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The Arena , The Audience and The Passion

Ouch! Yesterday I was a little rusty at the lectern.  Nope, no, not that sort of rusty. I think it went pretty fine.  But personally I feel I could’ve done better had I been giving consecutive projects.  Well I can’t help it, can I?  After all I need my degree right?  Can’t holiday at home in the name of toastmastering!
It was the third project from the Advanced Communication Series. “Special Occasions Speeches” where I had to present a three to five-minute “roast”.  The first two being “to propose a toast” and “to speak in honour of someone” respectively.  I was pretty excited about the delivery as the project involves poking fun at an individual and honoring him at the same time.  It needs wit, humour, anecdotes, etc.  And I decided to roast my father, himself a toastmaster.  Well the poor soul had to be the victim of a roast for the second time.  The deed already being committed by my brother at first!
It was fun poking fun at an individual. After all how many of us get a chance to do so that too in public, in a room full of people who are all ears to whatever you are going to say.  The sadist that I am, I really wanted to roast my friend who also happens to be a toastmaster but sadly she had to leave after her vacation:(
It was indeed a proud feeling to honor my own dad in front of an audience in such a jovial manner.  A toast to the person who came up with such an innovative manual!
The feedback was pretty good and I must say I didn’t have to put in too much effort into the roast.  Maybe because I was roasting my dad, but I would like to believe it was also because of my passion and enthusiasm (down –to earth. Am I?:P).
However after the meeting, I don’t know why but suddenly a feeling of nostalgia that I’ve never felt before dawned upon me. I really wanted to come back the next week and involve myself in yet another gathering.  I realized it won’t happen for quite some time now.  I wish I could attend at least three to four meetings before my departure to take up my first job!  Anyway that’s how it works right?  One can’t really hope for things to be the same all the time. Then cribbing about monotony will be everyone’s next choice.
I should admit that I’m excited and a little anxious about starting work next week.  It is that excitement and uncertainty that drives all of us and perhaps the same excitement that drives me to weekly meetings but in a different way!
After the meeting it felt so nice to see smiling faces, members who cracked a joke or enquired about each other’s whereabouts and well being.  The feeling is something you just can’t explain.
Occasionally you might find a grumpy person or two who sport a fake smile just out of courtesy (ignore the fake smile and smile back.  You don’t loose anything anyway). But the rest are so genuine and they really wish each other well.  It really makes your day (Ok maybe the next day too because the meetings generally start at 7. 30 p.m.) and you immediately look forward to the following week’s rendezvous.
The joy of public speaking, communication and networking! Words can’t describe the beauty it carries alongJ
Ah! Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, the godfather of toastmastering, had ideas which were a class apart.  Cheers to him!


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