Today, I’m honored to share my experience of trying to give up plastic at a TEDx event hosted by DePaul University. I’m so excited to have this opportunity (and also quite nervous!). Yet, in spite of my nerves, I’m hoping this talk will give me the chance to help raise even a small wave of awareness about plastic pollution and our human role in it. I hope my message will also give listeners a feeling of personal empowerment, that there is a little each of us can do to start addressing this world problem.

It was difficult for me to apply to speak. If you know me, you know that I’m not always the most outspoken person (unless I’m talking about dessert), so today will be a challenge in not only trying to share my message eloquently, but also in trying to conquer my internal fears of standing up in front of a large audience and performing.

I’m trying to remind myself that I’m doing this for my son, Charlie, and for all those magical whales out there.

Thanks to the very many of you who have supported me through this process, through the actual challenge of trying to give up plastic from April 2015 to April 2016, and through these past several months as I’ve prepared and stressed and wondered if I could get through today.

I’ve got my whale earrings on, and I’m ready to tell my story. Many, many thanks for all the care and support.