Today, a reporter for AARP included my podcast in a round up of caregiving podcasts. It was really rewarding to see all the hard work come out on page. And see leaders in the caregiving space acknowledged too.
I know God gave me this really beautiful storytelling gift. I don’t take it for granted. I am always tuned in and searching for ways I can use my gift for good and reach as many people as I can. My goal as a storyteller is always to help the audience feel seen, heard and witnessed.
When I ran Severson Sisters, I had accolades up the wa-zoo and if I could go a week without having to be on the news, it was a miracle. I remember a time I was sitting at a bar with a friend. It was a Friday around 5:15 p.m. and the TV in the bar was playing the 5:00 p.m. news. Suddenly, there I was. On the news. And drinking a glass of red wine. The news department reused a segment of mine from months before. I learned then how to stay unattached to the end result of a media mention or award. And I learned then that as long as I remained true to who I was and put good out into the world, I was using the gifts I was given.
This though hit differently. I knew it was coming. And I prayed it would open doors for me. I prayed it would put me at tables I could be a loving, humorous, insightful contributor to.
I shared it with a handful of associates and as many friends and family as I could.
And at the end of the day, I got an email from the National Alliance for Caregiving and they asked me to moderate a panel discussion with cancer caregivers to showcase where there are gaps in our medical system between nurses and family caregivers.
I’ve never been a moderator before. I’ve been the panelist a few dozen times but never the one moving the conversation forward. It’s on September 15 and I’m so excited!
And scared honestly.
Storytelling is a powerful tool whether we do it on stage, in a book, over coffee with a single person or through a show for anyone to listen and watch.
And I’m so grateful God gave me the guts to share mine. Even though it’s sometimes really hard and scary.
