Such is life
In 2025 I had the opportunity to interview for presenting a TEDxQUT talk. My original intent was to spark a fire in youth and talk about resilient leadership. Cliched? Maybe. But as most things in life, when I sat down to interview with the TEDxQUT team, the winds of life shaped something different. I’m not sure what compelled me to share the alternate story I did, it was like an afterthought wrapped in my own mixed emotions. But the team latched onto the story of my little journey through processing grief, pain, and hope. I slept on it. Discussed with my wife. Discerned it. Ultimately, I felt if it can help someone the decision was not mine and the rest is history.
Public speaking has long been a goal of mine, but this experience transcended anything I’d imagined. I had the pleasure to meet some of the most incredibly supportive TEDxQUT team, liaisons, and other speakers who had their own amazing stories of resilience. As the time flew by, so too did the workshops on storytelling, speech coaching, and stagecraft. All culminating on the event night with each of us speakers sharing a dream to kindle hope in at least one person. Well I think we landed at least that goal. At least a few tears testified to that effect. Afterwards, I had men hug me and share their own struggles, mother’s shared stories of their sons, and a warmed heart within my chest began beating to rekindled hope for men.
A decade ago I couldn’t have imagined sharing such a raw, personal story in the public domain. Some may still cringe, find it uncomfortable, or oversharing. But I think that says more about where they are at on their journey through life and I wish them the best. Resilience is forged in ways you would least expect it and when you live through various hardships, you feel less inclined to sweat the little things. I hope the story I shared reaches those who need to hear it and I encourage any men in a season of darkness to seek out a sacred space amongst your brothers. You are not alone.
Resources:
You can watch my presentation at TEDxQUT 2025 below. Please note the video contains themes of grief.
The quiet crisis facing men. A story of what men often face alone, forging human resilience, and the power of brotherhood and sacred spaces.
