The Bamboo and the Storm: A Personal Story of Remaining Grounded

By Mac Scotty McGregor

Years ago, I was scheduled to give a keynote speech at a national LGBTQ+ leadership conference. I had prepared for weeks, reviewing my outline, rehearsing my delivery, and building in interactive moments to connect with the audience. This was more than just a speaking engagement; it was an opportunity to represent my community, share hard-won wisdom, and inspire courage in others.

But the morning of the talk, everything unraveled.

My flight was delayed due to weather and then canceled. I scrambled to rebook, ended up sleeping in an airport chair overnight, and finally arrived at the venue just 45 minutes before I was supposed to go on stage—without my luggage, my materials, or even a clean shirt.

As I stood in the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face, heart pounding, I felt panic rising. The old voices in my head started whispering: You can’t show up like this.

You’re not ready. You’ve failed before even starting.

But then, I paused.

I took three slow, intentional breaths and dropped into my center—a practice I’ve learned from more than five decades of martial arts. I remembered something my teacher once said:

“When the wind shakes the world, be like the bamboo—bend, don’t break.”

In that moment, I realized I didn’t need the perfect clothes, slides, or notes. I had me. I had my story. I had my presence.

I walked on stage in wrinkled travel clothes, looked out at the faces in the crowd, and said, “I want to talk to you today about how we show up when everything doesn’t go as planned.”

The room softened. People leaned in.

What followed was one of the most honest and connected talks I’ve ever given. Not because it was polished, but because it was real. I spoke from my center, not from my notes, not from fear. And that taught me something I’ve carried ever since:

You don’t have to control the storm. You have to remember where your roots are.

Being rooted doesn’t mean you’re unaffected. It means you know how to return to yourself even when the world feels like it’s spinning. It’s the breath you take before reacting. The pause before speaking. The choice to respond with intention instead of panic.

Now, whenever life throws me uncertainty—whether it’s a crisis, a difficult conversation, or the chaos of the world—I think of that moment. I ask myself: Where are my feet? Where is my breath? What do I know to be true in this moment?

And from there, I act—not from fear, but from presence.

The Lesson: You Don’t Have to Control the Storm

That experience taught me something I still carry into every situation where uncertainty looms:

You don’t have to control the storm. You just have to remember where your roots are.

Being rooted doesn’t mean you never feel shaken. It means you know how to return to yourself when everything around you feels chaotic. It’s the breath before reacting. The awareness that you don’t need everything to go “right” in order to show up fully.

When you’ve built your center—through self-awareness, reflection, and intentional practice—you can walk into any room, any crisis, any challenge, and still be you. Whole.

Grounded. Enough.