Just Talking 'Bout My Body

         I think there was one thing in particular I learned from both the readings and the TED talks we watched in and out of class that I wanted to apply in my fireside chat. It felt like there was a careful balance between structure and improve. Too much structure and your ideas seem too insincere. Too little structure and your thoughts turn incoherent and you start to babble. I think it is really important to allow room for yourself to express ideas in the moment. For a lot of the TED talks I’ve seen, it seems like the better ones will give time for themselves room for inspiration, which gives their ideas seem more genuine, like they actually want to help.

            One of my favorite comedians is Demetri Martin. I think I like him so much because he taught me two things. One, he is really good at self expression. I’ve never seen a comedian so dedicated to the person he really is. I feel like so much of the time we see comedians who take up a character or make themselves up to be crazy to get more laughs. Demetri Martin tells some hilarious jokes that also just exonerate his personality. Two, Demetri is really good at not creating enemies or making people the butt of a joke. He just says and does things that are funny. I really wanted to apply both of these things into my fireside chat. I wanted to talk about something serious that also incorporated the type of person I am. I talked about my body image and anxiety issues, but I threw in some jokes and I really hope people could see who I was through both my subject matter, and the way I presented it. I also didn’t want to talk about something that would demonize others for doing something wrong, so I tried to make it about my personal issues and ideas on self expression.

            My statement was supposed to be that I am ok with the person I am, and you can be too. I tried to relate my personal journey to becoming a more stable person. I wanted others to know my path, so they could make their own if need be. My path, I feel, was through self expression, and even doing the fireside chat, though it was nerve racking, was really good for me. Every time I take myself out of my comfort zone, I come a little closer to loving myself. That was the point of my discussion, and I know that it helped me.