That's the way to do it. Congratulations, Clint.

To share: as a victim of bullying and as a deeply introverted person. any group greater than 5 or 6 rendered me silent and trying to camouflage into the furniture or wallpaper. I managed or thereabouts to do presentations to my fellow classmates.

It then became no problem to speak in public, without planning what I was going to say. Why? How?

I was 25 and in a situation where a speaker to a large room of people was ranting as a homophobe about the criminality and sinfulness of sexual perverts. I was so furious that I had to speak. I can't recall exactly what I did or what I said. I was on automatic pilot, "moved by the divine spirit" or whatever. I stood and asked if I could interupt for a moment. I think that I spoke from the heart and mind for 5 or more minutes. I won over most of the audience. The guy was ushered out of the room by some of his friends.

Whenever I had to give a lecture, teach a class, speak in public, appear on television or radio I would recall that traumatic moment when my outrage and emotional pain moved me into a semi-dissociated state - when I didn't allow fear to stop me from doing what was important to me.

I am still quiet and silent most of the time but if I have something say or reason to speak in public then I simply wing it. I speak from love and the need to help, heal or benefit my audience, without a script.

If what you say is important to you or to your audience, just relax and say it. You stand where you belong. You have the right and duty to say whatever is required to support others, love others, help or heal others.