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Do You Have Passion? Wanna talk about it?


To-day I gave a talk at the Sallis Benney Theatre.

I had to.  It was the only way to tell if I was really getting better or if I was just on a temporary, manic, phase. Quite the conundrum.

I explained in the first post of this year that I had had a rather long-drawn-out mental breakdown last year  (which was honestly earned!). It involved realising that I had to take on a whole new life. And I didn't know if I was going to be able to do that, or if it was even going to be possible. I was starting to write again - but did I have my mojo back? Or had it taken another turn?

There was only one way to find out so I did it.

And the answer was: - hell yeah! From the moment I got up from my seat it was as though all the events of the past three years had never happened: I was back in my skin. Because the brief had been to talk about something one felt strongly about, or had a passion about - and I was suddenly spoilt for choice! Women in the canon of English Literature? China and the Education System?  Women in China? The changing English language?

 For the first since leaving my life behind,  I had something to be passionate about that didn't involve survival.

But of course, I spoke about Benefits St. Brighton.  I realised that if I couldn't communicate with people any more then all the passion in the world wasn't going to do me much good. And this, this way of experiencing life at the bottom of the social ladder was what I felt so strongly about that it had contributed to my falling off my trolley - because I was so inescapably helpless. For the first time in my life...I had no voice.

But suddenly, I not only knew I was going to use my voice whether I was given permission or not - and then next minute a means was presented: not only to me, but to other Brightonians as well.

It seems the nationwide organisation of Speakers Forum is losing its organiser: I was asked if I was interested?

So what do you think? Since we started to raise our profile for the Regency Town House I've come across so many people who feel strongly about many things - and have passion for things some people have never even heard of! And me - well, I'm going to keep on and on about US down here at the bottom of the social hierarchy until people start to hear.  (And then I'll start on women's history and China.)

But the chance to give reign, for five glorious minutes, to  something close to your heart (the fate of small museums; hip-hop as social comment; our Regency Heritage?) or to explain something that drives you insane - tele-marketers? Parking in Brighton? High-rises on Hove beachfront? - or even the chance to give stand-up comedy a go?

There's a portable podium that can be set up anywhere so you don't even have to provide the soap-box!

One of my biggest missions right now is to break the stereotyping of people on benefits. And one of the ways one can do anything about it is to present ourselves as individuals and not as an entire, homogenised social strata.  Talking to each other, hearing different sides to stories, learning about differences  -  breaks down barriers .That's why I want to speak out,

We have such a polyglot society in Brighton - we're fortunate to live in one of the most tolerant, non-judgemental cities in the country. We're also fortunate to have such a mix of cultures. skills, ethnicities and experiences.  Shouldn't we be talking to, and learning from, each other more?

Would you share five minutes, say, once a month talking to other Brightonions?  Or simply listening to them?  Do you know people who would like to? Because I think we have enough bright, funny, clever, innovative, interesting and passionate people to get the ball rolling again and start taking advantage of this fantastical mix of peoples and passions to get to know each other.

But it's no good having a soap box - or a collapsible podium - if no-one but me is going to use it.

So what do you think - want to have a talk?
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