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GLEANINGS FROM THE GROVE
us to sleep, and cortisol which promotes energy we can begin to ignore it, cut corners, spend
and alertness in our waking moments. Without less and less time preparing for our projects or
a proper amount of sleep-for me 7-9 hours of even our club meeting roles. And while we may
sleep daily/nightly, then our abilities will be not begin to look hollow eyed, it does begin to
impaired, our thinking, reacting, and health to show in our daily lives. Thus, don’t ignore your
begin to fail. Toastmaster cycle as well. Work at it, spend the
The highest of the four levels of sleep is hours that you need on it, and most especially,
REM (rapid eye movement) which is necessary make it part of your cycle of life. Insomnia is
to make us 100% refreshed and ready to go. one thing, but lack of Toastmasters may not be
Without it, well come and join the shufflers recognizable as missing our positive mental
on any of the walking dead programs. I think attitude and health rhythm.
of it as a computer core dump process, which Ergo, fellow Toastmasters, get your sleep,
allows our brain to sort through our memories find time for quality and quantity rest, with
and functions and do a fine tune-up job. Sleep healthy choices and exercise of your mind.
disorders only reverse our natural processes. Pay the same amount of attention to your
They send us down the road of ill health, poor or avocation, Toastmasters, as you do your sleep.
impaired judgement, and worse of all, eventual You will indeed be better prepared emotionally,
death. I do not want to put myself in harm’s way physically, and mentally for the challenges of
or find myself out of balance and ready to have the day and life.
my own private room with a coat with super long Now it is time for me to prepare for my day
sleeves to wrap myself with! off in a few hours. My tux, boiled shirt, top hat,
Aging of course begins to chip away at some and walking stick (with the wolf’s head and red
of these functions as you know. But as for me, stones for eyes of
I don’t want to rush the process any. If I can course) await me.
take care of myself physically, mentally, and Let me bid you
spiritually, then I am all for it. a good evening as
I have often heard that “sleep is overrated. I lay upon my
You get plenty of it when you pass on.” Just like bed, hands folded
our Toastmasters education program Pathways, upon my chest
we need to work on our own health. I have heard in the natural
from many fellow Toastmasters and clubs in repose. Come by
District 7 over the past three years that Pathways sometime and we
“is overrated” and it is useless, unwieldly, and can step out for a
not meeting the needs of clubs or members. drink, or a bite!
Of course not. We actually have to work at the
program, know what direction, what skills, what
paths and goals we have for our future. Like sleep,
26 ONE COMMUNITY
