Tamara Schilling

My son, Parker is 9 years-old, (he has his own Video blog at http://Parkerisms.com), and the truth is, he knows more about what makes a GREAT speaker than most adults I’ve seen “speaking” from the platform.

Years ago I gave my own voice away to the Sea Witch in an attempt to “fit in.” (Yes, a Walt Disney movie reference from The Little Mermaid)

Like the mermaid, Ariel, I thought that life on land with Prince Eric would be worth the price of losing myself. That if I just swallowed my own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs….be a very very “good” little girl, behave and keep very very quiet… surely I would find happiness.

Instead, I was smothering my soul. All I found was a dullness.. a falseness that was covering up my light and dampening my spirit.

I had become a hollow chocolate bunny in an eternally empty Easter basket.

Not real. Not satisfying. Easily broken and cheap.

Craving something richer and deeper out of this experience called “My Life,” I stole back my voice from the old Hag… traded in my false “legs,” setting free my mermaid tail. Plop! For everyone to see.

Ooooh the courage to allow others to see… me.

Me. The imperfect one, the one that doesn’t always have it together.

Spinach stuck on a shiny white tooth while closing the biggest business deal of the century.

A full-out poppy seed smile at the H-O-T guy in the bagel shop who just complimented me on my New Religion jeans.

Tripping in my leopard stilettos while trying to feel into my sexy…

Spinach, poppy seeds & leopard stilettos (because I LOVE them!) … a real version of me. NOT the version I want you to see in order to manipulate you into giving me your love and approval.

For me, stepping into my own power as a woman (or mermaid) means opening my mouth to allow this inner calling… my voice… to spill out, regardless of the cost.

…even if it means I never get Eric the prince. Even if it means I get banned from the castle… or forfeit the life that everyone else here seems to want on land.

You see, I realize I prefer the sea. I always have. And I love it’s watery depths, changing tides, enchanted echos and endless adventure.

It’s so much easier to be honest! It’s a lot of work making people love, honor and adore you! (nudge, nudge, wink, wink… know whatta mean?)

I’m so free when I’m honest. Free to “be” without agenda or manipulation. Free to speak without fear of retribution. Free to love everyone (including me), in the most unconditional way. Free to laugh, play, swim, dance and be silly just for the fun of it. Free to be feminine and SEXY because I love being a girl, woman, lady… mermaid. (And I’ve learned tripping in heels can still be sexy… if you play it off right.)

Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty we’re free at last.

Me? I’m free to celebrate the tail I was born with… the one that was given to me.

I don’t have to compare my tail to all the other legs in the world anymore.

So what does this have to do with being a GREAT speaker? Being real, being vulnerable up there on the platform and being courageous enough to show an audience who you really are without worrying about whether you look foolish is what GREAT speakers do. (Go ahead! Be foolish! It really feels good.)

It’s showing everybody your tail when they had expected legs. Stuff like that.

GREAT speakers take the risk of showing themselves in front of the multitude.

Me? Ask anyone who’s been in my audience. I’m just me. Out loud for everyone to see. I never quite know exactly what I’m going to do on the platform… it usually hits me just before my feet reach the steps of the stage, but it always comes pouring out of me… unfiltered for whomever is there and thirsty for what flows naturally.

I’m more committed to my own voice these days and the real message is coming out of it’s pretty little container more often. Muscles become stronger with exercise. And honestly, I’m still finding muscles I never knew I had before, so I’m in a process of becoming and building… just like everybody else.

Flex your honesty muscles on stage and take risks to be open and transparent for your audience. Serving others and reaching them at the level of their soul takes you being vulnerable to see and touch your own soul.

Soul-to-soul. This is the stuff of GREAT speakers. Think of those that have gone before us and moved history with the power of their voices? Did they “behave?” Win popularity contests? Did they play it safe? (I Love you, Dr. King!)

Please don’t be fearful or afraid to speak up just because historically speaking, people on land usually murder, crucify, and kill any voice too powerful that speaks forth the highest truth. (I didn’t make this up…. )

It’s no wonder we’re all terrified on some level…. just sayin.

Silent for what price? I think we learn from history (hopefully), and that we’re waking up and evolving as a global community.