I've stuttered since I remember, with a short break at 5-8 years old and a 'triumphal' comeback as I entered puberty. This sucks and sucks, honestly, a lot. However, I am nearly 40 and have spent 20 years exercising my right to present, pitch, negotiate, do public speaking and lecturing. My first public speaking at school made me run away in tears from the stage. But then this whole situation made me angry and helped to get the energy to do it again and again. If you route the anger in the right direction, not blaming yourself or the nature for wiring that speach center in our brains as it did, you might find the anger to be one of the greatest source of energy for whatever you want to understand, achieve, change or make real. Positivity is great, but realistically, what most of us feel is sadness, shame or anger — and it worth to admit these emotions and to learn how to cooperate with them, not masking them or pretending they are not there. This is not true that I do not worry about it or people are more 'careful' with me than 20 years ago, oh no, people can be dicks. But let's face it — stuttering is just a part of me, I don't have much control over—sometimes there are great days, and sometimes there are bad days when I stutter a lot and just tell myself that I have to survive this day and tomorrow might be better. I would say that the main thing is to realize that what you want to say is worthy and important. You matter, and your words and ideas do too, so what the hell is a difference how you say this? Whoever is uncomfortable with me speaking can always leave the room, but I won't stop or run away. Maybe, not a very healthy approach, but hey, we are all different, and you never know what type of problem has someone who seems so cool in front of you. And yeah, stuttering is definitely not the worst thing there. Btw, as you learn a new language, you stutter even more :) So cheers to all second, third or fourth-language speakers there! Speak whatever happens, you have something to say and don't waive your right to say it. Hugs.