The second I hear an Expert…
I immediately start sniffing for the nearest escape hatch.
INTERNALLY: I’m in a fight or flight stance ready to launch.
EXTERNALLY: I hold a steady gaze while turning their voice and verbiage into Charlie Brown’s teacher — Wa Wa Wa Wa…
So thank you Experts for this coping pattern given to me at the tender age of 10, where I was tested and told about my gift. I was a carrier. The diagnosis of my ‘gift’ wasn’t well received and caused fear, ridicule, and confusion in my pre-Oprah 1970’s working class community.
Another event at age of 10 presented itself to me without warning; the untimely death of my mother. So, here I am trying to balance the news of my gift (that the experts forecasted) would never let me process information in a normal manner and no ‘Mama Duck’ to give me the most basic of survival and thriving skills while I navigated the pond.
As I treaded water; I would try my best to learn from the other ‘Mama Ducks’ and their families. I would approach them at times to be included, to learn, and hopefully grow and graduate myself to the big pond. However, many rejected me; one even telling me that they might catch my gift of dyslexia.
A few… an amazing, beautiful and vital few did give me a peek in… as what to do and I made it out of the little pond. So I latched on to the vital FEW.. and my journey continued. I had the good fortune to find a tutor that taught me how to tame the letters and numbers that gyrated,danced and jumped across the page every time I gazed upon it.
Those early rejections and learning to live with Dyslexia gave me wings I would not have normally sprouted and those wings lifted me up and out to the mecca pond of life where the BIG experts dwelled.
With my pencils sharpened and sitting in the front row of life the experts had one message for me and shared it with me time and time again.
They said Patricia, “You talk too much” and I felt ashamed. But I kept on talking. The Experts would put big red gooey X’s on my report card that highlighted my excessive talking. There it was! Not just in verbal form but in written form as well. Whew! Did I feel shame. But I kept on talking.
The Experts were right about one thing. They shared with me once, “Patricia you can’t sing — you don’t have a singing voice” and you know what? They were 100% right! Even Experts aren’t wrong all the time. So I guess I will just keep talking!
In my present life, I talk on television, I talk on the radio, I talk in magazine and newspapers. I speak to large audiences, business professionals, professional athletes, and everyday moms and dads. I recently just talked 65,000 words into a book that was published by St. Martins press, that just went into it’s 3rd printing in 16 weeks — another thing the Experts said was impossible.
I teach people how to build, maintain, and grow social and business relationships by being at ease in any and all situations they might find themselves in. From the big pond to the small pond our interactions either propel us ahead or hold us back. Whether you are a Rhodes scholar a Mensa member or a little duck trying to make it out of a small pond; your social skills if intact will take you to places unimagined.
Please click here to peek at what it took to write, pitch, and launch the book.
What a great post! So glad you didn’t stop talking 🙂
Thanks so very much Linda… That post has been bouncing around my heart for a week. So happy you liked it! Have an amazing ,beautiful, feisty week.
Gina Parris~ Of course they told you … you have Dyslexia……we are sisters and it runs in the family. I love you MIzz. Gina..and so very happy Twitter made us friends/sisters…..
Patricia,
This is one of the greatest post I have ever read! I just started my etiquette business a couple of years to ago and am experiencing growing pains. Pains of where to go next and what to do. You are an inspiration!
Good for you for living your passion. By the way, I was always told I “talked too much” it must be a required trait to be an etiquette consultant!
Take care and congratulations on the book
Greetings Lyla~
We must start a talkers unite club…:0)
Please keep taking one baby step at a time~continue to move forward ~little by little. The world needs and is hungry for civility, manners ,kindness, and etiquette…. You will grow..I just know it…My best,Patricia Rossi
Way to go, Patricia! This is such a heartfelt post and I’m so glad you navigated out of that little pond with its small minded experts. It makes me sad to think of the no Mama Duck part, but somehow I know that your Mom is SO proud of you. I was also told I had dyslexia, but somehow managed to graduate near the top of my class and build a really great life. You can call me up and “talk too much” any old time! I’m one of your biggest fans.
Patricia, thank you for sharing this touching post. I’m glad you didn’t take those experts at their word or else we would be missing your wonderful and caring voice.
never stop singing, patricia!! and your ‘talking’ is party of your charm. so glad you ignore the voices! congrats on all your success, you deserve it!
Elissa,
Thanks so very much.
It has been an amazing 6 months.
I appreciate all your support.
My best,
Patricia Rossi
Inspiring words from a woman who always has kind and informative words to share. The book is such a breath of fresh air, just like you!
Praise God you learned the wa wa wa. My brides love your book. 🙂
Amy,
Thanks for your wonderful comment~we should have a Wa Wa Wa club:)
So happy your brides are enjoying “Everyday Etiquette”
All good things,
Patricia Rossi
It is your goodness and daily kindness that has given you wings!
What a beautiful celebration of the amazing, beautiful, and vital people who’ve reflected back to you the pride of your mama duck — who is smiling down on you with immense love and pride that goes beyond the here and now.
Keep quacking, Girl 🙂
Dr.Mollie~ I have thanked the Twitter Gods about a Trillion times that they brought us together at that tweetup at The Capital Grille. You have put so many deposits into my heart and business excellence brief case…that you are with me in some way each and everyday… thanks for the kind comment and for being a great friend and business leader.
XoXo,
Patricia