Toastmasters and Doomer Optimism

I began speaking a couple years ago shortly after returning from Germany, mostly at political events to share about the girl who doesn't exist. 

As someone who loves words, it felt horrible to stand in front of people and ramble on toward ideas. I refused to have written speeches to rely on. I wanted to be "a real speaker". But the writer in my also groaned. . . and so I joined the political speech and debate club, and when it was discontinued, the leader took me under his wing for a few weeks and pointed me toward Toastmasters. 

I didn't really have time to join Toastmaster, though. I went to the meeting, a raveling, but spirited crowd doing its best to draw in more members by being the very best themselves, and although I only had a couple weeks left in Montana before leaving for a long road trip, I paid my dues and joined the club. 

That's how it's been ever since. Not once have I truly had time for this spectacular club. Life remains always relentlessly full. Sometimes I am gone for months. And then... sometimes I am home and able to go for weeks in a row. Other times things come up, or I just choose to stay home and not drive the forty minutes to the meeting. And yet, despite never having had time, it hasn't overloaded my plate, but been the very thing I've needed. 

It has brought my visions the validation they needed. It has comforted and calmed the writer in me, and directed my mouth to say the words my hands might have wished to write. Mostly, it has calmed the homeschooler into accepting the good of being awkward and ditsy. It's made me more at ease with who I am in general, and bolder, and more confident, for every word I've shared since. 

This is all a testimony to my irregular but purposeful Toastmaster attendance. But isn't that the way of life? Don't wait until you have time to do the things you want to do. Do them now, a little here a little later. Let it take a while but begin now. It all adds up. It doesn't have to be perfect, as we are always reminded. 

The latest fruit of that very good decision is my appearance on the Doomer Optimism Podcast, a podcast that realistically looks at where we are heading and still chooses hope. I share about my family heritage and how it has personally impacted my lifestyle and future projects. I have a personal goal to appear on five podcasts this spring. The DO episode is my second so far! 

Is there something you've added to the much-too full plate that's positively impacted your overall life? Have you ever visited a Toastmasters club? Share with me!