She's a TEDx Speaker now!
Your girl went and did a TEDx Talk!
This was my first ever speaking engagement! Not too shabby.
I applied to give a Talk, at the suggestion of a new friend. I was accepted. I wrote it, rehearsed it and on September 7, 2019, I gave my Talk!
What a thrill this was! I count this as one of my most proudest moments. It’s up there with running a 10K last year, launching my mobile app in 2012 and giving birth to two human beings! It’s definitely one for the books!
My talk took many forms! I originally applied with a rough concept about “the ills of fast fashion” or “how to fight fast fashion at home” or something like that. I was not compelled by this at all, but I still applied (MESSAGE). I kept saying, this could be a “listicle” (womp womp). It took some time (1-2 weeks) for me to really hone in on what I wanted to say and how I could make it personal.
The Talk is about our shopping habits as it relates to how we’re doing emotionally. I (might have) coined the term “Comfort Commerce.” It’s the habit of excessive buying that distracts from a larger emotional/psychological issue. We may be familiar with the phrase “retail therapy” but that’s too cute of a phrase to really address what’s going on inside. So even that phrase is a distraction. I mention that too.
That’s a slight preview of my Talk. I tell some personal stories of my struggles with Comfort Commerce over the years.
A special thanks to Donna, Asiah, Dominique, Tanzy….and all the courageous organizers of this event.
A special shout out to Laurie, Carl, Monica, Alex, Bea, Natasha, and Janina- my fellow TED speakers for a being on this ride together.
Big big love and gratitude to my husband and friends who supported me through this process.
In gratitude,
J