TL;DR: At twenty-one, I was walking into my first paid speaking engagement when I spotted a police officer dragging his leg across the sidewalk. I thought I’d found someone just like me. Turns out, he’d just stepped in dog poop.
I was twenty-one years old and absolutely terrified.
I was about to give my first paid speaking engagement to a group of police officers in Florida who worked in the canine unit. These were the bravest of the brave, and I couldn’t figure out why they wanted to hear from me.
Then, as I approached the building, I spotted a police officer dragging his leg across the sidewalk.
He limped just like me!
Suddenly, I felt better. Here was someone who understood what it was like to walk a little differently.
I had to introduce myself.
I called out to him and asked if he had a minute. He stopped, and I made my way over.
I introduced myself and told him that I had a stroke when I was fifteen, which left me with a limp. Then I told him that seeing someone like him doing such brave and important work had given me great courage.
He looked at me with the kindest eyes I’d ever seen.
And then he said:
“Young lady, I just stepped in dog poop. I was trying to get it off my shoe.”
There I was, twenty-one years old, about to give my first paid speech, and I’d just delivered an entire inspirational message to a man trying to clean dog poop off his shoe.
I still went inside and gave my presentation. And all these years later, that story continues to get some of the biggest laughs when I share it from the stage.
It also reminds me of something I’ve learned throughout my life: Things aren’t always what they seem. Sometimes changing your perspective changes everything. And sometimes a limp is just dog poop.
Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that life doesn’t always go according to plan. But sometimes the moments that don’t go according to plan make the very best stories.
Want More Stories Like This?
In my book, I’m Not Limping. That’s Swagger!, I share the funny, challenging, and unexpected moments that have shaped my perspective on life.
Today, as a corporate keynote speaker, I share stories like this to help audiences see challenges differently, embrace new perspectives, and find a little humor along the way.
Explore my book or learn more about my corporate keynote presentations.
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