I knelt down on my kitchen floor in a sea of Cheerios that my two-year-old has
sea of Cheerios that my two-year-old has
sea of Cheerios that my two-year-old has so strategically dumped out in front of
so strategically dumped out in front of
so strategically dumped out in front of me and I burst into tears
me and I burst into tears
me and I burst into tears what could this TEDx panel or committee
what could this TEDx panel or committee
what could this TEDx panel or committee possibly want from me what have I done
possibly want from me what have I done
possibly want from me what have I done that could impart even the slightest
that could impart even the slightest
that could impart even the slightest morsel of wisdom unto your youth or your
morsel of wisdom unto your youth or your
morsel of wisdom unto your youth or your impression ability or your future and I
impression ability or your future and I
impression ability or your future and I knew it wasn’t the angst of being in
knew it wasn’t the angst of being in
knew it wasn’t the angst of being in front of an audience that hurled me into
front of an audience that hurled me into
front of an audience that hurled me into sheer panic because I’ve been performing
sheer panic because I’ve been performing
sheer panic because I’ve been performing my whole life mmm but it was more the
my whole life mmm but it was more the
my whole life mmm but it was more the fear of trying to soften into this idea
fear of trying to soften into this idea
fear of trying to soften into this idea that somebody actually thought that I
that somebody actually thought that I
that somebody actually thought that I had a story that should be shared with
had a story that should be shared with
had a story that should be shared with you today I grew up here in Cape
you today I grew up here in Cape
you today I grew up here in Cape Elizabeth I began acting in plays when I
Elizabeth I began acting in plays when I
Elizabeth I began acting in plays when I was six my mother started taking me for
was six my mother started taking me for
was six my mother started taking me for a private vocal lessons and I was
a private vocal lessons and I was
a private vocal lessons and I was singing Italian Aria z’ by the time I
singing Italian Aria z’ by the time I
singing Italian Aria z’ by the time I was nine and as I got a little bit older
was nine and as I got a little bit older
was nine and as I got a little bit older I learned the balance of music and
I learned the balance of music and
I learned the balance of music and theater with sports I grew up with all
theater with sports I grew up with all
theater with sports I grew up with all older brothers who were constantly
older brothers who were constantly
older brothers who were constantly challenging my ability to do things like
challenging my ability to do things like
challenging my ability to do things like throw a better spiral football than them
throw a better spiral football than them
throw a better spiral football than them until the day I finally could I still
until the day I finally could I still
until the day I finally could I still can by the way and so I was the only
can by the way and so I was the only
can by the way and so I was the only girl of the family the baby and arguably
girl of the family the baby and arguably
girl of the family the baby and arguably the best athlete I also tried to play a
the best athlete I also tried to play a
the best athlete I also tried to play a whole slew of instruments I tried the
whole slew of instruments I tried the
whole slew of instruments I tried the baritone tuba the trumpet the trombone
baritone tuba the trumpet the trombone
baritone tuba the trumpet the trombone the French horn piano and guitar and the
the French horn piano and guitar and the
the French horn piano and guitar and the reason I say try is because I would sit
reason I say try is because I would sit
reason I say try is because I would sit and memorize the notes on the sheet
and memorize the notes on the sheet
and memorize the notes on the sheet music and the coordinating positions on
music and the coordinating positions on
music and the coordinating positions on whatever instrument I was playing just
whatever instrument I was playing just
whatever instrument I was playing just so that nobody in that band room behind
so that nobody in that band room behind
so that nobody in that band room behind us actually knew that I didn’t know how
us actually knew that I didn’t know how
us actually knew that I didn’t know how to read music and if it wasn’t
to read music and if it wasn’t
to read music and if it wasn’t memorization I was quite literally
memorization I was quite literally
memorization I was quite literally playing everything or seeing anything by
playing everything or seeing anything by
playing everything or seeing anything by ear and I was a good student I was in
ear and I was a good student I was in
ear and I was a good student I was in mostly honors and
mostly honors and
mostly honors and AP classes except for math in fact I
AP classes except for math in fact I
AP classes except for math in fact I struggled so badly with math that I my
struggled so badly with math that I my
struggled so badly with math that I my mother actually brought me to be
mother actually brought me to be
