Serendipity & Shock: My Moment with Brene Brown

Early morning mist hangs in the air and like a five year old on my first day of Kindergarten, I almost skip across the busy intersection at the corner of Burrard and Hastings. As of 12 hours ago, I gave up the keys to my apartment and I am now about to see Brene Brown speak. The next chapter has officially begun…

Then, mid-stride, I glance to the right, and the tip of one of the white sails of the old convention centre catches my eye. A little lump gathers in my throat as images of October 27, 2009 flash through my mind. Can it really be almost two years since the Moment My Life Changed forever?

As if my brain is a crowded etch-a-sketch that needs to be cleared, I give my head a shake and then pull open the heavy glass door in front of me. Giant wooden columns and floor to lofty-ceiling windows dwarf the convention centre “stewardess” who stands in the entryway and gives me her warmest, “it’s 7:00am and I LOVE my job” smile. When I say Brene Brown, she points upwards. Continue reading

“You Are Not the Jack-Ass Whisperer”

This morning started with a jarring cell phone alarm and a thick, more-than-the-1-allotted-(cancer-survivor)-glass-of-red-wine last night headache. Since 7am this morning, I’ve been in a car, on a ferry, in a bus, on a train, in a plane, and in a van. For a few minutes earlier today, I felt like one of the wind blown cartoon cats from a Richard Scarry book.

I know I promised you details on my workshop with Brene Brown. I have not forgotten. I also have a great story for you and if it wasn’t for the throbbing between my temples (self induced I know) and the churning of my stomach (nerves or too much of my Aunt’s delicious food last night? I’m not sure), I would herd the thoughts out of my mind and onto the screen.

But for now, I will settle for telling you that three and a half hours with Brene felt like 5 minutes. I laughed (sometimes knowingly), took 17 pages of notes, and by the end, wanted to invite her over for dinner so we could trade stories and become brand new, stay up way too late talking about life, friends.

Hopefully by Friday,  I will be able to distill down my endless scrawled journal entries into a few nuggets of wisdom. For now, here’s my new favourite Scott Stratten quote that Brene shared with us:

Do not try to win over the haters. You are not the jack ass whisperer.” Continue reading