firstly I would say you’ve got to have confidence to wear trousers like this
my name is Emma and four years ago at
my name is Emma and four years ago at the age of 29 I was diagnosed with
the age of 29 I was diagnosed with
the age of 29 I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and that’s a story
Parkinson’s disease and that’s a story
Parkinson’s disease and that’s a story I’ve probably told many times the story
I’ve probably told many times the story
I’ve probably told many times the story I want to tell today started thirty
I want to tell today started thirty
I want to tell today started thirty years prior to that these two very soft
years prior to that these two very soft
years prior to that these two very soft focus lovelies got married and decided
focus lovelies got married and decided
focus lovelies got married and decided they wanted to have children they would
they wanted to have children they would
they wanted to have children they would become my parents Ned’s and Lanny and
become my parents Ned’s and Lanny and
become my parents Ned’s and Lanny and four years after this I was born into
four years after this I was born into
four years after this I was born into the world yellow and tiny and I was
the world yellow and tiny and I was
the world yellow and tiny and I was given something by them a little bit of
given something by them a little bit of
given something by them a little bit of both of them
both of them
both of them my mom was quite timid at this stage you
my mom was quite timid at this stage you
my mom was quite timid at this stage you can tell by the very sweet expression on
can tell by the very sweet expression on
can tell by the very sweet expression on her face she was very timid and my dad
her face she was very timid and my dad
her face she was very timid and my dad was a bit of a ham a confident person
was a bit of a ham a confident person
was a bit of a ham a confident person would go into any room and tell a story
would go into any room and tell a story
would go into any room and tell a story and command a stage and I became a
and command a stage and I became a
and command a stage and I became a little bit of both of them confident in
little bit of both of them confident in
little bit of both of them confident in my own little way confident among my
my own little way confident among my
my own little way confident among my friends confident in the situation’s I
friends confident in the situation’s I
friends confident in the situation’s I was comfortable in confident I was into
was comfortable in confident I was into
was comfortable in confident I was into drama in a big way and he put me on a
drama in a big way and he put me on a
drama in a big way and he put me on a stage and I’d be confident but I’d come
stage and I’d be confident but I’d come
stage and I’d be confident but I’d come off as a little timid Mouse afterwards
off as a little timid Mouse afterwards
off as a little timid Mouse afterwards but they never pushed me to be anything
but they never pushed me to be anything
but they never pushed me to be anything more than that they were always
more than that they were always
more than that they were always incredibly accepting of me and who I was
incredibly accepting of me and who I was
incredibly accepting of me and who I was and what I brought to the world just as
and what I brought to the world just as
and what I brought to the world just as they were with each other there were
they were with each other there were
they were with each other there were such different people and they looked at
such different people and they looked at
such different people and they looked at each other and they loved each other and
each other and they loved each other and
each other and they loved each other and they loved me for being a mix of the two
they loved me for being a mix of the two
they loved me for being a mix of the two of them and so I grew up in a situation
of them and so I grew up in a situation
of them and so I grew up in a situation feeling incredibly supportive incredibly
feeling incredibly supportive incredibly
feeling incredibly supportive incredibly cared for and as if it was okay to be me
cared for and as if it was okay to be me
cared for and as if it was okay to be me and I don’t Kylie at this stage I never
and I don’t Kylie at this stage I never
and I don’t Kylie at this stage I never really knew how important this would be
really knew how important this would be
really knew how important this would be for the rest of my life and I carried on
for the rest of my life and I carried on
for the rest of my life and I carried on much in the same way until I became a
much in the same way until I became a
much in the same way until I became a small child all the way through to my
small child all the way through to my
small child all the way through to my teenage years right up until the end of
teenage years right up until the end of
teenage years right up until the end of my 20s when my diagnosis of Parkinson’s
my 20s when my diagnosis of Parkinson’s
my 20s when my diagnosis of Parkinson’s came it was a little bit of a shock I’m
came it was a little bit of a shock I’m
came it was a little bit of a shock I’m not going to lie to you I’m not
not going to lie to you I’m not
not going to lie to you I’m not older man so I wasn’t expecting it to be
older man so I wasn’t expecting it to be
older man so I wasn’t expecting it to be Parkinson’s and when you’re diagnosed
Parkinson’s and when you’re diagnosed
Parkinson’s and when you’re diagnosed with something long-term when you’re
with something long-term when you’re
with something long-term when you’re diagnosed with anything you’re chucked
diagnosed with anything you’re chucked
diagnosed with anything you’re chucked into a box and there’s a label put onto
into a box and there’s a label put onto
into a box and there’s a label put onto it and the ceiling is put in place and
it and the ceiling is put in place and
it and the ceiling is put in place and it’s very difficult to push past that
it’s very difficult to push past that
it’s very difficult to push past that you have to really really want to and
you have to really really want to and
you have to really really want to and sometimes that ceiling is there because
sometimes that ceiling is there because
sometimes that ceiling is there because you’ve put it there and the expectations
you’ve put it there and the expectations
you’ve put it there and the expectations for you is so much lower because you’re
for you is so much lower because you’re
for you is so much lower because you’re expecting less of yourself just getting
expecting less of yourself just getting
