I was in a yoga class with a girl I liked a lot. She had invited me, and we were friends at that point. There were about thirty people. The teacher put us in a circle and said we were going to introduce ourselves.
My heart dropped. I knew the thoughts: run, use the bathroom, make up an excuse. But I was sitting next to a girl I liked. I had already beaten a lot of my stutter, and I was still very nervous.
I raised my hand in front of the whole group and said, “I will go first.”
We also had to tell an embarrassing story about ourselves. I did it. When I told this story later, I said I killed it because I relied on spontaneous speaking.
I was still scared
That is how I wrapped up the account too: I told a killer embarrassing story, but I was still scared. The nerves were there.
I would rather volunteer and go first than sit counting how many people were left before my turn. Four more people. Twelve more. I knew that game of counting down and dreading it.
That was the choice in this class. I saw a chance to go first and took it while I was nervous. I didn't want to spend the time preparing to stutter over my own name.