Dia Kline | Congenital Ansomic | "Just Fly" | 2020 International Speech 2nd Place Eastern Division

What is life like as a congenital anosmic? It's different but the same. Take a few minutes to learn and laugh about my life in my speech, "Just Fly", the 2020 submission for the Toastmasters International Speech Competition - 2nd place, Eastern Division, District 26.
It was an interesting challenge this year since we weren't allowed to compete in person and had to perform virtually on Zoom with whatever technology we had in quarantine. (My contest speech didn't get recorded, so I edited together a few practice speeches.)
I look forward to giving it on a stage in front of an audience!
Follow me, Dia Kline
Instagram: / ezjolife
Blog: ezjolife.com/
LinkedIn: / diakline
Facebook: / ezjolife

[@ip3931]

Thank you so much for this, Dia!

[@diakline]

I was my honor.

[@candiceyoder3164]

I am in tears right now! I have never been able to put into words for people what it’s like to be a congenital anosmic. You’ve done that for me! Thank you! 🥰

[@diakline]

Candice Yoder Thank you so much Candice! I am so appreciative of your compliment. I am privileged to put a voice to your/our shared experience.

[@donelliot7650]

Love the analogy to the crayons for the taste/smell thing. Went to a doctor once for something unrelated. She has an intern sitting in. I mentioned that I had no sense of smell. She immediately used the teaching moment to inform the intern “that means he can’t taste”!!! I said NO. Wrong. I almost yelled it. Frustrating how doctors have no sense of sense of smell. Once asked a different doctor about it and he looked in my nose and said, “huh...”. I said “huh, what???” No answer.

[@diakline]

Thank you! I’ve been using the crayon analogy for decades because it so simple and relatable. I’m glad you like it too. Your experience with your doctor is sadly all to common. Here’s to greater awareness and education in the medical field, not just the public sector.

[@DwarfDragonwulf]

"and almost no one remembers... including my own mother" Can relate...

[@diakline]

Dwarf Dragonwulf Right?!! 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@donelliot7650]

Friends of 40 years still don’t realize/remember. It’s amazing. Tells you how ingrained and pervasive and taken for granted it is to be able to smell.

[@RaefonB]

I'm CA as well. Very entertaining talk, great work! Explains how we're not seeking victim status, just acknowledgement from the people around us, so we can navigate the world better. :)

[@diakline]

RaefonB So nice to meet you! It’s always a pleasure meeting another CA. Thank you for your kind words and I’m happy to hear you have a similar POV. It’s so much easier to be positive about it! All we’re asking for is awareness!!! And a designated nose 😉👃🏻❤️

[@BizzyB1995]

love this so much!!!

[@diakline]

Thank you! 🤗

[@GirlWhoCantSmell]

Let's Fly Dia!!!

[@janaporter4638]

I have congenital anosmia too! I enjoyed your speech. Hopefully we'll both get to smell some day, and taste with the full 96-box of crayons! :)

[@diakline]

Jana Porter So nice to meet you!! Thank you for watching it and taking the time to comment. I so appreciate it. I don’t think I’d take the anosmia fix to smell. I’d be too scared my brain would explode!!! 🤯 I’ll stick with my box of 12 😉

[@donelliot7650]

@@diakline Oh, this is the biggest question. I think I would want it. Would just have to set aside a week to just wander around in a daze trying to comprehend what was happening. But, to smell the ocean, food cooking, the spring time. And on and on. You know. All the stuff we’ve heard about.

[@ririmr4978]

I too have Congenital Ansomia. Thank you for this vid, very well done!

[@diakline]

Reesa Rimmer Thank you!! Nice to meet another CA!! I appreciate your feedback ❤️

[@DAaron-tn8ji]

Great talk!!!!!

[@diakline]

D. Aaron Thank you!!!

[@ririmr4978]

Interesting fact, did you know that Ben of Ben and Jerry's ice cream has anosmia? Yep, that is why he puts chunks of fruit, chocolate and nuts in the ice cream for texture.

[@diakline]

Reesa Rimmer I did! It sounds like he’s an acquired anosmic. I love Ben & Jerry’s 😋

[@candiceyoder3164]

Yeah he had a sense of smell and lost it.

[@audreydoremus2875]

Lost my smell at 60. I miss it!

[@diakline]

Join us on Facebook! There are many anosmia groups to join where people have experienced the same thing.

[@christinejacques6597]

I will do "sniff tests" for you, if you'll reach items on the top shelf for me!

[@diakline]

Sounds like deal!!!😉

[@audreydoremus2875]

Warning! Gas leak smells like bad eggs!

[@diakline]

I’ll never know until it’s too late 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@michaelgross2630]

@@diakline we bought a gas sensor when the young anosmic family member started messing about in the kitchen. Come to think of it, seeing that the gas suppliers add the smelly stuff (H2S) to their gas to make leaks smellable, would it hurt them to add a visible indicator compound?

[@neryshamutal9628]

@@michaelgross2630 Oi, I don't mess about :P

[@diakline]

@@michaelgross2630 What a brilliant idea! A visual indicator! Maybe a cloud of purple smoke!