expecting less of yourself just getting up or going into work your inspirational
up or going into work your inspirational
up or going into work your inspirational for doing that just getting on with your
for doing that just getting on with your
for doing that just getting on with your life your inspirational for doing that
life your inspirational for doing that
life your inspirational for doing that and I wanted more than that I wanted to
and I wanted more than that I wanted to
and I wanted more than that I wanted to push past that and actually live an
push past that and actually live an
push past that and actually live an exciting life and luckily my friends and
exciting life and luckily my friends and
exciting life and luckily my friends and my family expected the same with me too
my family expected the same with me too
my family expected the same with me too they didn’t put me in a box they said
they didn’t put me in a box they said
they didn’t put me in a box they said you’re the same Emma and they laughed at
you’re the same Emma and they laughed at
you’re the same Emma and they laughed at me and joked with me in the same way
me and joked with me in the same way
me and joked with me in the same way they used to before and I suddenly
they used to before and I suddenly
they used to before and I suddenly realized that I was coping and I was
realized that I was coping and I was
realized that I was coping and I was thriving and I was waking up each day
thriving and I was waking up each day
thriving and I was waking up each day and not just getting up that I was going
and not just getting up that I was going
and not just getting up that I was going to work and actually being myself and I
to work and actually being myself and I
to work and actually being myself and I was seeing a colour in myself that I
was seeing a colour in myself that I
was seeing a colour in myself that I really liked there was something
really liked there was something
really liked there was something different about me and I think now
different about me and I think now
different about me and I think now looking back that thing was confidence
looking back that thing was confidence
looking back that thing was confidence because to me confidence is getting up
because to me confidence is getting up
because to me confidence is getting up in the morning being able to get up get
in the morning being able to get up get
in the morning being able to get up get dressed go to work live a fairly normal
dressed go to work live a fairly normal
dressed go to work live a fairly normal life and really hit the world head on
life and really hit the world head on
life and really hit the world head on but it’s also on a more granular level
but it’s also on a more granular level
but it’s also on a more granular level putting yourself in really stupid
putting yourself in really stupid
putting yourself in really stupid situations and I’ve got tons of examples
situations and I’ve got tons of examples
situations and I’ve got tons of examples of things I’ve done that are ridiculous
of things I’ve done that are ridiculous
of things I’ve done that are ridiculous I think it’s having unbelievable faith
I think it’s having unbelievable faith
I think it’s having unbelievable faith in yourself and knowing that it doesn’t
in yourself and knowing that it doesn’t
in yourself and knowing that it doesn’t matter if you fail and if you think
matter if you fail and if you think
matter if you fail and if you think you’re going to fail and you don’t worry
you’re going to fail and you don’t worry
you’re going to fail and you don’t worry about failing you’re more likely to
about failing you’re more likely to
about failing you’re more likely to succeed
succeed
succeed to be honest the amount of things that
to be honest the amount of things that
to be honest the amount of things that have gone right for me because I’ve not
have gone right for me because I’ve not
have gone right for me because I’ve not worried too much I’m going to give you a
worried too much I’m going to give you a
worried too much I’m going to give you a couple of examples of stupid things I’ve
couple of examples of stupid things I’ve
couple of examples of stupid things I’ve done in the last couple of years and my
done in the last couple of years and my
done in the last couple of years and my boyfriend will be sat somewhere in this
boyfriend will be sat somewhere in this
boyfriend will be sat somewhere in this audience thinking oh just a few because
audience thinking oh just a few because
audience thinking oh just a few because there’s tons if you find it later where
there’s tons if you find it later where
there’s tons if you find it later where we tell you some more the first one
we tell you some more the first one
we tell you some more the first one being I decided to write a book about
being I decided to write a book about
being I decided to write a book about Parkinson’s because I decided there
Parkinson’s because I decided there
Parkinson’s because I decided there wasn’t enough books about the subject
wasn’t enough books about the subject
wasn’t enough books about the subject written from a younger person’s
written from a younger person’s
written from a younger person’s perspective and I’ve not really done any
perspective and I’ve not really done any
perspective and I’ve not really done any writing before and I knew the exact date
writing before and I knew the exact date
writing before and I knew the exact date that I wanted my book launch to be I
that I wanted my book launch to be I
that I wanted my book launch to be I wanted a big party you know you can tell
wanted a big party you know you can tell
wanted a big party you know you can tell I like a party because I like a secret
I like a party because I like a secret
I like a party because I like a secret and I booked my venue sent out the
and I booked my venue sent out the
and I booked my venue sent out the Facebook invite wrote a press release
Facebook invite wrote a press release
Facebook invite wrote a press release before I’d even written one word of the
before I’d even written one word of the
before I’d even written one word of the goddamn
confidence or foolishness is a really
confidence or foolishness is a really fine line and my mum was having kittens
fine line and my mum was having kittens
fine line and my mum was having kittens bless her because she’s sensible about
bless her because she’s sensible about
bless her because she’s sensible about things like this but it had it worked I
things like this but it had it worked I
things like this but it had it worked I mean my books arrived today before my
mean my books arrived today before my
