I went up to the front and gave a short introduction about who I was and why I was there. Nothing long, nothing dramatic, just a few minutes explaining that I wanted to help support the center and try something new. Still, it was nerve racking. Speaking in front of a room full of people who have lived decades longer than me hits differently. Once I got past the first few sentences, it felt easier. The room felt supportive in a calm way, not overly enthusiastic but open. That helped settle the nerves a bit.
After the introduction, I handed out the flyers. This was the first real test of the idea I had been sitting on since day 0.5. The flyer was meant to be simple and useful, not overwhelming. Since it was September and flu season was coming up, the focus was on health tips related to that time of year. Things to watch out for, early signs of getting sick, and basic reminders on how to stay healthy as the weather starts changing.
As people looked through the flyer, reactions varied. Some read it closely right away. Others glanced at it and tucked it aside. A few people commented that it was helpful or timely. It felt great that everybody was open and willing to take one. Weirdly enough, some people thought I was trying to sell them things. I think this overall turned out to be a lot more of a welcoming and easier experience than I had imagined.
