I’m learning to come to terms with the fact that there is no cure to my stutter. Speech therapy I took as a child helped significantly, but there will always be some disconnect that occurs from what I know I want to say to when I physically need to say it. I always worry that it makes me appear unintelligent, and it’s frustrating to be unable to properly articulate what I mean to say, constantly having to swap words and phrases, and embarrassing whenever I can’t even properly introduce myself to someone.
Ironically enough I love public speaking, and as a mental health advocate and someone who loves to publicly present on a variety of things, including poetry, I’ve never let my stutter stop me. I do wish it never existed in the first place, but if it’s taught me anything its the importance of using your voice to speak about important matters. I’m starting to accept that it’s a part of me, just another one of my quirks that makes me who I am.
