The cure for stagefright

pic from https://www.jisc.ac.uk/sites/default/files/janet-txt-banner.jpg labeled for reuse

I heard Shira Smiles speak this morning in Lawrence. (I'm sure the talk will be posted to Torah Anytime at some point if you want to find it). The theme was the connection of tefila to effect geula as in Pesach Mitzrayim. But she also veered a bit into a theme she addressed the last time I heard her speak there -- being in the moment. The story that applies to the latter them is the reason for the title of this blog post.

I'm not sure if the event was a siddur or chumash presentation event for children. She recounts that a child was very anxious about his upcoming role on stage until one morning he was completely calm about it. Asked what changed, he said he realized that the audience will be filled with moms who will be texting on their phones the whole time. As no one will really be watching him, there's no reason to be nervous!