mother actually brought me to be evaluated for a learning disability when
evaluated for a learning disability when
evaluated for a learning disability when I was in tenth grade and that was really
I was in tenth grade and that was really
I was in tenth grade and that was really hard so let’s talk about we to have
hard so let’s talk about we to have
hard so let’s talk about we to have music and we’ve got math I want to talk
music and we’ve got math I want to talk
music and we’ve got math I want to talk about the part whole concept really
about the part whole concept really
about the part whole concept really quickly in math you’ve got percentages
quickly in math you’ve got percentages
quickly in math you’ve got percentages and decimals and fractions all of which
and decimals and fractions all of which
and decimals and fractions all of which are essential to the understanding of
are essential to the understanding of
are essential to the understanding of music theory and notation well in music
music theory and notation well in music
music theory and notation well in music this translates to things like intervals
this translates to things like intervals
this translates to things like intervals and time signatures and melody and
and time signatures and melody and
and time signatures and melody and harmony and beat and rhythm those are
harmony and beat and rhythm those are
harmony and beat and rhythm those are just sonically Illustrated to
just sonically Illustrated to
just sonically Illustrated to mathematical expressions right so how
mathematical expressions right so how
mathematical expressions right so how was it that I could sing and play music
was it that I could sing and play music
was it that I could sing and play music by ear I could sing on pitch and I could
by ear I could sing on pitch and I could
by ear I could sing on pitch and I could keep time relatively well but I could
keep time relatively well but I could
keep time relatively well but I could never fully grasp the fundamentals of
never fully grasp the fundamentals of
never fully grasp the fundamentals of math or its relationship to something
math or its relationship to something
math or its relationship to something that came so naturally to me I went on
that came so naturally to me I went on
that came so naturally to me I went on to a small liberal arts school south of
to a small liberal arts school south of
to a small liberal arts school south of Boston named Wheaton College and I
Boston named Wheaton College and I
Boston named Wheaton College and I started my freshman year there
started my freshman year there
started my freshman year there completely unaware of the opportunity
completely unaware of the opportunity
completely unaware of the opportunity that I had been given to just be there I
that I had been given to just be there I
that I had been given to just be there I excelled on the lacrosse team I brought
excelled on the lacrosse team I brought
excelled on the lacrosse team I brought my team to Nationals for the first time
my team to Nationals for the first time
my team to Nationals for the first time and I think 9 or 10 years I set records
and I think 9 or 10 years I set records
and I think 9 or 10 years I set records which I still hold I had a ton of
which I still hold I had a ton of
which I still hold I had a ton of friends and I partied I also had the
friends and I partied I also had the
friends and I partied I also had the brilliant idea that I would just stop
brilliant idea that I would just stop
brilliant idea that I would just stop going to class altogether
going to class altogether
going to class altogether I thought you can laugh I can laugh now
I thought you can laugh I can laugh now
I thought you can laugh I can laugh now too I thought that because they were
too I thought that because they were
too I thought that because they were lecture hall classes of 75 to 100 kids
lecture hall classes of 75 to 100 kids
lecture hall classes of 75 to 100 kids or more and as long as I passed in the
or more and as long as I passed in the
or more and as long as I passed in the work and showed up for the final exams
work and showed up for the final exams
work and showed up for the final exams or the mid semesters exams that I could
or the mid semesters exams that I could
or the mid semesters exams that I could pass with acceptable grades and that was
pass with acceptable grades and that was
pass with acceptable grades and that was until June 15th after my freshman year
until June 15th after my freshman year
until June 15th after my freshman year when I received a letter from Wheaton
when I received a letter from Wheaton
when I received a letter from Wheaton College telling me that I wasn’t allowed
College telling me that I wasn’t allowed
College telling me that I wasn’t allowed to go back to school my second
to go back to school my second
to go back to school my second semester grades had brought my overall
semester grades had brought my overall
semester grades had brought my overall GPA down so low that I had lost the
GPA down so low that I had lost the
GPA down so low that I had lost the chance of even returning to school and
chance of even returning to school and
chance of even returning to school and being placed on academic probation I had
