Do It Myself Blog – Glenda Watson Hyatt

Motivational Speaker

Glenda Visits Oprah’s City Again

Filed under: Virtual Book Tour — by at 11:33 pm on Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Chicago is definitely a happening town for bloggers as my virtual book tour takes me there again today. While in Chicago, I have had the pleasure of meeting David, Andy, Wendy, and, next week, Scharlene.

Today, I’m chatting with Liz Strauss, the owner and writer of Successful-Blog. Today’s chat is slightly different from my previous interviews; although we chatted today, Liz will post it as a series of mini interviews next week. I will announce them here once Liz posts them. Thanks Liz!

With all these connections in Chicago, what are the chances one knows a Harpo security guard, janitor or mail clerk who easily slip a copy of I’ll Do It Myself onto Oprah’s desk? Hmmm. Will the Law of Attraction work? Stay tuned!

If you enjoyed this post, consider buying me a chai tea latte. Thanks kindly.

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Can’t is a Four-Letter Word

Filed under: Living with a disability,Motivation — by at 3:03 pm on Tuesday, February 20, 2007

No such word as can't

Watching Sunday’s sermon on the Hour of Power, part of Reverend Schuller’s message resonated with me. He explained how some people go through life saying “I can’t” and don’t take responsibility for their own life and actions. His children’s Kindergarten teacher did not permit the words “I can’t” in her classroom; only “I’ll try”.

Like the Kindergarten classroom, can’t was a four-letter word in my childhood home. Despite my cerebral palsy and its limitations, I was not to utter the words “I can’t”. My parents encouraged me to try and to do my best. Of course, performing brain surgery and running a marathon weren’t viable options for me; with everything else, I was expected to try. Once I attempted the task with sincere effort and found I couldn’t do it alone, my parents didn’t have any qualms about helping me or finding another way around so that I could do it alone.

Having this can do attitude has taken me far in life, often surprising others with what I can do and can accomplish. Occasionally, I have surprised myself, too! I share this story to illustrate:

The internet has opened a whole new world to me. I can finally communicate with others without my disability getting in the way. Oftentimes, others don’t even know I have a disability. If they do, they don’t know the extent of it. This means we can have more meaningful exchanges because we can bypass the misperceptions and misunderstandings of my cerebral palsy and get right to the topic at hand. It is such a liberating feeling! And, it is amazing who all I have connected with online.

Email, online conferences and discussion forums enable me to participate fully in the virtual world and to lead the exciting life of an online solopreneur. Although this technology means greater inclusion in participating in the virtual world, there is a risk of becoming further isolated from the real world. The very technology tools that allow me to be accepted into the world as an equal can also isolate me even more as I draw further and further into the “virtual world” with less and less “real life”, face-to-face contact with human beings.

In April 2005, I temporarily escaped Hermitsville when I was asked to speak at the Social Planning and Research Council of British Columbia’s (SPARC BC), “Beyond the Obvious: Exploring the Accessible Community Dialogue”. My initial thought was But I don’t give speeches. I can’t. Since I was raised without the word “can’t” in my vocabulary, that was a fleeing thought. I quickly turned my thought to How can I do this?

I had been using the free computer software ReadPlease for a couple of years to proofread my writing. ReadPlease reads aloud text that is copied into the program. I thought, Maybe I could put ReadPlease onto my laptop and have it read aloud my speech for me. I hesitantly agreed to speak. Unsure if the technology would work, I took a printed copy of the speech with me, in case I needed someone else to read it on my behalf.

Finally, it was my turn to take the stage. Being on stage alone for the first time in my life, with two hundred eyes staring at me, I wanted to run. But, I didn’t. I gave my speech. When I was done, I left the stage, trembling. I had given my first ever speech! And the technology worked!

You need to read my book I’ll Do It Myself to see what happened next!

The point is, had I said “I can’t” without even trying, I would have a missed this personally momentous experience and subsequent opportunities. I would not be doing my first internet radio show this coming Friday!

Also, by saying “I can’t” when asked to give that speech, I would have denied the other event attendees the opportunity to learn from my experience, which was the whole point of the dialogue. How selfish would that have been?