mean my books arrived today before my book launch it was that close but it
book launch it was that close but it
book launch it was that close but it worked and the problem is when things
worked and the problem is when things
worked and the problem is when things work like that you think it might work
work like that you think it might work
work like that you think it might work again so on a whim I thought I’d like to
again so on a whim I thought I’d like to
again so on a whim I thought I’d like to share my story in video form I think I
share my story in video form I think I
share my story in video form I think I can probably tell my story better that
can probably tell my story better that
can probably tell my story better that way so I embarked on a 365 day video
way so I embarked on a 365 day video
way so I embarked on a 365 day video blog project where I blowed a video
blog project where I blowed a video
blog project where I blowed a video every day to YouTube having never used
every day to YouTube having never used
every day to YouTube having never used YouTube before having never really made
YouTube before having never really made
YouTube before having never really made a video and actually having the
a video and actually having the
a video and actually having the attention span of an act and a friend of
attention span of an act and a friend of
attention span of an act and a friend of mine said to me he was a videographer he
mine said to me he was a videographer he
mine said to me he was a videographer he said I managed 30 days you won’t get
said I managed 30 days you won’t get
said I managed 30 days you won’t get further than that I’m on day 55
confidence is also quite close to being
confidence is also quite close to being smug I think sometimes so I’ve cheated
smug I think sometimes so I’ve cheated
smug I think sometimes so I’ve cheated slightly on the last week of the blog
slightly on the last week of the blog
slightly on the last week of the blog projects because I’ve bunched five days
projects because I’ve bunched five days
projects because I’ve bunched five days into one video but I have a really good
into one video but I have a really good
into one video but I have a really good excuse because last year a woman who I
excuse because last year a woman who I
excuse because last year a woman who I don’t know invited me to go on a 300 ton
don’t know invited me to go on a 300 ton
don’t know invited me to go on a 300 ton boat with her for a week via Twitter and
boat with her for a week via Twitter and
boat with her for a week via Twitter and I said yes and I’m still alive so my
I said yes and I’m still alive so my
I said yes and I’m still alive so my parents taught me a lot they probably
parents taught me a lot they probably
parents taught me a lot they probably didn’t teach me stranger danger because
didn’t teach me stranger danger because
didn’t teach me stranger danger because we lived unlike but it was an incredible
we lived unlike but it was an incredible
we lived unlike but it was an incredible experience and one that I’m really proud
experience and one that I’m really proud
experience and one that I’m really proud of and I think the thing that runs
of and I think the thing that runs
of and I think the thing that runs through these three examples where there
through these three examples where there
through these three examples where there are thousands more is blind faith in
are thousands more is blind faith in
are thousands more is blind faith in myself something that my parents have
myself something that my parents have
myself something that my parents have always had in me it just took me that
always had in me it just took me that
always had in me it just took me that bit longer to find it in myself and
bit longer to find it in myself and
bit longer to find it in myself and actually seeing that I was typing seeing
actually seeing that I was typing seeing
actually seeing that I was typing seeing that I was thriving you start saying to
that I was thriving you start saying to
that I was thriving you start saying to yourself what’s the worst that can
yourself what’s the worst that can
yourself what’s the worst that can happen what’s the worst that can happen
happen what’s the worst that can happen
happen what’s the worst that can happen I could get Parkinson’s done that tick
I could get Parkinson’s done that tick
I could get Parkinson’s done that tick what’s next
what’s next
what’s next and it makes you think I can try some
and it makes you think I can try some
and it makes you think I can try some other things and see what happens and so
other things and see what happens and so
other things and see what happens and so my parents gave me this great basis to
my parents gave me this great basis to
my parents gave me this great basis to build on of love and support and
build on of love and support and
build on of love and support and actually it being okay to fail it not
actually it being okay to fail it not
actually it being okay to fail it not mattering at all but it took Parkinson’s
mattering at all but it took Parkinson’s
mattering at all but it took Parkinson’s to draw it out from me and so I guess in
to draw it out from me and so I guess in
to draw it out from me and so I guess in a strange way I’m grateful to
a strange way I’m grateful to
a strange way I’m grateful to Parkinson’s for doing that because I
Parkinson’s for doing that because I
Parkinson’s for doing that because I never would have known the measure of
never would have known the measure of
never would have known the measure of myself and so because I am the complete
myself and so because I am the complete
myself and so because I am the complete mix of my parents my carefree mother and
mix of my parents my carefree mother and
mix of my parents my carefree mother and my stage loving father I’m going to end
my stage loving father I’m going to end
my stage loving father I’m going to end this speech in a way that shows
this speech in a way that shows
this speech in a way that shows confidence to me as a girl with
confidence to me as a girl with
confidence to me as a girl with Parkinson’s I am going to juggle
Parkinson’s I am going to juggle
Parkinson’s I am going to juggle for the first time since childhood in a
for the first time since childhood in a
for the first time since childhood in a state in front of a stage full of people
state in front of a stage full of people
state in front of a stage full of people revenue pavilion and seriously what is
revenue pavilion and seriously what is
revenue pavilion and seriously what is the worst that can happen
”
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