11/06/2026
Every time I step onto a stage, I’m shaking in my boots.
In the moments leading up to it, I’m usually asking myself, Why on earth do I keep doing this?
But once the nerves settle, my hands stop trembling, the talk is over, and my appetite returns, I remember exactly why.
It’s for the people who come up to me afterward.
The ones who thank me for sharing and then share a piece of their own story. The ones who tell me how the message landed, the emotions it stirred, or the fears they’ve been carrying quietly on their own.
It’s that exchange of vulnerability that keeps me coming back to the stage. Those moments of connection, shared humanity, and the reminder that none of us are as alone as we sometimes feel.
I speak for the people sitting in the audience who finally feel seen—maybe for the first time. The ones who realize that someone else has walked through fear, uncertainty, grief, or hardship and found a way forward. If my story helps even one person feel a little less alone, then every shaky step to the microphone is worth it.
What a privilege it is to connect with those people.
A heartfelt thank you to the organizers of the CARST Symposium last week for trusting me with your stage and giving me the opportunity to share my story.
With gratitude,
Christine Elliott, RPC
Counsellor | Author | Speaker
