When Passion Meets Reality: How I Got Gut-Punched in a Webinar

I recently attended a webinar about how to promote your work for those in the helping professions.  As I am planning to do an online course on Developing Your Resilience, I signed up.

The webinar was conducted by a Public Relations professional who had her own company.  It sounded interesting, and it was sponsored by an organization I knew.  

We began by being asked to “introduce” ourselves and, “share a Public Relations challenge we were experiencing.” 

“Ok,” I thought, my mind already sifting through other challenges I was facing.  “Which one should I choose?”

Following your passion

“Sober St. Patrick’s Day,” immediately came to mind.  “Might as well ask her for advice on a big challenge.”   

Switching gears from my original intention, publicizing my online course, I felt excited. She seemed so calm, funny, confident,  competent, “maybe she could help with one of the big ones that continue to vex me.”

I love the mission of the Sober St. Patrick’s Day Foundation– to reclaim the spirit  of the day, by introducing the concept that you can have a fun St. Patrick’s Day without getting loaded.  But, it’s complicated message to convey due to how St. Patrick’s Day is advertised.  

But she was so confident that I felt hopeful and inwardly smiled as I quickly thought why I became involved with Sober St. Patrick’s Day:

I know this how“curse of the Irish,” as my father called it, can affect families.

I‘m Irish and am tired of being associated with getting drunk, particularly on St. Patrick’s Day.

I’m a psychologist who has treated those with addiction and those who love them and heartsick that so many really young kids are introduced to alcohol on St. Patrick’s Day because it’s become a day which is marketed to get drunk with no consequences.

And, I’m someone who is very interested in not just how to treat but also in how to prevent problems. I thought the name Sober St. Patrick’s Day was so catchy that it could drive home the point that you can – celebrate and stay sober, and safe.  

As a result I became one of the very early Board members of Sober St. Patrick’s Day Foundation. 

Yes, it’s a hard sell, but I was excited that she may have a new idea or two, and she did seem so well, nice.

So, I was stunned by the reaction I received. 

When I offered “Sober St. Patrick’s Day,” the PR person running this webinar paused said “Is this a joke?”

“No, lady it’s no joke”

I narrowed by eyes, took a quick deep breath and looked at her through my zoom camera.  Many responses were surging through my brain.  But I kept my face neutral, an effort, in the words of my father, because she “got my Irish up.”

I had hoped to get information, insights. I didn’t expect to have to do my own sales pitch, today, with this group. 

But that is often what we get when we follow our own path, isn’t it?  More opportunities to share, not always more support.

I stayed polite and said, “No.” pause, “This is not a joke.” 

Focusing your anger – resiliency in action

She obviously wasn’t skilled into steeping into areas in which she was unfamiliar. 

But I was. 

This is what learning to be resilient is all about.

I continued, deciding this was yet another opportunity to educate someone who perhaps needed to learn this.

“ ….This is real organization in its 11 year.  We march in the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade with our own Pipe Band.  Then we hold a grand party with Irish music, singing, and very importantly, Irish dancing. 

… Where we all have a terrific time.  We’re in the US, Ireland and even have a following in Japan.   We’re trying to break the idea that to have a good time on St. Patrick’s Day you have to get drunk.”

I quickly looked at my colleagues in their zoom squares, some got it and were clearly suppressing a smirk, others looked interested.  

Sensing an opportunity

“Yes,” I thought,  “an opportunity,” which is how I’ve learned to approach moments like this in my life.

She looked like she had swallowed a lemon, with a scowl on her face and pursed lips she went on immediately to another subject.  She was smart enough to sense she had missed the mark.

I began to tune her out.  But don’t you do that to me now!

September is Halfway To St. Patrick’s Day

Intrigued? 

Thinking about St. Patrick’s Day in September gives you time to consider how you may want to celebrate.  I encourage you to visit the Sober St. Patrick’s Day Foundation to get some ideas 

https://www.soberstpatricksday.org.

And, September is Recovery from Addiction Month 

I invite you to follow the series of posts I’ll be writing this month on the relationship of recovery and resilience. 

Curious?  I hope so.

Stay tuned. And if you’re interested in my course on resilience, email me at www.PatriciaOGorman.com .