and realized that without help I couldn’t have progressed as far as I did. When I realized this, I felt grateful and I didn’t think that asking for help when I needed it was weakness anymore. Instead of saying I can’t do this, I started saying I can’t do this right now but with some help now and a lot of practice, I’ll be able to do it on my own soon.
I think back to things that I’ve accomplished in my personal and professional life and realize that I could’t have done these things by myself nor would I want to. It’s so much fun and dare I say more rewarding when you work with others.
At the present time, I am about to start volunteering for a mentorship program. The LEAP program helps young men and women achieve their academic and career goals. The pessimistic side of me thought, what can a person with aphasia contribute. I was scared. This thought was even stronger after I met the young man who I was matched with. He has accomplished a lot already. He has started his own business and wants to do it again. He already has so much going for him.
But then I remembered why I applied for the volunteer position in the first place. To use my experiences to help those starting out in their careers
We can ALL use a little help. I am so excited to figure out the ways I can help this young man and others going forward and to accept help graciously and to actually seek help from now on.
After all, we're all in this life together.
Each week we have to state our goal for the presentation. My goal this week was to read slowly and take time to say the difficult words. that is why many words are bolded.
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