I was so honored to be asked to speak at the annual ASG conference in LA. I’ve been preparing for a good month at least and yesterday was the big day. I was nervous, to say the least, but so happy and ready to share the story of the Sewing Machine Project with such a great audience of sewists.
Technical difficulties arose and to say things didn’t quite go smoothly would be an understatement. I did my best but it was not my best presentation…
An important part of each presentation, to me, is relating how this project has changed me personally and the biggest way that’s happened is that I’ve learned to view events as lessons and each person I meet as a teacher. I really needed to take my own words to heart yesterday in the wake of my discombobulated speech. So what did I learn?
I was reminded of how deeply people hear and connect with this project;
I learned that you can never be too picky when it comes to checking and rechecking your AV info when it comes to public presentations;
I was reminded that people I love are always right there waiting to catch me when I feel like I might fall;
I was reminded that an outcome might show up in a surprising way;
I was reminded that new friends are always on the horizon and there are always ways we might help one another.
Thank you to all of you ASG members who smiled through my frustration and thank you to all of those near and dear to me who added words of encouragement. Thank you to Sandra Betzina who kindly suggested we have a beer and think of ways to support one another. Thank you to the powers that be within ASG who invited me to speak and see the vision of The Sewing Machine project.
I am grateful to those who remind me that we cannot be attached to an expected outcome but rather, willing and open to receive all of the goodness that comes our way.
