Today was my first day as a fully reinstated member of Toastmasters. I was really looking forward to today's meeting because I wanted to get some feedback about which workbook exercise I wanted to use for when I introduce myself to the other members of the club - which is also when I plan to introduce them to what misophonia is.
It was an interesting meeting with two primary presenters: one who read a speech that Steve Jobs wrote for a commencement address and the other honored Julia Childs by talking about how inspirational she was, not only to the speaker, but to people all around the world. I will admit that I'm glad that I sat right next to the lecturn because I wound up having to put in my earplugs to muffle out the sounds of rattling cookie bags. At least I was close enough, and the speakers spoke so eloquently, that I was able to enjoy their presentations.
I don't know how discrete I was in putting in my ear plugs though, and I really hope I didn't offend anyone if they saw me do that. In a way, that's one of the reasons why I'm looking forward to giving my first speech to this club, whenever I get on the schedule. After today's meeting ended, I spoke to the meeting leader because one of the other Toastmasters mentioned she once did an inspirational speech to motivate people about a medical condition too. I'm so glad I spoke with her because she inspired me with how to approach my speech about misophonia...
Many times, people use the "nails on a chalkboard" example to describe what it's like to be exposed to misophonia triggers, but as we were talking about my upcoming speech and what misophonia is, she made a comment about how it sounded very similar to when a person is trapped on a plane with a screaming baby. Not only are you having to internally deal with the anger and frustration of the baby's noise, but you're stuck in a confined space too with no possibility of escape, at least until the plane lands. That made me think of how I felt all the times I was stuck in a conference room meeting with a client, or even while at a family dinner table, unable to leave and escape from triggers out of fear to come across as being rude.
I'm not going to elaborate upon our entire discussion, because I know some of the other members have checked out this blog and I don't want to give any more "spoilers" before my actual presentation. Needless to say, I'm very excited about beginning this journey to brush up on my speaking skills and more formally spread the word about misophonia - this time, vocally.
It was an interesting meeting with two primary presenters: one who read a speech that Steve Jobs wrote for a commencement address and the other honored Julia Childs by talking about how inspirational she was, not only to the speaker, but to people all around the world. I will admit that I'm glad that I sat right next to the lecturn because I wound up having to put in my earplugs to muffle out the sounds of rattling cookie bags. At least I was close enough, and the speakers spoke so eloquently, that I was able to enjoy their presentations.
I don't know how discrete I was in putting in my ear plugs though, and I really hope I didn't offend anyone if they saw me do that. In a way, that's one of the reasons why I'm looking forward to giving my first speech to this club, whenever I get on the schedule. After today's meeting ended, I spoke to the meeting leader because one of the other Toastmasters mentioned she once did an inspirational speech to motivate people about a medical condition too. I'm so glad I spoke with her because she inspired me with how to approach my speech about misophonia...
Many times, people use the "nails on a chalkboard" example to describe what it's like to be exposed to misophonia triggers, but as we were talking about my upcoming speech and what misophonia is, she made a comment about how it sounded very similar to when a person is trapped on a plane with a screaming baby. Not only are you having to internally deal with the anger and frustration of the baby's noise, but you're stuck in a confined space too with no possibility of escape, at least until the plane lands. That made me think of how I felt all the times I was stuck in a conference room meeting with a client, or even while at a family dinner table, unable to leave and escape from triggers out of fear to come across as being rude.
I'm not going to elaborate upon our entire discussion, because I know some of the other members have checked out this blog and I don't want to give any more "spoilers" before my actual presentation. Needless to say, I'm very excited about beginning this journey to brush up on my speaking skills and more formally spread the word about misophonia - this time, vocally.
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