The MirrorBall & My 60 Second Brush with Fame…
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Terri Wingham is the founder and CEO of A Fresh Chapter, a cancer survivor, and someone who believes that we are not defined by the most difficult aspects of our story. |
My heart doing the Indy 500. Kim D’Eon of ET Canada on the giant high definition screens. My untouched tomato soup getting cold in front of me. An urgent need to pee. Black lace over red tablecloths; girls dressed in vaudeville costumes; and a half-naked singing contortionist. I am at the 2011 MirrorBall; a gala put on by the Canadian Cosmetics, Toiletry, & Fragrance Association Foundation as a fundraiser for the Look Good, Feel Better program and www.facingcancer.ca.
“It’s time,” she nods and I stand up and pretend my fingers haven’t turned to icicles and my feet are not wobbling inside my 3″ heels.
“Where’s your speech?” one of my fellow bloggers asks.
“I don’t have it written.” I say and wonder if I really have gone crazy. What possessed me to get up in front of 700+ people without so much as a cue card to lean on? (more…)
Comments (14)
Inspiring and incredible as always. Your courage and strength to strike out and tackle new challenges is truly amazing. It’s sad that it took this ‘tragedy’ for you to realize your real calling in life, but we’re all better because of it.
Keep doing what you’re doing – it IS your calling!
Lori,
Thanks for your comment. Always so nice to hear from you and I so appreciate your support. I hope you’re happy and healthy!
Big hugs,
Terri
Well DONE! One person. It’s about the work. It’s (as a fellow validation junkie who was told this by the former first lady of the UK in a direct message on twitter-yes, VERY validating) about knowing all we can hope for is to reach “just one person.” You have reached thousands, Terri and you will continue to reach many hundreds of thousands as you continue traversing the globe. I hope to join up with you for a period of your journey…… I’m just on that wave and if that becomes a part of what opens up before me, be assured, I’ll jump right on the board beside you!
I love the way you write and I love how your determination. The world is a better place because of you and it will continue to get better and better as you see your dreams come true. And, they WILL come true…..
Miss you…. would love to have you back in a little cafe (ok, really a noisy BAR) in NYC!
xoxo
AnneMarie
LOVE your comments! Always so great for my validation fix:) Congrats on your DM from the former first lady of the UK. You are kind of a big deal! 😉 I hope we do meet up on the other side of the world. I will keep you posted as plans start to come together. I wish I was back in a noisy bar in NYC with you too. Hopefully in the not too distant future, we can do it again.
Big hugs and thinking of you and everything going on in your world. Please keep me posted.
T
xoxo
What a beautifully written post, Terri! Keep doing the “work”! 🙂 I’m loving it!
xo
An
Thanks An – always love hearing from you and reading your comments. Big hugs! T xo
Girl, I felt like I was right there with you! Nicely done.
Thanks lovely – wish you could have been right there with me. Big hugs. T xo
Never consider changing the way you address a crowd again! I think opening with an invite to shake one’s ‘tail feathers’ is the ‘bee’s knee’s.’ I’ve been enjoying your posts and will keep coming back.
Lisa – You’re awesome. Thanks for the comments and for your support. So glad to have you along for the ride!
Terri – you are an inspiration to many – and yes – you have found your calling for sure. Thank you for all your do in support of our Foundation’s important work!
Thanks Mara – It is a pleasure to be involved with the Foundation! Big hugs from Vancouver, Terri
Every single time I read one of your posts, I say a quick “Thank You” to God for our chance meeting in Cape Town. Terri, I adore your writing and I adore YOU! You’ve helped me in ways that I can’t even begin to explain in this post. One day we will meet again (somewhere in the world) and I’ll tell you all about it!
Toy – Big hugs to you! I am so happy we met in Cape Town and I KNOW we will have the chance to connect again soon. If you have some time and want to skype over the holidays, I would love to connect. T xo