Out With It and the Good Life Project

Filming the good life projectHave you ever had that dream where you walk down the road naked? Do you remember the moment you realize that everyone is staring at you in your birthday suit?

Now, imagine that it isn’t a dream. Imagine that, for a moment, the world gets to see you and all your bare humanity. How do you feel?

I feel petrified, or at least that’s how I felt as I stared at my laptop screen 5 days ago, in the wee hours of the morning. Jonathan had sent over advance access to the Good Life Project interview that would be aired in the morning, and I was watching the interview with headphones stuffed into my ears as Jeremy peacefully snored away in the other room.

In the morning, the video would be sent out to Jonathan’s tribe of avid fans and posted for the world to see on YouTube.

I had just gone very, very public with my stutter.

I had no idea how everyone would react. Would they hate it? Would my inbox be filled with vitriol? Would I be laughed at or criticized?

All the negative thoughts were chased by more hopeful ones. Would it comfort some people? Would it start to change the conversation about what is normal, about what it means to stutter? Would it inspire others to be fearless, to embrace whatever vulnerability they were dealing with?

I slept fitfully and woke up feeling hung-over, the image of my own face blocking, repeating and smiling etched into my mind’s eye.

By the time the interview was posted, I had readied myself for every bad reaction I could imagine.

And yet, in the past few days, my fears haven’t been realized. Not even close. Instead, I have been shocked by the messages I received full of nothing but support and gratitude. I have opened incredible emails and messages from strangers, from businessmen and mothers, from friends and people I barely know. I am still in awe of their kindness.

As one of them said, “I can’t imagine how hard it is to have something so personal so public. But I bet it is liberating!”

Liberating is a good word for it. Vulnerable and strong and never cowed. It was how I wanted people to see the book, the pieces that I had been struggling to express in the title.

Just before the video was posted, I heard from my editor. The publisher had given the thumbs up to our title: Out With It: How Stuttering Helped Me Find My Voice.

What do you think?

15 thoughts on “Out With It and the Good Life Project

  1. Love it! I posted a brief piece and your video on my blog and on facebook, and see that it got re-posted.
    A good friend of mine who stutters severely watched it and felt happy to see someone stutter openly and confidently.
    And the title is great!

    • Pam – Thank you so much for posting on your blog and on facebook. It is brilliant to hear that your friend felt good after watching it!

  2. Katherine,

    Despite your stutter, on video and in person you are a very articulate, eloquent speaker! I’m so proud of you and thoroughly enjoyed the interview!

    xoxo,
    Julie

    • Julie – Thanks so much. Such a lovely thing to say and I’m really glad you enjoyed the interview!

  3. I liked your video very much.I liked your attitude & confidence in talking with stutter.I am not stuttering but I am deaf (used lipreading & cc to watch your videeo) and I decided to open up about my deafness when I saw a similar video in two years ago for a deaf girl talking proudly with sign language about her life as a Deaf.I am sure your video have inspired many people to come out with their stuttering & open up.
    Do you know the quote by Marianne Williamson that says:
    “As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
    That is exactly what your video & book will do for many people.
    Thank you for your courage and hope you the best.

  4. Khaked – Thank you so much for reaching out and for watching the interview. The quote is beautiful and the thought of liberating others is incredible.

  5. Your skin looks flawless, Katherine!
    It’s so weird watching you talk about your stutter … because I always forget that you have one! You work it so well, honey – keep up the super work. You are an inspiration to many xx

    • B – your awesome and I love you for saying that. On the skin front – glad my face looks alright, I suspect I got a bit over excited by the old blusher.

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  7. Katherine, that interview was brilliant. I felt real emotion as you said what you wanted to say with a smile on your face.

    I have struggled all my life, trying to find that illusive ‘Cure’, but have always felt that it made me who I am.

    You have energised me to move forward on my plan to leave the 9 to 5 world and to succeed with my new business.

    I wish you much happiness! Thanks again.

    • Gary – so much good luck starting your own business! Thank you for reaching out and I’m thrilled that you saw the interview.

  8. The book title strikes me as near perfect – don’t know what perfect-er would read like. Your interview is brilliant and, given that it is video, it never hurts that you look great. I’m going back to watching it more but got lost in the blog. I thought the interviewer was very good as well. Here’s to everything that helps us all be inspired, open-minded, and to see the people behind the presented surface…cheers!

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