Last night at a Moth Story Slam in SoHo, I put my name in the hat and waited.
And my name was called.
And I told my 5 minute story.
And no one died. (at the venue, at least)
I've been toying with this for more than a few years. That might surprise you if you know that I'm comfortable with public speaking, teaching, writing, singing, etc. etc. I mean, I'm the guy who has often had as my outgoing message on voice mail a recording of me singing some tune in the middle of a NY street off-key. You'd think getting up to tell a 5 min. story to a roomful of folks wouldn't frighten me. But you'd be wrong.
Truth is it scared the shyte out of me. I think I know why. Because of one of the rules of the Moth. The story must be true. And it must have happened to YOU.
For those of us who write our way into the minds of characters who are not us, standing at a microphone and speaking openly about ourselves is terrifying.
Now I could look at this from a glass half empty perspective and continue to ruminate over why the hell it took me more than a couple years to gather up the courage. But today I'm choosing the glass half full view of last night.
I did it. I enjoyed it.
And, I think I'll do it again.
And you should join me.
Come on in, the water's warm!
