SPEECHless.
...because it's not about you.
If you have seen my IG stories in the past 72 hours, I’M SORRY.
If you haven’t, you may not know about this weekend’s Fempowered Live event in Denver. My publisher Samantha Joy put together the most epic and energizing 2 day event where we gathered to hear speakers, meet other authors, coaches and connect with like minded women (and some awesome men folk too).
Samantha (SJ) blew it out of the water.
She took my breath away with her beauty and her extreme care for every single person, on such a personal scale.
Holding big dreams and then bringing those dreams to fruition are 2 sides of the same coin. If you’ve ever done anything like this, you know it’s a process of trusting yourself, taking consistent small steps, and remaining curious (OMG just like the themes in my children’s book YOLKED).
On top of that, you must focus on the receiver.
Focus on what you are GIVING not on what you are taking.
One of the best pieces of advice I got from both SJ and the legend who is Amberly Lago before speaking this weekend:
“Remember it’s not about you. It’s about sharing what you love and what you know with new friends who are eager and excited to receive it.”
Duh. Of course it is!! But also what am I wearing? Will I be comfortable? What if I say “UM” too much? What if I fall up the stairs? What if I lose my mind and forget what I’m saying?
Or what if you’re mid way through the talk/speech and a sweet 16 year old girl has a vasovagal response mid neck CAR and slowly passes out?
Too specific…
Well, God is creative like that and that’s exactly how I met Katie Kinsfather. I don’t know for certain but I believe our girl Katie was the youngest attendee at the Fempowered event. I do know she was front row, notepad in hand, eyes and ears open for each and every speaker and keynote. She is clearly a seeker. Again, my favorite kinda person.
Before I had the good fortune of meeting her, I made a mental note thinking “that woulda been me-front row, ready to learn”. She was there with her precious mother Kim and had made the decision to attend a year ago after meeting SJ. Katie felt called to step into bigger and bolder things and thankfully her mama sees and supports this. Katie lives in Texas and is also a competitive dancer…wild, right?
About 22 minutes into my keynote, I got everyone up to try the CARs routine for themselves. I had the audience take off their shoes and I thought “Oh let’s start with toes, that would be a different approach.” Seconds later I talked myself out of that “Stick with the plan - top down makes more sense.”
We began with Neck CARS. I was scanning the room, watching everyone attempt to rotate their head and neck. There was a small distraction in the front as it seemed two ladies were whispering to each other (or so I thought)…Out of nowhere, I saw another lady dart across the room and say “Did she faint?”
I looked straight down and saw Katie seated with her eyes rolling back and her mama by her side. She said “it’s okay, it’s okay…this has happened before. Give her a little space.” Next, I hear Jaime McFaden shout “I’ve called 911…no answer-it’s ringing though”. Now I’m just holding my breath because what is happening!!
One of the beautiful attendees is an RN and came over quickly to move her to the ground in the back of the space. The stage manager came up and said “we’ve turned off your mic…she seems to be doing okay but let’s wait a minute…”
I’m thinking LET’S PACK IT UP - CUZ I’M DONE.
Another 10 minutes went by and then once she was conscious and speaking, color returning to her face, I was directed to “just say a few words and wrap it up if possible”…
I have zero recollection of how I closed it out. I think I said something like “normally I’d have us do such and such, but I just don’t feel like it anymore”.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, mobility is important and CARS will change your life and by the way KATIE IS GOING TO BE OKAY…now please lord get me off this stage! (Can I tell you how silly it feels to be talking about yourself when something like this happens to a guest right in front of you.) Once it was confirmed that our friend was alright, I said thank you so much and exited stage right.
People were coming up to me saying how what I’d shared about pushing through pain and choosing a lifestyle that fast tracks us into old age was resonating. So it seems what I did briefly share had landed.
The cooler thing here is that Katie and I had a dramatic introduction and will always be connected in a special way. I triple checked on her at the end of the day and she said “Hey, you can tell everyone your presentation was so good, I was speechless for most of it”….
I laughed so hard.
It’s just not about you. Did enough of my message land? Yes. Was Katie okay? Yes. Will people remember that the most important thing we can do is to decide how we want to feel, that our biology is made to move, and that we are not destined to feel worse as we age?
I hope so.
I did what I could with what I had…
As for keynote speeches, sometimes saying less is the reality check you didn’t know you needed.
OKAYILOVEYOUBYEEE,
xx
Nic.
ps. Classes this week (small edit - take a peek):
NO TUESDAY QUICKIE YOGA today but drop in for any of these:
* Wednesday UPPER BODY STRENGTH 6:30-7:05am pst. $20. This is part of my August Fit program but open for anyone to drop in. We will start with CARS and then proceed to train all upper body, abs and of course we finish with a little cardio dance break. The group energy is the best. Sign up here.
* Friday YOGA FLOW 6:30-7:05am pst. $20. This is part of my August Fit program but open for anyone to drop in. We will start with breath work, incorporate CARS and build from there. It's only 35 minutes and a great way to show your body some love and attention. Sign up here.
* Saturday FULL BODY STRENGTH 7:30-8am pst. $20. This is part of my August Fit program but open for anyone to drop in. The group energy is excellent and we begin with CARs, strength train and sweat it out with friends. Bring a glute loop/resistance band, lighter and heavier weights. Sign up here.
* Saturday AVIATOR NATION YOGA FLOW 9-10am, 10:15-11:15am.
In person, in Santa Monica. Come on out. Sign up here.
* Sunday KINSTRETCH 9-10am pst. $20 This is a 60 minute joint specific training that acts as the flossing of your joints, the veggies of all healthy movement. We do the CARS routine, strength train different joints each week, and end with breathwork. Sign up here.
* Sunday AVIATOR NATION YOGA FLOW. 10:45-11:45am. In person, in Santa Monica. Come on out. Sign up here.
pps. Wednesday, Sept. 6th, 7-9pm is my BARNES & NOBLE book signing at The Grove with authors Jaime McFaden, Sharon J. Land, Anjali Bhimani and Samantha Joy of Landon Hail Press…all of whom were just at Fempowered with me. I would be so honored, humbled, excited, and stunned to see YOU there. If you’re in Los Angeles, please come out and say hello.
ppps. September Fit 2023 is on the way … It runs Friday 9/8-Saturday 9/30. We’ve got 10 strength classes and 3 yoga classes over the course of 30 days. They all begin and end with CARS, because obviously. They’re all 35 minutes, and they will live on demand in case you miss the live session. The one thing that I’m most proud of in 2023 is continuous strength training and the women who’ve repeatedly shown up for themselves in this program. Okay, that’s 2 things. And I get it, life happens.
Some chapters are stickier than others. Every morning when I open my screen to see the faces of women from all over the nation ready to work, graciously supporting others they haven’t even met IRL; I thank God for this opportunity to be of service. Make the most of your time by doing the best you can each day. That approach will never fail you. You deserve to be the best version of yourself and nobody can make that happen without your consent. Stay Tuned…registration opens next week.
pppps. If you’re an INFINITE member on sweatandstillness.com this September Fit program is included in your membership.
ppppps. I have a buncha free classes for you to try out including a CARS routine. If you like what you see, join us in September or drop in weekly.