being placed on academic probation I had
being placed on academic probation I had completely blown it of course you’re
completely blown it of course you’re
completely blown it of course you’re going to get straight DS or FS if you
going to get straight DS or FS if you
going to get straight DS or FS if you don’t show up to class and 50% of your
don’t show up to class and 50% of your
don’t show up to class and 50% of your grade is attendance I mean what was I
grade is attendance I mean what was I
grade is attendance I mean what was I thinking my parents had just dished out
thinking my parents had just dished out
thinking my parents had just dished out $42,000 and I went and flushed it right
$42,000 and I went and flushed it right
$42,000 and I went and flushed it right down the proverbial toilet I then had to
down the proverbial toilet I then had to
down the proverbial toilet I then had to explain to my family and my friends and
explain to my family and my friends and
explain to my family and my friends and most importantly my coach who was really
most importantly my coach who was really
most importantly my coach who was really counting on me to come back why I wasn’t
counting on me to come back why I wasn’t
counting on me to come back why I wasn’t going back to school I spent an entire
going back to school I spent an entire
going back to school I spent an entire summer around my friends silently
summer around my friends silently
summer around my friends silently humiliated by the fact that I had been
humiliated by the fact that I had been
humiliated by the fact that I had been kicked out so I tried writing a letter
kicked out so I tried writing a letter
kicked out so I tried writing a letter asking them to appeal their decision
asking them to appeal their decision
asking them to appeal their decision pleading with them that over the course
pleading with them that over the course
pleading with them that over the course of the last 30 days that I had changed
of the last 30 days that I had changed
of the last 30 days that I had changed but they didn’t want to hear it and I
but they didn’t want to hear it and I
but they didn’t want to hear it and I had no one to blame but myself
had no one to blame but myself
had no one to blame but myself so I packed up all my things and moved
so I packed up all my things and moved
so I packed up all my things and moved down to Charleston South Carolina
down to Charleston South Carolina
down to Charleston South Carolina I followed a boy down there another
I followed a boy down there another
I followed a boy down there another brilliant idea
brilliant idea
brilliant idea and so I enrolled in a couple of
and so I enrolled in a couple of
and so I enrolled in a couple of community a couple of classes down at a
community a couple of classes down at a
community a couple of classes down at a small Community College downtown and
small Community College downtown and
small Community College downtown and when that random brief southern stint
when that random brief southern stint
when that random brief southern stint ran its course I moved back to Portland
ran its course I moved back to Portland
ran its course I moved back to Portland and began waitressing after my appeal to
and began waitressing after my appeal to
and began waitressing after my appeal to Wheaton to return a semester early was
Wheaton to return a semester early was
Wheaton to return a semester early was again rejected so I went back to Wheaton
again rejected so I went back to Wheaton
again rejected so I went back to Wheaton that next fall and I returned as a
that next fall and I returned as a
that next fall and I returned as a sophomore when all of my friends were
sophomore when all of my friends were
sophomore when all of my friends were returning as juniors and it was about
returning as juniors and it was about
returning as juniors and it was about another year and a half of kind of going
another year and a half of kind of going
another year and a half of kind of going through the motions until I realized
through the motions until I realized
through the motions until I realized that I just didn’t want to do it anymore
that I just didn’t want to do it anymore
that I just didn’t want to do it anymore I didn’t want to study eighteenth
I didn’t want to study eighteenth
I didn’t want to study eighteenth century literature or anthropology 101 I
century literature or anthropology 101 I
century literature or anthropology 101 I had somehow over the course of time
had somehow over the course of time
had somehow over the course of time completely lost sight of the one thing
completely lost sight of the one thing
completely lost sight of the one thing that had been consistent in my life and
that had been consistent in my life and
that had been consistent in my life and the one thing that haunted me and never
the one thing that haunted me and never
the one thing that haunted me and never left and that was music so I came back
left and that was music so I came back
left and that was music so I came back to Portland again and I helped start an
to Portland again and I helped start an
to Portland again and I helped start an Americana folk troupe that garnered
Americana folk troupe that garnered
Americana folk troupe that garnered regional success pretty quickly
