As I gather myself together to take the second annual TEDx Cheyenne stage tonight, my body is flooded with energy.  How auspicious that I get the privilege of performing my own material on the full moon in June.

I get to tell my own story, while immortalizing my grandma.   I get to share my love and pride of her with an audience who is excited to hear the story.  I have the amazing opportunity to share some valuable insights about life, and death.  I am allowed to speak candidly about a topic many people would rather not discuss.

I feel like crying right now, because I am so overwhelmed with excitement and feeling.  I have a strong feeling, that this moment might change my life in ways, I can’t even fathom at this point in time.

The story I tell, is not solely my own.  My story is about relation, and that my dear friends is something we all seek in various ways.  My gift of using words to convey relation, is so priceless, and it’s been a while since I used my whole body to express them to an audience.

I get to stand again, on my favorite hometown stage, with my own work and I am elated.  I will be surrounded with peers that I have met over the years.  To them I will bare part of my soul.

Though my grandma will not be in attendance, I hope that she is proud of me.  I hope that I honor her through my talk, because she deserves it.  If I didn’t come back for her, I wouldn’t have this wonderful opportunity.

The thing I want most in the world, is the ability for humans to spend more time working at relating to each other.   I want us to move beyond our differences, and see where we are most alike.

For generations people kept their truths, and pains hidden.  I find that it is the time to draw back the curtains and expose those lost gems to the sunlight.  To embrace ourselves and each other, despite the cracks and shadows.  Story telling, is one of the best ways I know how to do that.

I am thankful for every lesson that brought me to today.  Thank you to all of you who listen, and participate with my growth and my life adventure.  I look forward to new experiences, and new stories to share.