So number one, it is perfectly okay to be nervous. It is perfectly okay to be scared and uncertain and insecure. It happened a couple of times, a really cool thing. A presenter would get up on stage. And the first time it happened, this one gal, she gets on stage and she says, I just have to tell you that I’m really nervous. And everybody just starts applauding. There was this encouragement and love and support coming from everyone. Everybody’s saying, it’s okay, you’ve totally got this. And the way that we could give her a hug, the way that we could give her support was literally, let’s just applaud a little bit. And another presenter in the middle of her talk just lost track of what she was saying. All of a sudden she just went blank and she just looked around and she said, I’m sorry, I just went blank.  

Give me a second. And everyone, again, just applauded and said, it’s okay. It’s not a big deal. We’re going to support and encourage you. It relieved the stress. And it opened up the flow of her thinking again. She was able to pick up and move forward. And it was a beautiful talk. It was absolutely fantastic. And I loved it. I really loved the support that was there. Just being there. I was so nervous and yet I met other women who were just as nervous and we all connected in the naturalness of being nervous. So you translate that to life, right? It’s okay to be nervous taking on a new thing at work, meeting a new person, trying something for the first time. How do you deal with a kid’s meltdown? It’s perfectly fine to be nervous. I acknowledge it and say, Hey, having a little bit of a hard time, and guess what?  

You’ll feel better. Just admitting that you’re nervous and you’ll be able to move through whatever it is that you’re facing. It’s a beautiful, fantastic little trek. The second takeaway I had from TED is a sidekick is nice and yet it’s not necessary. And sometimes it’s actually better not to have one. Let me explain. I know I can do things alone, literally alone. In fact, I really enjoy the quiet alone opportunities. I get to do whatever I want. No one around. I’m the only opinion to take into account as to whether or not I’m tackling sheds or wants or not a damn thing at all. I get to eat what I want or not eat what I want because I just like that. I get to do my own thing. So aloneness can be absolutely fantastic and wonderful. And then there are the times that you really want a sidekick.  

You really want somebody else there, whether it’s companionship or you’re going out and meeting new people, you’re going to a conference. You’re going to a work function. You’re going to a family party and you just want that other person. It can be absolutely beneficial and helpful. And yet if I had had that sidekick at TEDWomen, I’m not sure I would have met the people that I met because me and my sidekick would have just hung out on the side and done our own little thing and talked about the things that were going on. So instead of meeting new people and talking about fantastic, wonderful world-changing ideas, I would have missed out. So I’m glad I didn’t have a sidekick. I’m glad that I was pushed out of my comfort zone. That’s pretty awesome. And yet, like I said, sometimes it’s nice to have one number. Three ideas to change the world, begin with a single personal experience, big or small, these experiences cause a spark.  

And that spark gets fanned into a flame. A passion for spreading this idea can happen in big and small ways. The important thing is spreading it, talking to people, whether it’s one-on-one businesses, small groups, and large, the more people you talk to, the more that you can share the spark.  We have these fantastic ideas and we really want to share them because we sincerely and truly believe in how it could help others. If you hide it inside, how does it grow? And how does it transform those lives, your experience, your knowledge, your gift, as a human being has the ability to spark change? And it’s all in where you go from there and what you decide to do with it. Number four, and this was more a reminder than the lesson. Even important people are still human. They still put their pants on one leg at a time is something I know.  

And yet I can forget it too. I had a total fangirl moment at dinner. I sat with a few women and one of the next day’s presenters came by to say hi, as we were gabbing and laughing, I just fell in love with her and the message that she had and who she is, what she’s about. I just was like, oh my gosh. And she expressed concern about the next day and stage fright, which literally said, oh my gosh, she’s normal too. Like, she may be this person that I am totally fangirling over and just drooling. And yet she has fears. She has uncertainties. She has an adequacy. She has challenges. And she puts on her pants, one leg at a time, just like I do. We’re all human. It doesn’t matter how big we get. We all still need that human connection, that love, and support.  

That means we’re all alike. Stay humble, be grounded, and be kind. I was really grateful for that reminder. The reminder that everyone faces challenges as they go through life, no matter where you’re at. And number five, the fifth takeaway from my TEDWomen’s experiences is that one day I want to give a TED talk, going to this conference. I watched how people connected with the audience and brought them along a journey. They inspired, they encouraged, they presented solutions. Before I went, I thought that is too lofty of a goal. Who are you to think that you could be on that stage? And now I could totally do that. I could totally be on that stage. I’m worth it. I have great ideas. I have the ability to change the world and spark that fire and that flame, my gift is something people would want to receive too.  

So I don’t have to play small and I don’t have to be scared, even though it’s okay to be scared. One day, I want to give a TED talk about five takeaways. It’s perfectly fine to be nervous in life, in whatever you’re doing. Number two, a sidekick is nice, not necessary. And sometimes it’s actually better not to have one. Number three, ideas to change the world, begin with a single personal experience that you can then share. Number four, even important famous people, put their pants on one leg at a time. We all have challenges and hurdles. We’re all human. And number five. What do you want to share with the world? If you could give a TED talk, if you had something you wanted to let people know, what would it be? Thank you for being here with me. Thank you for listening to me while I shared just some inspirations and takeaways that I received at TED talks. And I just hope you have a fantastic day. I look forward to being here again with you next time on Breath In, Breathe Out. 

I hope this moment of self-care and healing brought you some hope and peace. I’m @krystaljakosky on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube and I hope you check us out and follow along for more content coming soon. I look forward to being with you again here on Breathe In, Breathe Out. Until next time, take care.