There we were, a small band of revelers, streaming out of the cozy, fire-warmed Inn, and out to the cold and blustery star-lit night. We were a cacophony of gaiety as we rolled our wheeled briefcases and boxes across the parking lot, with lingering shouts of “What role do you want next week?”… “I don’t know yet, I’ll e-mail you tomorrow!” and “See you next Wednesday!” and “Great job tonight Sherry, you were incredible!”
This is the ending of a wonderful evening. An evening where good friends were recognized for jobs well done; where advice is welcomed; where inspiration and motivation thrive; where journeys are begun and goals are achieved; where the layout of a meeting can change in a moment and we learn to adapt; where helping a neighbor learn a new skill is a joy and not a chore; where we arrive early and stay late for the camaraderie and conversation; where the infrequent tears are viewed not as a weakness but as a sign of real emotion; where new friends are made and old ones come out of their shells; where our comrades stumble and we are there to support and lend a hand; where local lore is told and retold; where encouragement is given and helpful critiques never rebuked. This is not Church or Youth Group or AA or some sort of new age religion. This is simply Toastmasters.
For the uninitiated, the out-of-the-box description of Toastmasters leaves much to be desired, and there is only so much excitement that can be conveyed in the words “international public speaking club.” It doesn’t matter which language you are speaking, to most people, those words are enough for them to close their ears and politely nod and smile while tuning you out.
For those that choose to tune in, and to embrace the idea of personal growth, Toastmasters is one of the most amazing classrooms any student of life can ever hope to find. I think of my friend Sherry (the aforementioned ‘incredible job Sherry’), and what she has accomplished in a year in Toastmasters. Sherry came to our club bolstered by the support of two of her friends. She was, at first, intimidated by the level of skill that the current club members demonstrated: their ability speak for nearly ten minutes without notes, their ability to ‘work’ the room and make eye contact with the other members, the fact that they had complete control over their voices and bodies and could make mundane things interesting. Sherry’s first time speaking in our club, an impromptu ‘Table Topic’ question, she spoke for 14 seconds (average is one to three minutes).
Sherry has become an inspiration to every ‘single’ mother, every mother who has ever had to bury a child, every child who was ever made fun of because of their size or shape, every grandmother, and every person who has faced adversity. More tomorrow on what a difference a year makes, and how Sherry found her voice.