What are you denying yourself and others by saying you can’t do something before even attempting it? What might you accomplish if you banished the word can’t from your vocabulary? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

If you enjoyed this post, consider buying me a chai tea latte. Thanks kindly.

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Virtual Book Tour Takes Glenda to New Zealand

Filed under: Virtual Book Tour — by at 2:04 pm on Monday, February 19, 2007

Christchurch, New Zealand
From: Seattle Sister Cities

With my passport in hand, my virtual book tour finds me heading to Christchurch, New Zealand, to chat with Liz Lewis. For years, she has been saying she wanted to write for a living, but has never really done anything about it. Until now! This is the year Liz is going to make it happen. She is sharing her journey from dream to reality as she works towards becoming a successful freelance writer. Her ultimate goal is to kiss her day job goodbye and to be travel writer. That sounds like fun, Liz! Good luck. And remember, if you can dream, you can achieve it.

In my chat with Liz, I share my life living with cerebral palsy and how the written word is my contribution to society, as well as some advice on getting published. Feel free to leave a comment, sharing a thought or asking a question.

As an interesting side note, a time warp occurred with this interview. Being in New Zealand, Liz is 21 hours ahead of my time. When she posted the interview about noon on Monday here, it was still Sunday morning here. Harmony, a freelance writer from Maple Ridge (mere miles from where I am in Surrey), saw the interview and contacted me. Harmony and I are essentially neighbours, and we meet in New Zealand on Monday, while still enjoying our Sunday. Isn’t the blogoshpere amazing!

If you enjoyed this post, consider buying me a chai tea latte. Thanks kindly.

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Virtual Book Tour Goes to the Dogs

Filed under: Virtual Book Tour — by at 4:34 pm on Friday, February 16, 2007

Shadrach, the blogging dog

Yes, that is right! I am off to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to be interviewed by a dog. But not just any dog. Shadrach the Neo Mastiff is a blogging dog! Shadrach was among the first bloggers to sign up to host an appearance on my virtual book tour. Being interviewed by a dog was definitely a first for me. What else can I say? Enjoy the interview!

After talking with Shadrach about how dogs can help people with disabilities, his mommy Kim Bloomer, coincidentally, did a special edition of her Animal Talk, Naturally! show about how an assistance dog was kicked out of Walmart. In the United States, refusing admittance of a certified service dog is illegal according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. (In Canada, we, unfortunately, do not have nationwide legislation dealing with service dogs in public places.) Please read more about this story of discrimination and see how you can help.

My puppy-cat Faith

With all this dog talk, my puppy-cat Faith wants to be included, too. She is very much my spoiled baby!

That wraps up week four of my “40 Blogs in 40 (Business) Days” virtual book tour, promoting my autobiography I’ll Do It Myself. Things are beginning to heat up and get exciting! I just landed a “Face Ad”, and on Monday, I am off to New Zealand! Who knows what will happen in the next four weeks – that is the amazing thing about the blogoshpere!

Have a great weekend!

If you enjoyed this post, consider buying me a chai tea latte. Thanks kindly.

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Author Reveals Her Biggest Challenge as a Writer

Filed under: Virtual Book Tour — by at 4:21 pm on Thursday, February 15, 2007

The yellow brick road from the Wizard of Oz
I envisioned this scene from my favourite childhood movie when I learned I was off to Kansas today.
from: The Wizard of Oz

Today, I am following the yellow brick road to Olathe, just outside of Kansas City, to speak with Yara Nielsenshultz of Red Pepper Writing. Yara understands exactly how hard writing can be. She knows how frustrating, time-consuming, soul-wrenching, and tedious it can be …and how glorious writing can be!

In today’s interview with Yara, I share my biggest challenge as a writer and how I work around it, as well as my writing process. Chatting with a fellow writer who also writes in her head was so refreshing. Enjoy.

Please come back tomorrow – or sign up (in the upper right corner) to receive blog updates in your email – because I am being interviewed by a special mystery blogger. This interview will be a first for me (and for the blogger). Don’t miss it!

If you enjoyed this post, consider buying me a chai tea latte. Thanks kindly.

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