Tomorrow, Saturday, October 15, at 11 AM, I’m speaking on the Main Stage at the American Diabetes Association EXPO at the Minneapolis Convention Center. I’m here in Minnesota visiting with my family and friends as I prepare. It’s handy that I grew up in Minnesota and get to combine giving this talk with hanging out with my family. Really, it’s a blend of what I strive to have my life be: making a difference and contributing while also being deeply connected to family and community.
Mari's Nieces Kiki and Georgia (in the bag!)
I’m sitting here in a coffee shop in St. Paul, Minnesota, today, reworking my notes, thinking about what I want to say tomorrow, how I can say it in a way that invites the audience into the process, and I’m visualizing the flow. (You all know I believe in the power of visualization!)
I am reflecting, “What do I want audience members to walk away feeling and thinking?” My hope and my intention is to do more than inspire. Inspiration is awesome, but in my world, to be inspired is only the first step. I want ACTION. I want empowerment. I want change and transformation. I know, tall orders. I think that’s the benefit of having survived the horrors (and at times it was deeply horrible) of cancer not just once, but twice AND the intense challenge of type 1 diabetes for 30 years. Inspiration doesn’t last, it’s a wonderful thing, but it’s just a little flicker it’s not the bonfire of CHANGE! When one has faced death straight on, more than once, a little itty bitty spark is NOT satisfying!
So, what do I want for my audience? I want laughter, I want a few tears, I hope for a mental mindshift to athlete and most of all I want a promise. A promise to DO something! What are actions I hope for? Well, at the EXPO people can sign up for the Tour de Cure Twin Cities which is on June 2, 2012. They could sign up for the Step Out to Stop Diabetes Twin Cities Walk/Run which is in just a few weeks on October 29. I want people to sign up to be part to Team WILD. I also want at the end, a few hugs and high 5′s. Diabetes is HARD. It takes a toll. It’s easy to get burned out and down. So, as an antidote, we gather, we listen to each other, we get inspired, we TAKE ACTION!!!
I’m fired up! GO WILD! I am excited to see many of you at the EXPO!
Here’s a little video I made about it!
