...Maybe I'm not in a blogging slump. Maybe I just had to try to prepare to be the guest speaker at a stake girl's camp and maybe Chareyl told me that this would probably be the only spiritual experience that a lot of these girls would have all year. So maybe I felt some kind of pressure to make sure that I did a good job so I had to put all of my creative energies into that. And maybe it even included me dressing all fancy-schmantzy in a new dress and a new wig and all kinds of fancy jewelry from Patti and then maybe I took it all off right during my talk to show the girls that I am still the same person as I was a few moments earlier and maybe I tried to make them get it that we are actually beings that have existed for thousands of years and we shouldn't care so much about the appearance of these bodies that we've only had for a decade (or few). And then maybe Amy's stake decided that I had to speak at their girl's camp, too, on the day before my birthday. Maybe some people are trying to ruin my summer by saying that they felt inspired to have me speak to their youth. Maybe that is why I couldn't blog this week. Whew.
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23 comments:
You're THAT good! I don't blame anyone one little bit for asking you to speak...I know I love listening to you. I'm sure the girls did too.
thanks, nanss (that is how i decided to pronouse it for you, nspency). you are always so nice and attentive during my lessons that it helps give me confidence. THANK YOU.
Oh, and I must introduce you to the other Nancy that I love. I love THREE Nancy's. One is Nancy Porter who used to be so nice to me when I was little. She had an actual t-shirt that was a bubble gum machine and you could get gumballs out of it. how cool (and creepy) is that? One is my sister Nancy (you will see her comments on here) and the other is YOU, Nancy Spencer! You are all three blonde and beautiful and I don't know what happened to Nancy Porter very much, so it is now just you two. whoa. i'm tired.
Dang! You go girl! Of course people want you to speak to large congregations of youth...YOU are a spiritual giant! I think you're awesome!
Thanks for your nice comment on my post. Sweets and I always feel like we are the yin and the yang in each other's lives. I am so glad I have found that boy. I am also so happy that you found your little Chanchito. He's nice.
they sound like very lucky youth to get to listen to wise words from you!
And don't you think for a second that I have not considered flying you out here on my dime to talk to my little youthies about everything you said ...so there, I'm feeling rather inspired as well!!!
You have so much inside you that others need!!!! I speak from experience - the me needing you!
Way to go, Idaho!
YES!! I feel so suyper cool to get an entire post dedicated to answering MY question about why you are too cool to blog (though now it is abvious why you are to cool). It is almost as good as when I asked P what webkinz are and got an entire post on that!
Really though, that is so amazing! I wish so badly that I could have been there or could be there when you speak at Amy's camp. I think that is the most amazing idea to have gotten yourself all decked out and then taken it off. What an awesome way to drive the point home to those girls. I bet there wasn't a dry eye there when you took your wig off and they saw that yes, you were the same person. I am even starting to cry. I taught my last lesson to my YW a week or so ago and tried to get that very point across that you have recently helped me understand -- that we are so much more than the little us here and now with our little weaknesses, we re these amazing eternal beings . . . but I don't think they got it. If you were there I would have made you speak to. You better be careful because if anyone else hears about you they will be begging you to come speak (and they should be), but maybe they should have to start paying you big bucks. Although that might take something away from the point of your message . . . still, a girls gotta live, right?
Love you, and hello to new Nancy (it is like that sitcom with new and old Christine, why must I be "old" Nancy?!)
Perla - I'm Tia Juana's cousin Wende - just had to tell you that I love your blog! I know that you did a great job as a speaker!
That is a powerful tool! WOW I bet you knocked them to the floor with your talk
AWESOME
I wish I was there.
COOL
What does NANK mean?
Sometimes Nank is my nickname and I don't know why . . . but I asked Miss Perla why she hadn't blogged all week and so this was her inspiring reply.
You would be an amazing speaker. Those girls were probably so amazed by you and the strengths that you possess. That subject is just the kind of thing our youth need to hear. They have so much to compete with and so many bad influences its good for them to keep things in perspective.
thank you for all of the nice comments. i'm a little embarrassed because i didn't write it to mean that i am such a great speaker! in fact, jason was kind of defensive about it because he felt that it was kind of a backhanded compliment, like they were saying, "you don't look good and you are still strong, so can you tell our young women how to do that, too?" he, of course said, "i don't think that about you" but just was feeling maybe a bit defensive. i did kind of joke (maybe this is really mean) that i am the new burn victim speaker--you know that lady that is asked to constantly speak that was burned in a horrible auto accident?
but i don't really care. i know that my baldness is the main reason they want me to talk but that's okay because i prayed and prayed that my weakness (my self-loathing) could become a strength and now it finally has and if i can help anybody understand their intrinsic value any better by what i've been through then it certainly makes it much more worth it and gives meaning. trials and suffering where you can't find meaning or so so so difficult. it is a huge blessing to see that some of the things i've gone through can help others.