regional success pretty quickly
regional success pretty quickly I’d go to the grocery store and run into
I’d go to the grocery store and run into
I’d go to the grocery store and run into former teachers or parents of my friends
former teachers or parents of my friends
former teachers or parents of my friends and they’d stop in an aisle and look at
and they’d stop in an aisle and look at
and they’d stop in an aisle and look at me and go so are you still doing music
me and go so are you still doing music
me and go so are you still doing music and that in some way was the most
and that in some way was the most
and that in some way was the most offensive question to me it was as
offensive question to me it was as
offensive question to me it was as though these people thought it was cute
though these people thought it was cute
though these people thought it was cute that I was in a band and it affected my
that I was in a band and it affected my
that I was in a band and it affected my confidence and it became increasingly
confidence and it became increasingly
confidence and it became increasingly difficult comparing myself to my friends
difficult comparing myself to my friends
difficult comparing myself to my friends who were going on to graduate college
who were going on to graduate college
who were going on to graduate college with degrees and moving on to
with degrees and moving on to
with degrees and moving on to high-paying jobs on Wall Street or
high-paying jobs on Wall Street or
high-paying jobs on Wall Street or medical school or starting their own
medical school or starting their own
medical school or starting their own sustainable seafood and lobster roll
sustainable seafood and lobster roll
sustainable seafood and lobster roll franchises I just didn’t even know what
franchises I just didn’t even know what
franchises I just didn’t even know what to do at that point so I guess what I
to do at that point so I guess what I
to do at that point so I guess what I was feeling when I was running into
was feeling when I was running into
was feeling when I was running into these people was that while they didn’t
these people was that while they didn’t
these people was that while they didn’t know what I was doing what I actually
know what I was doing what I actually
know what I was doing what I actually was doing is that my second record was
was doing is that my second record was
was doing is that my second record was charting on iTunes
charting on iTunes
charting on iTunes it was charting on the Billboard
it was charting on the Billboard
it was charting on the Billboard Heatseekers top 100 chart in the
Heatseekers top 100 chart in the
Heatseekers top 100 chart in the Northeast it was in regular rotation on
Northeast it was in regular rotation on
Northeast it was in regular rotation on a major triple-a radio station and that
a major triple-a radio station and that
a major triple-a radio station and that my
my
my third gig ever ever was on the Maine
third gig ever ever was on the Maine
third gig ever ever was on the Maine State pier opening for John Fogerty of
State pier opening for John Fogerty of
State pier opening for John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival and I’m
Creedence Clearwater Revival and I’m
Creedence Clearwater Revival and I’m sure most of you in here far too young
sure most of you in here far too young
sure most of you in here far too young to know who he is and being 21 years old
to know who he is and being 21 years old
to know who he is and being 21 years old at the time I didn’t have a serious idea
at the time I didn’t have a serious idea
at the time I didn’t have a serious idea either but I didn’t care because I’ll
either but I didn’t care because I’ll
either but I didn’t care because I’ll never forget walking up and seeing the
never forget walking up and seeing the
never forget walking up and seeing the size of that stage the air and the way
size of that stage the air and the way
size of that stage the air and the way that it smelled the heat of the lights I
that it smelled the heat of the lights I
that it smelled the heat of the lights I think at one point I actually stopped
think at one point I actually stopped
think at one point I actually stopped dead in my tracks and I said you cannot
dead in my tracks and I said you cannot
dead in my tracks and I said you cannot do this I had just gone from my first
do this I had just gone from my first
do this I had just gone from my first sold-out show in a small club in
sold-out show in a small club in
sold-out show in a small club in Portland that held 302 performing my
Portland that held 302 performing my
Portland that held 302 performing my very next show in front of 5,000 people
very next show in front of 5,000 people
very next show in front of 5,000 people we went on to open for a couple other
we went on to open for a couple other
we went on to open for a couple other national acts like Ray LaMontagne
national acts like Ray LaMontagne
national acts like Ray LaMontagne and Guster that year we had tons of
and Guster that year we had tons of
and Guster that year we had tons of sold-out shows at clubs in Portland a
sold-out shows at clubs in Portland a
sold-out shows at clubs in Portland a couple of sold-out showcases down at
couple of sold-out showcases down at
