Valentine’s Day Table Topics Make the questions special by printing and cutting out each square, then cut out folding hearts on red construction paper. Glue or paste the squares onto the hearts. (Questions for Valentine’s Day – Print and paste onto red construction paper hearts.) Mother Nature made it rain cats and dogs on Valentine’s Day. What,...
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Timely Topics Need Strong Voices
Timely Topics Need Strong Voices If not Toastmasters, who? Free speech is not only about an individuals protected right to speak but the responsibility of the individual to listen and allow other individuals to express themselves. The Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights, freedom to speak. As with any speech, regardless whether the opinion is...
Continue reading...Where to Find Inspiration
Table Topics: Inspiration The dictionary definition of inspiration: “The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative”. There is no single way to find inspiration because we are all influenced by different methods of inspiration. The good news is inspiration is something completely under our control. The trick is to...
Continue reading...What’s Your Excuse?
Excuses If: I had a good education I could get more money I could find a good job Other people understood me Did not fear what they would say Had been given a chance I were younger I could meet the right people I had the talent some people have I dared assert myself The boss would...
Continue reading...Brain On Fear – Table Topics
Glossophobia (Gloss-o-FO-bee-uh) Glossophobia, a fear of public speaking is a common type of social phobia, (social anxiety disorder). Glossophobics feel excessive self-consciousness, fear humiliation in social situations where they may be embarrassed or judged in front of others. Face your fears Envision your fear and take control If Public Speaking was a wild animal? Which animal. How...
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Theme or Speech Ideas Now and then a subject pops up which makes me think, hey, that would make a great classroom discussion, Toastmaster’s or Rotary speech or theme for Table Topic sessions. The Importance of: #1 Silence Why Silence is the Think Tank of the Soul Remarkable things about Silence Silence Important to the Brain #2...
Continue reading...Table Topic: If We Could, Would We?
The 5 W’s Table Topic Questions As we contemplated our assignment to ask our fellow members and guests questions that might provoke thoughtful responses, we remember the 5 W’s as taught to us from an early age. Promote deep thinking with “who, what, when, where, why and how” questions. What would happen if we could travel to...
Continue reading...Cure Glossophobia Through Visualization – Mind Maps
The Brain The primary function of the brain is to ensure survival of the host…you. Cognition From infancy, parents, community, tradition, religion, science, ists and isms and politicians, our brains acquire cognition: knowledge and understanding through learning, experience input from the senses: Sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. Fear / Phobia controlled through the process of cognition....
Continue reading...Speech 3-D Thinking
What is 3-D Thinking? Critical thinking is 3-D thinking. Critical not in the sense of movie critics and bad reviews, but critical as in asking questions and pondering data. Critical thinking happens when you question your own positions and beliefs on issues and events. Most of the time humans operate on auto-pilot, 2-D fast-thinking. This is a...
Continue reading...The Perfect Storm with a Side of Morel Mushrooms – Speech
In our 30’s, we loved to fish and bake our brains in the hot sun in a boat on a lake while playing guess and by golly with striped and bugle mouth bass. It’s a thrill of the hunt sort of exercise. Most of our catches we would apologize to the fish for the trouble and throw...
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