POTENTIAL - Tuesday 8th September 2015
I have to say that the very minute I walked
into this club, I felt at home. I always look forward to every alternate Tuesday
of the month from 17:45 to 20:00.
I learn a lot every time without fail. What
I like the most is that everyone is encouraged to learn, grow and be corrected
in a loving and safe environment. It is not like work or school where you feel
like if you have made a mistake, you are made to feel like you have killed the
pope himself.
One can definitely grow in confidence in
this kind of environment. I particularly love the speech evaluations where
positive feedback is given, where speakers of the night are both encouraged and
given constructive criticism.
Tonight, my enthusiasm was definitely not
deflated.
Starting with our Table Topics- (Impromptu-
speaking and thinking on our feet was encouraged.)
·
You get to learn to speak for a
minute on non-researched and non- prepared speeches.
Tonight’s topic took the
direction of “Potential”, where the inspiration behind these topics was the
late Miles Munroe, affectionately known as “Mr. Potential”
This legend visited South
Africa and said something quite disturbing in my opinion, and mentioned that
our gold mines in which we take pride are actually not our richest resource,
but our cemeteries. “Oh, my goodness, how could that be and whatever did this
man mean”.
Well, the reason for his
intriguing statement is because at our cemeteries, lay many riches, such as, to
mention but a few:
1.
Businesses that were never
started.
2.
Books that were never written
3.
Music that was never sung
4.
Relationships that were never
started
5.
Dreams that were never
fulfilled
6.
Miracles that were never
allowed to surface
7.
Opportunities that were never
ceased
The list goes, on and on, and on, you can
fill in the rest.
I was amazed at the wisdom in speeches of
everyone who participated.
I know you are reading this blog and you
may not belong to any Toastmaster’s Club, but I would like to pose the
following questions to you to think about:
·
Will you die empty or full?
·
What or who is possibly
stopping you from fulfilling your God-given dreams and visions?
·
Could you be robbing us of
yourself and your gifts?
If the answer is ‘YES’ to any of these
questions, my last question to you is, “So what will it take for you to die
empty?
Moving right along…..
THE PREPARED SPEECHES
Goodness me! The prepared speeches were
outstanding, could’t hear a penny drop during the speech sessions. One of which
– by Igor Lesko - focused on one of the biggest monsters in our country, “ROAD
RAGE”.
I was so afraid and very thankful that I
was not going that direction, as I could only imagine what would happen. I could
not, however, stop wondering what happed or how the confrontation unfolded.
This gentleman in my opinion was well
within his right to be angry and shocked – but was it really necessary to
follow this woman? I am not too sure about that! “What do you think fellow
readers?”
Another very true story was told by one of
the brilliant fellow toastmasters – Megan Judd - in a story telling form, based
on how one of the world’s cruelest leaders was raised. I will not mention his
name, just in case his great grand-son or daughter is reading this blog and
decides to sue me.
This leader caused much harm to many
innocent people in the world. It turns out that he was abused as a child,
emotionally, physically and I would even conclude that he was spiritually
wounded too. Someone said that wounded people wound others.
Listening to this story made me wonder if
abused children also go on to be abusers as adults? It also made me wonder if
some people ever overcome their childhood demons? It also made me wonder
whether or not it’s fair for the whole world to suffer just because one person
was abused?
What is your opinion as you are reading
this blog?
Above all though, the best speaker of the
night was Awonke Mbete. Wow! as he bravely completed his very first public
speech and broke the fear of public speaking. You see, he found safety in the
midst of supportive people at Algoa Toastmasters!!!
VIVA ALGOA TOASTMASTERS VIVA!
VIVA!
I will end by following in the footsteps of
our fellow toastmaster, Warren Tagg and ask you all South Africans to share a
toast to our freedom.
Let us remember that many people of all
races, men and women fought for the democracy that we are enjoying today.
Celebrate it and don’t take it for granted!
Follow us on facebook; we would love to
hear your comments.
Ciao
for now!!!
Thandi Swekile