Shan, I can see Jas thinking that way in a lovingly defensive husbandly way, but I think you are seeing it a little wrong. I think that people see here is someone GORGEOUS with a physical thing that would freak most girls out so they see you as someone girls will relate to and want to be like because you are so beautiful but somehow can still connect with girls who may have a physical flaw and so you can help the beautiful ones to realize that that isn't all that they must focus on at the same time helping those who don't feel so beautiful think that they are more than that and can feel beautiful. Blah blah blah I'm rambling, but you mustnt belittle your outer BEUTY just because you have inspiring INNER beauty too. It just makes you lucky!
Sound like maybe you should stop being so good at it. Now that I know I might just have to give your name to my Young Women leaders!
If you don't want to speak at girls camp. Stop being a good person. It's easy, I did it long ago.
ok thank you for your comments I just wanted you to know that i am really glad you have been able to overcome the self loathing thing. Tell Chanch to stop being cynacle cynicle how do you spell that. I can see where you might feel that its trite to speak since your struggle is "obvious" but young women
1. need something obvious
2. care about what their friggin hair looks like all the time
3. Are so super sensitive to visual cues in themselves and others
4. this is completely hypersensitized more by our modern media.
I love that you could bring home that powerful point to me and to young women. You are an inspiration not a burn victim or someone that they can just pull out of their speaker list. I think it was important for you and them.
Anyway I wanted to tell you this
I saw this guy with Elephant Mans disease a few years ago. he had a night job and so I wondered does he go out in the day.
Then I saw him at Walmart with a wife and 2 kids and they were loving up all his saggy skin and wrinkles and grotesque face I saw that because you couldn't see his eyes just to make a point but his kids were kissing his creases and flesh. My son backed away from him when he saw him and made a little noise that indicated he was frightened. I felt so bad for the man, I am sure he was used to it but his wife seemed angry and annoyed. I guess sometimes these things play out making the one who has the malady have compassion for others who don't understand what they have had to go through. I may be wrong but it made me wonder. I noticed that in 2 years his face had gotten a lot worse. It was just hard to see and hard to wonder about because he must have so many conflicting emotions etc....
answer back to my ramble thanks
First though WHAT does NANK mean??
Seriously, all humility aside. Admit it you have a lot to draw from personally. You're the perfect inspirational, motivational speaker. It's always easier to see it in other people rather than yourself, but you've got it babe! Oh my heck, I loved what you said about the bubble gum shirt. My friend Dana had one of those when we were little and I literally thought it was the COOLEST thing ever. I love that you saw one of those shirts too, most people don't believe me when I tell them about the bubble gum shirt!!
Holy crap! I hate to say it but now I want you to come up and speak Aug. 6th at our relief society enrichment at this cabin. O man alive I really won't ask if you want to die. And hello Shan could you be any cooler? I love you! And appearantly everyone else does too. Why is this titled Nank and not Mug? O what ever. I love you so much and so proud that I have the kind of sister everyone wants to come speak to them.
That 's awesome Shannon, that you are so willing to share yourself with girls who will always remember your strength. And as always I think you are beautiful and sure you inspired them to become greater women in the future! (Sorry I have been a blog slacker and not commented lately.)
Maybe it's time for you to just see that you are so inspiring that the world needs you! What a great idea for girls camp, I loved it. Heather
Hi Perla,
I believe they asked you to speak not because you are bald, but because of how you have chosen to deal with being bald. You have chosen to take the high road and become the best you possible(inside and out). I know dealing with alopecia sometimes it's hard to concentrate on all you are blessed with when your thinking about what you look like and what others will think. What a beautiful world this would be if we could all see everyone as Heavenly Father sees us(including ourself) You are so inspiring and I'm sure those YW girls will be much better people having met you. I know I am.
Love ya,
Laurie
I would love to come and listen next time you speak!
Shan, you rule! This post made me think of how Heavenly Father sees us. He just simply won't care what we wear or whether or not we have hair or how old or young we are. Your object lesson sounds perfect. Much more powerful than "a talk" or "talking at" someone. YW (and Old Women too) sometimes need a reality check and reminders about what matters.
Now no more posts dedicated to Nank or she'll get a big head and you'll have to do a special talk just for her. :)
Whew, you ROCK! Wish I could have heard you!
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