couple of sold-out showcases down at Austin Texas is South by Southwest
Austin Texas is South by Southwest
Austin Texas is South by Southwest festival I had recently been engaged
festival I had recently been engaged
festival I had recently been engaged I just turned 24 and everything felt
I just turned 24 and everything felt
I just turned 24 and everything felt like it was in place and then a month
like it was in place and then a month
like it was in place and then a month later I found out I was pregnant none of
later I found out I was pregnant none of
later I found out I was pregnant none of my friends had kids so naturally I was
my friends had kids so naturally I was
my friends had kids so naturally I was terrified not to mention completely
terrified not to mention completely
terrified not to mention completely socially isolated the band had plans to
socially isolated the band had plans to
socially isolated the band had plans to tour plans that had originally involved
tour plans that had originally involved
tour plans that had originally involved me and a few of them became really
me and a few of them became really
me and a few of them became really frustrated by the wrench.now thrown in
frustrated by the wrench.now thrown in
frustrated by the wrench.now thrown in the works because how could she do this
the works because how could she do this
the works because how could she do this pregnant so I was fired I was replaced
pregnant so I was fired I was replaced
pregnant so I was fired I was replaced by a younger talented and attractive
by a younger talented and attractive
by a younger talented and attractive singer and what seemed like seconds my
singer and what seemed like seconds my
singer and what seemed like seconds my entire world came crashing down because
entire world came crashing down because
entire world came crashing down because I was losing so much of what had become
I was losing so much of what had become
I was losing so much of what had become my identity so much of what had become
my identity so much of what had become
my identity so much of what had become my answer to those questions in the
my answer to those questions in the
my answer to those questions in the grocery store and as two hearts beat
grocery store and as two hearts beat
grocery store and as two hearts beat inside my body for the very first time I
inside my body for the very first time I
inside my body for the very first time I somehow had never felt more alone so I
somehow had never felt more alone so I
somehow had never felt more alone so I decided I had two options number one I
decided I had two options number one I
decided I had two options number one I could surrender entirely to motherhood
could surrender entirely to motherhood
could surrender entirely to motherhood and forego my dreams
and forego my dreams
and forego my dreams number two I could as my dad would say
number two I could as my dad would say
number two I could as my dad would say Oh
Oh
Oh splash a little cold water on your face
splash a little cold water on your face
splash a little cold water on your face and take a deep breath and move on or I
and take a deep breath and move on or I
and take a deep breath and move on or I could do both
could do both
could do both I was now living for something far
I was now living for something far
I was now living for something far greater than just myself so I decided I
greater than just myself so I decided I
greater than just myself so I decided I would face my new job as a mother and I
would face my new job as a mother and I
would face my new job as a mother and I would do it alongside a career and a
would do it alongside a career and a
would do it alongside a career and a passion that could only be further
passion that could only be further
passion that could only be further inspired by becoming a mother and I
inspired by becoming a mother and I
inspired by becoming a mother and I spent the next two years working really
spent the next two years working really
spent the next two years working really hard on my debut solo album that I
hard on my debut solo album that I
hard on my debut solo album that I released in 2013 called head full of
released in 2013 called head full of
released in 2013 called head full of bells I worked with amazing writers and
bells I worked with amazing writers and
bells I worked with amazing writers and producers and it was a record I was
producers and it was a record I was
producers and it was a record I was really proud of because for the first
really proud of because for the first
really proud of because for the first time in my life I felt truly comfortable
time in my life I felt truly comfortable
time in my life I felt truly comfortable being vulnerable as an artist and that
being vulnerable as an artist and that
being vulnerable as an artist and that was largely due to the fact that my
was largely due to the fact that my
was largely due to the fact that my whole perspective on life had completely
whole perspective on life had completely
whole perspective on life had completely shifted because of my child then I
shifted because of my child then I
shifted because of my child then I started working with Dave cutter who’s
started working with Dave cutter who’s
started working with Dave cutter who’s here with me today dave is best known
