We’re going to start sending a brief wrap-up of the meetings to everyone. If this starts to annoy you, then come to a meeting and tell me.
Last night was wonderful. We had two new members (welcome, Megan and Rudy!), and a lot of familiar faces – in total, about 15 of us. We talked about the challenges and opportunities that public speaking presents to people who stutter. It is important to note that so many of us in the room are in professional positions that called for a LOT of public speaking – especially when “the stakes are high.”
A few members spoke about the possibility of being fired or marginalized at work because of how they speak. Of course, this roused the discussion about speaking openly about stuttering at work, or “advertising” – sometimes it feels empowering and authentic, and sometimes it feels like an overshare that can make us vulnerable to judgement and ridicule.
Samantha G. filled us in on the NSA Conference this July in Arizona (she was recently appointed to the Board of Directors wooo!), and Chuck brought up the idea of “relaxation therapy” to help people who stutter in moments of stress. I think we agreed that it can be helpful, but it has its limits.
In conclusion, I remain convinced that people who stutter (and Chuck) are smarter, braver, and more attractive than the rest.
Until next month, be well!!