New learning is a marvellous thing.

It keeps you young, it opens up a new world for you, it keeps your mind off the ridiculous and the self important, it refreshes your life by changing it, it exposes you to yourself and reminds you that you can try anything.

Last  week I went with my 20 year old godson, who I admire and totally enjoy, to a Toastmaster meeting. We had been having dinner recently and both realised that we shared a similar goal. We wanted to learn to speak publicly with more ease. For me it is because I never want to shy away from sharing important thoughts or feelings in a crowd and at a special occasion because of fear. For him, he is in Commerce and feels he requires this skill to be honed.

The meeting was interesting. There are fairly rigid rules of timing and content and many formalities in this organization but nonetheless I was intrigued.

At the end they asked if any of the guests wanted to speak and share why they came.

I stood up (pushing myself to do the hard thing) and said

‘Thankyouforwelcomingus.Iamamazedthatyoualltalkaboutfearofpublicspeakingandyetyoudontlookatallnervous.

Infactveryconfident.IamherebecasuewhenIneedtospeakandwanttospeakIdoitveryquicklyandfeellikeIwanttobarforhaveaheartattack’

I will let you know how I do.

I had a perfect moment this morning. Let me share it with you