When I flick back through my blog entries, I cannot believe I have been to so many places and seen so many things...It is almost like it has happened to someone else. When I was planning this adventure, I never really thought about the end and what it would be like to come home, but I can assure you all that I am 100% ready to return to England and am looking forward to starting the next stage of my life.
I have loved travelling: seeing all the sights and meeting so many new friends was a wonderful experience, but I doubt I would go away for so long again. I think you can get jaded if you see so much in such a short time and therefore my maximum trip for the future would probably be one month, to ensure that I fully appreciate everything I am seeing. I prefer to have the energy to see everything through fresh eyes!
When I think back to this time last year, I remember sitting at home talking to Nan about how I had just had enough of stammering and I didn't know what to do about it. I could barely say anything and was even more constrained by some letters or sounds being completely unavailable to me (like the letter J, which was immensely inconvenient as I worked with Judy, Jenna, John, Julia and Julian... you couldn't make this stuff up!). I felt like I was completely abnormal and hated myself for stammering so badly and not being able to do something so simple that even a child could do. I felt like stammering affected the way people responded to and treated me. Stammering is humiliating and debilitating and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
Now, fast forward one year and I have travelled alone to over 20 countries, introduced myself to hundreds of new people, participated in numerous public speeches at Toastmasters in 5 different countries (including inadvertently leading a Table Topics session), taught children in Laos to pronounce English words as they are meant to be said, and been filmed in an interview with Indonesian students whilst in Malaysia. Not bad for someone who studiously avoided saying anything to anyone new, and who hated meetings at work because I couldn't introduce myself.
Having said this, the challenge is far from over and I still have a long way to go. When you see me, please do not expect me to be a fluent speaker because I'm not, and I never will be. But I am doing my best to be eloquent and I would be grateful if you could continue to support me, as you all kindly did before I left to go travelling. I might be 'back in my comfort zone' at home but there will still be challenges and to be honest, there needs to be challenges because I want to keep moving forward in my recovery.
My goals for 2011 are as follows:
* Pass the McGuire coaching exam so I can help other people like me- by November 2011
* Start attending London support group (because I've never actually been...!)- by January 2011
* Make Jack and Katie proud by reading at their wedding- September 2011
* Start learning German again- by March 2011
* Run a half marathon- by October 2011 (I have to train first!)
I am setting my goals publicly to ensure my behaviour follows my intentions. When you see me, please ask me how I am getting on with them.
This was the story of Reedy's Roams 2010. Thank you for sharing my adventure with me; it has been an honour writing this for your reading pleasure!
Bye for now.
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