here with me today dave is best known
here with me today dave is best known for being the frontman of the Portland
for being the frontman of the Portland
for being the frontman of the Portland Maine band rustic overtones and he’s
Maine band rustic overtones and he’s
Maine band rustic overtones and he’s collaborated with David Bowie and Aaron
collaborated with David Bowie and Aaron
collaborated with David Bowie and Aaron Neville and so many more
Neville and so many more
Neville and so many more this is a writer producer musician and
this is a writer producer musician and
this is a writer producer musician and most importantly my friend who hired me
most importantly my friend who hired me
most importantly my friend who hired me not fired me when I was pregnant with my
not fired me when I was pregnant with my
not fired me when I was pregnant with my second daughter June we went into the
second daughter June we went into the
second daughter June we went into the studio I think just about six weeks
studio I think just about six weeks
studio I think just about six weeks after I had my second daughter and
after I had my second daughter and
after I had my second daughter and created what became the band that I’m
created what became the band that I’m
created what became the band that I’m currently touring with which is called
currently touring with which is called
currently touring with which is called Army’s our record came out I want to say
Army’s our record came out I want to say
Army’s our record came out I want to say five days shy of opening for Greg Allman
five days shy of opening for Greg Allman
five days shy of opening for Greg Allman of the Allman Brothers and it hadn’t
of the Allman Brothers and it hadn’t
of the Allman Brothers and it hadn’t even been on the shelves for four months
even been on the shelves for four months
even been on the shelves for four months before Rolling Stone hailed it as number
before Rolling Stone hailed it as number
before Rolling Stone hailed it as number one of top 15 great albums you didn’t
one of top 15 great albums you didn’t
one of top 15 great albums you didn’t hear in 2015 we are writing playing
hear in 2015 we are writing playing
hear in 2015 we are writing playing touring and recording constantly and it
touring and recording constantly and it
touring and recording constantly and it never stops so now when I’m at the
never stops so now when I’m at the
never stops so now when I’m at the grocery store and people come up to me
grocery store and people come up to me
grocery store and people come up to me they ask me how I do it my family and my
they ask me how I do it my family and my
they ask me how I do it my family and my husband have and continue to sacrifice
husband have and continue to sacrifice
husband have and continue to sacrifice so much seven years of waitressing five
so much seven years of waitressing five
so much seven years of waitressing five to six nights a week rarely being at
to six nights a week rarely being at
to six nights a week rarely being at home at night for dinner never being
home at night for dinner never being
home at night for dinner never being able to call in sick to my job as a mom
able to call in sick to my job as a mom
able to call in sick to my job as a mom when I’m walking around like this I
when I’m walking around like this I
when I’m walking around like this I found myself in mom B’s status you know
found myself in mom B’s status you know
found myself in mom B’s status you know I’ve arrived home in the wee hours in
I’ve arrived home in the wee hours in
I’ve arrived home in the wee hours in the morning from the studio or driven
the morning from the studio or driven
the morning from the studio or driven through the night from an out of state
through the night from an out of state
through the night from an out of state show only to catch maybe 45 minutes of
show only to catch maybe 45 minutes of
show only to catch maybe 45 minutes of sleep before my day with my kids begins
sleep before my day with my kids begins
sleep before my day with my kids begins although in my line of work I don’t have
although in my line of work I don’t have
although in my line of work I don’t have the luxury of going to bed at 8 o’clock
the luxury of going to bed at 8 o’clock
the luxury of going to bed at 8 o’clock at night it takes place at odd hours for
at night it takes place at odd hours for
at night it takes place at odd hours for somebody who has young children but it’s
somebody who has young children but it’s
somebody who has young children but it’s no different than any other working or
no different than any other working or
no different than any other working or stay-at-home mom I am on call 24 hours a
stay-at-home mom I am on call 24 hours a
stay-at-home mom I am on call 24 hours a day seven days a week 52 weeks a year
day seven days a week 52 weeks a year
day seven days a week 52 weeks a year and there’s no downtime my path the path
and there’s no downtime my path the path
and there’s no downtime my path the path that I chose everything that’s led up to
that I chose everything that’s led up to
that I chose everything that’s led up to it
it
it has been all but conventional it is not
has been all but conventional it is not
