I am poised to take my first step onto a hiking trail in the red clay landscape of Sedona, AZ. Wearing a brand new pair of hiking shoes that I purchased at REI just the day before (Eeek), I’m praying these babies won’t hurt my feet.
It wasn’t that I hadn’t tried to get a new pair of trail shoes earlier, I did! But I wear a size 11.5 or 12 with a somewhat narrow foot. I ordered at least 6 different pairs via mail and none of them worked.
Suddenly, last Thursday, the day before my trip, I wake up at 5 AM completely panicked—what was I thinking?? All I have is a relatively new pair of walking shoes with a flat tread. Lying in bed I imagine slipping and sliding on the trail—maybe over the side of a mountain.
In the dark of my bedroom, I grab my phone and start scrolling for more trail shoe options.
Amazon same day delivery? None.
Nordstrom? That’s where I got the shoes that didn’t work. Drat.
Zappos? Too late.
REI? Oh, joy! Why hadn’t I thought of them before? In the early morning darkness, I see they have my big size 12 in stock. Lots of them. I put two in my cart and pay.
By noon I arrive at the store, grab my in-store pickup and head back to the shoe department to try them on. It’s now or never. The shoe department guru sees me slipping on my shoes.
“Where’s your big toe?” she asks.
She feels the end of my shoe with her thumb. “Um, it looks like you are going to need a bigger pair.”
“Bigger than a 12?” I gasp.
“Yep,” she says. “But we don’t have anything bigger than a 12 in a women’s size, so you will need to move into a man’s size.”
I feel the same shame I used to feel back in junior high when I wore a size 10. I used to duck in and out of shoe stores without even looking at the merchandise asking: “Do you have any size 10’s?”
Nine out of ten times the answer was: “NO.”
Now I’m a size 12, and REI shoe guru explains that I will need extra length in my trail shoes to accommodate long hikes when my feet will swell.
After trying on a number of men’s pairs, I find one—sorta. “It feels too big,” I tell her.
“Trust me,” she says. “You’re going to need that extra space.”
That night, I pack my new trail shoes, new wool socks, new water camel backpack, new collapsible walking stick, and a variety of possible trail outfits depending on weather.
In Sedona on day one, my two friends and I stand at a trailhead ready to strike out on the Jim Thompson trail—our first hike. I have all my new hiking gear strapped to my body and my walking stick in hand.
I keep my shoe worries to myself but say a silent prayer.
Within 15 minutes, I start to breathe easier. The new shoes are comfy and supportive. By the end of the day, with miles and miles of terrain behind us, the shoes have proven themselves to be the perfect purchase. I declare to my friends that these trail shoes are the absolute best.
“REI is my new best friend,” I tell them.
Now, this story isn’t actually a pitch for REI. But it’s related. I’d like to invite you to take another journey with me. On Saturday, Nov. 9, from 10 AM-12 PM, I’m hosting a FREE workshop: an IN-PERSON mini bootcamp.
No, it’s not about hiking and trail shoes, although I might be sporting my new treads. It’s a two-hour interactive courageous communication workshop to help you grow your speaking skills.
And lucky you, you don’t need to bring anything but yourself and a desire to blaze a new trail in your life using your most valuable piece of equipment—your voice.
For you, I’m going to be REI’s version of a public speaking trail guide.
The workshops is called The Courageous Communicator: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, and Inspire others.
Want to level up your communication skills to speak authentically with confidence and courage? Then this workshop is for you.
If feeling nervous or worrying too much about what others think is keeping you locked into a pattern of not speaking up, trying to please others, or stuck in the status quo, then grab your seat.
Just imagine how much more successful you could be if you had the communication skills and the voice to go after what you want in your life with confidence and without fear?
That’s what this workshop is about. A chance for you to gain some tried-and-true communication techniques AND a chance to navigate some new terrain in a safe, fun, and supportive environment.
At the end of our trip to Sedona, my pals and I had seen so many amazing views that we’d never seen before. The sights and sounds and smells were something you could only get by being there in person. At times we had to navigate nearly impassable spots on the trail. Once or twice we ended up taking a wrong turn and getting lost.
That may describe how you feel about your public speaking. Sometimes it seems really hard. You make a mistake. You feel uncomfortable. But it’s only by practicing and doing it that you get to reap the rewards of courageous speech.
I hope you’ll consider forging your next communication journey with me on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 10 AM in Elmhurst. Come on out! If you don’t get on the trail, you’ll miss all the beautiful views.
Hope to see you there!
Jenny
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