Page 9 - 2017 August Voices

Toastmasters feeds passion and purpose to mentor others and watch them blossom and

bloom. What a privilege to know that I’m helping
Often I hear speeches that move me to join someone else and making a material difference
a cause and take action. Sometimes I also give a in improving their lives. The health glow you get
speech that reminds me about something I feel from knowing that you’re making a difference in
strongly passionate about. Like the ‘Keynote someone’s life, once again is a health gift I give
address’ speech from the Professionally Speaking to myself.
manual—after I’d given my ‘Aging in your And what a blessing to know that when
community speech,’ I felt in a space of ‘flow’ someone helps me, they in turn, receive the jolt of
for the rest of the day. Just giving this speech health as they receive the gift of feeling wanted,
fired me up, and reminded me of how simple needed and valued. No wonder it’s something
health ideas can revolutionize your life. Having I look forward to every Thursday morning at
meaning, passion and purpose are all states of 6.45am. What a positive way to start my day!
being that are health measures! Your cells are Being positive helps your health too—as does
literally the recipient of the health biochemistry surrounding yourself with positive people.
that accompanies passion and purpose.

Toastmasters gives me a sense of
belonging

Toastmasters also allows me to rub shoulders
and be a part of a community of a great bunch of
people. Being with a community of supportive
people who are all invested in each others success,
motivates and inspires me. It feels good to be
with people all motivated to improve themselves
from all cultures, creeds and countries.

Making a difference, helping and being
helped feels amazing, and so does being
in a state of gratitude. Toastmasters also allows me to rub shoulders and be a part
of a community

As I walk in to a meeting and am met with
cheery greetings (I’m often both the recipient Toastmasters provides me with laughter
and giver of hugs) there is an Oxytocin alert! Yay!
My fellow members ask about my life, they care Another gift is that the club I belong to
about me. I feel supported and loved by them. (Vancouver Toastmasters in Washington state)
As if that isn’t enough of a gift itself, even more has a theme for every meeting. For example,
importantly it gives me another whole group of one was celebrating laughter. Our Toastmaster
people to love and care about. That’s simply the for the day, put up a sign saying: “You don’t
great thing about love—giving it doesn’t drain or stop laughing because you grow old. You grow
deplete you. The more you give, the more love old because you stop laughing.” And inside me
expands, and the more you have to give. What a I heard my body-song start singing, laughing,
win! There is nothing like experiencing a sense dancing and saying ‘YES- exactly.’
of ‘community’ to make your cells and hormones Throughout the meeting we had multiple
do a happy dance. chances to laugh and guffaw. And it wasn’t only
because this was the theme for the day. We
Toastmasters expands my sense of living have a humorist every meeting, we often hear
a meaningful life Toastmasters bridging, table topics or speeches
that make us laugh. Multiple opportunities for
Toastmasters gives me a chance to receive positive endorphins to flood our cells. It wasn’t
mentoring so I can learn and grow. In turn I get just this meeting—it’s every meeting that either

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