I've had the privilege to be motivational speakers for schools Queensland, Melbourne, youth speakers Sydney, and throughout Australia. I enjoy speaking in the big cities, but what I really love is travelling to the smaller towns, and connecting into the supportive culture at each spot.

The smaller spots are filled with character and characters :-)

Heading to speak at Holy Name Catholic School, Toowoomba, I was excited to be guest speaker for kids, reducing teacher stress workshop facilitator, and parent mental health speaker event. 

 

Living in Tweed Heads now, it could all be done in a day trip with a 2 and a half hour drive each way. I left home at 8ish, and got to have a big feed, and prepare my snacks for the day/evening ahead. As I've said in previous posts, I have low blood pressure and sugar levels, so I'm known to have a faint every now and then. When I'm guest speaker I put all my energy into the talk, so with the low blood sugar levels, I've gotta be careful. 

Having regular snacks helps out big time! 

 

Leaving in the morning, I placed my ironed out clothes on the back seat so I could wear my shorts and singlet for the 2 and a half hour drive. Cruising along, I was listening to some podcasts (LISTEN TO MINE HERE THE STABBED EGO PROJECT), and took in some of our beautiful country.

 

Arriving down the road from the school about half hour early, I changed into my speaking attire (jean shorts and a shirt), and then arrived at the school ready to go.

I met the beautiful lady who organised of my trip, Kim, at front reception, and she took my behind the scenes to meet the deputy principal. The buzzing energy of the two ladies I met told me I was in for a great day. 

Again, I know I've mentioned this previously, but the energy from up top filters down to the students. That being said, today was going to be magic! 

 

I helped some of the students and teachers set up the chairs in the hall, then got my slides ready for my motivational speakers for schools presentation.

All the students then came rolling in from yrs 3-6, and it was good to get started.

 

The primary students aren't fussed in showing their excitement, and that excitement rubs off onto me. 

To be honest, the opening of my talk drops their smiles though and turns it into a shocked expression.

 

"I'm going to take you all on a little journey, and I'm going to show you how I got from where you are now, when I was in primary school, a long time ago, and I'm going to show you how some small choices I made throughout primary school, resulted in me becoming this guy...."

I then show a photo of me almost 40 kilos heavier. This brings on a few gasps.

 

"So that's me about 12 years ago, I weighed over 120 kilos, I was hanging out with some pretty bad guys in Sydney, and during this time if my life I was a bully. I just a lot of people, and a lot of people hurt me too."

 

I have their attention big time now!!

 

 

"Look, in front of my friends, family, and people in the playground, I'd pretend I was big and strong, and even pretend I was happy. But on the inside, when my thoughts would come to haunt me, I was absolutely terrified. I was scared, depressed, anxious, and most nights, I'd cry myself to sleep. I hated myself.

 

So what I'm going to do today is show you how i got from just being a normal happy kid, with a good upbringing, to then become this guy.. finally, I'm going to show you how I turned it all around again to become one of the happiest people of all time..."

 

I then pull a happy face and do peace fingers.

 

The kids are really excited at this point. So I ask.

 

"So are you ready?"

 

"Yehhhh!"

 

"Okay, let's do this."

 

I then take them on the journey and the talk covers things from, 

 

Worrying what people think

Living up to labels and expectations

Bullying- self bullying and the effects of negative self talk 

Resilience 

Mental health/ self-care 

 

During my guest speakers for kids talk, there's laughs, shocking gasps, sometimes a couple of tears, and then finishes with a huge applause. Question time is always fun too :-) and we have to cut off the questions after about 20 min otherwise I'd still be sitting there.

 

After my mental health speakers for schools presentation, I then had a few hours to spare. A few hours break usually means three things...

Food

Gym

Snooze

 

I had to only pick two this time, so knowing I hadn't hit the gym in day before, gym was a must, and so was food. No snooze for me.

 

I headed to my car and did my usually vegan food hunt on Google. I found two great spots with big reviews. Tossing up which one to go to, I let the closeness to the gym decide. 

 

Checking out the menu as I sat outside in the sun, i was content with my decision about where I was eating.

I ordered an Abundance Bowl and fresh juice. Kicking back in the sun, I read some of my current book, The Untethered Soul, and soon my big bowl was under my nose.  Lunch was beautiful! And the staff were just as sweet.

Heading to the gym, I trained legs, freshened up, then back to the school in time for the teachers stress workshop.  I really enjoy holding this session, and the teachers are always keen for a laugh and deep reflection. Can't beat that.

 

A few of the teachers bought a copy of my book, Stabbed Ego GRAB YOURS, and one told me that they wanted to bring their sons for the evening session.

 

I had about an hour until my parents mental health speakers event, so chilled in my car, and ate an orange (need that sugar).

 

The parents all came rolling in, and during my talk I noticed tears as someone was having a deep reflection, plenty of nodding heads, questions, insight, and then a big applause and chat at the end.

 

A couple of the parents and teaches came up and gave me a deep thanks, and I could really feel their appreciation. I love those moments.

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Luke S. Kennedy is Australia's motivational speaker for schools, corporations, and reducing stress workshop facilitator. After his best selling book, Stabbed Ego, was published in 2014, he now travels the country speaking full time.