has been all but conventional it is not conducive to positive mental health in
conducive to positive mental health in
conducive to positive mental health in fact I would go so far as saying that I
fact I would go so far as saying that I
fact I would go so far as saying that I am certifiably insane okay it is
am certifiably insane okay it is
am certifiably insane okay it is grueling at times unrewarding and it has
grueling at times unrewarding and it has
grueling at times unrewarding and it has often served as a breeding ground for my
often served as a breeding ground for my
often served as a breeding ground for my own depression and self-doubt but my
own depression and self-doubt but my
own depression and self-doubt but my greatest hope is and my greatest success
greatest hope is and my greatest success
greatest hope is and my greatest success will be measured by the day that I can
will be measured by the day that I can
will be measured by the day that I can look back and say that my children’s
look back and say that my children’s
look back and say that my children’s lives were enriched by the Arts and by
lives were enriched by the Arts and by
lives were enriched by the Arts and by the opportunity to watch their mother do
the opportunity to watch their mother do
the opportunity to watch their mother do what she really loves to do so if
what she really loves to do so if
what she really loves to do so if there’s anything that I wish that
there’s anything that I wish that
there’s anything that I wish that somebody had held my shoulders when I
somebody had held my shoulders when I
somebody had held my shoulders when I was your age and shared with me it is to
was your age and shared with me it is to
was your age and shared with me it is to take your time
take your time
take your time really stop and think about the
really stop and think about the
really stop and think about the opportunities and the life that your
opportunities and the life that your
opportunities and the life that your parents and family have worked so hard
parents and family have worked so hard
parents and family have worked so hard to give you if you dream about something
to give you if you dream about something
to give you if you dream about something and you just can’t let it go go after it
and you just can’t let it go go after it
and you just can’t let it go go after it with vigor be completely unafraid
with vigor be completely unafraid
with vigor be completely unafraid the only person who can hold you back is
the only person who can hold you back is
the only person who can hold you back is the person you see when you look in the
the person you see when you look in the
the person you see when you look in the mirror and I guess if you feel lost or
mirror and I guess if you feel lost or
mirror and I guess if you feel lost or you need directions
you need directions
you need directions you’ve got to just be okay with asking
you’ve got to just be okay with asking
you’ve got to just be okay with asking for help but enjoy the journey so often
for help but enjoy the journey so often
for help but enjoy the journey so often we are too focused on the end result and
we are too focused on the end result and
we are too focused on the end result and the destination that we completely lose
the destination that we completely lose
the destination that we completely lose sight of taking the space and the time
sight of taking the space and the time
sight of taking the space and the time to fully digest and appreciate the
to fully digest and appreciate the
to fully digest and appreciate the experiences experiences that help shape
experiences experiences that help shape
experiences experiences that help shape us in to the people we hope to become or
us in to the people we hope to become or
us in to the people we hope to become or the legacy that we hope to leave behind
the legacy that we hope to leave behind
the legacy that we hope to leave behind yes you will have dark times you will
yes you will have dark times you will
yes you will have dark times you will endure loss and heartbreak as I’m sure
endure loss and heartbreak as I’m sure
endure loss and heartbreak as I’m sure many of you already have and you will
many of you already have and you will
many of you already have and you will make mistakes
make mistakes
make mistakes but you’ve got to just be okay with
but you’ve got to just be okay with
but you’ve got to just be okay with going ahead and making them because they
going ahead and making them because they
going ahead and making them because they are never mistakes as long as you can
are never mistakes as long as you can
are never mistakes as long as you can take something away from them and turn
take something away from them and turn
take something away from them and turn it into something greater or something
it into something greater or something
it into something greater or something more beautiful but just don’t give up
more beautiful but just don’t give up
more beautiful but just don’t give up after all you are here you are breathing
after all you are here you are breathing
after all you are here you are breathing you’re alive and what’s greater than
you’re alive and what’s greater than
you’re alive and what’s greater than that thank you so much
”
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