Page 34 - May 2019 Voices

FIELD NOTES

Growing Up

Paul Fanning, DTM

Each of us has a pivotal moment in our lives He wanted to ask me a question. With a big smile
that we may indeed refer to as the “Aha Moment” on his face, he enquired of me, “what do you want
whereby something becomes extremely clear, to be when you grow up?”
a door or window of opportunity opens and we Looking back on that moment, I now wish I

begin the journey anew, refreshed and determined had been a member of Toastmasters, well trained
to go forward. It may not be that the dark clouds and able to answer his question in a Table Topics
float away and it’s all sunshine and rainbows with a manner. But I wasn’t, and I sat there stunned,

sprinkling of fireworks and dancing unicorns, but unable to respond and sputtered some answer.
it is to some degree a defining flash, a twinkling Good naturedly, he accepted my reply and we
of something unfulfilled and begging for a breath moved on. However, for me, I was haunted with that
of fresh air. This may also occur in the life of an question-I was “grown up” but I didn’t really know
organization or corporate body like Toastmasters. beyond that what my direction in life was. Thus,

I can vividly remember such a time in my life. it was that “light-bulb” moment, the great “AHA”
I was a member of an international community and caused me to assess my life, career and future.
service club and had been placed on the youth That’s the way it is with our personal

service committee. Our organization had just Toastmasters experience. The light goes on, we
announced that youth programs would be a special see the path (or Pathway) and we forge forward.
emphasis that year. Another member had a special Yet, we often forget that our club needs to have
project in mind to benefit not only our club, but the the same experience, the same realization that
community as well, and especially a group of young planning for the future, setting goals, parameters

men in an institution for the developmentally and benchmarks makes a healthy, successful and
challenged. We met in the parking lot of the home quality club so that all may have that positive
and proceeded inside for a briefing on what we membership experience we talk about. Often we

could do and say that would make it enjoyable for sadly stop-dead in our progress, and clubs may
us as volunteers as well as the residents that they sometimes sit there sputtering, double-starting
had determined may benefit from our interaction. away and sprinkling ums like I did with that boy
These “boys” were mentally aged 11-14 years of who asked me the simple question- “what do you
age, but, were chronologically in their 30’s to 50’s. want to be when you grow up.”

Me-I was then in my 20’s-was paired up with a I don’t have a magic pill for your club, no
“buddy” 39 years old. He knew why we were there, wave of my wizard’s wand-and most assuredly no
was excited about the program, and we embarked wooden 2 x 4 to apply either! There is good news

upon the planned activities. Then “it” happened. that I can share with you, a suggestion to help your

34 ONE COMMUNITY