11/27/2023
I wish to share a quote from the NY Times guest essay today. Toastmasters has the power to transform lives.
"My interest in rhetoric began in 2010, during a chat with my extremely reclusive Iowa step-cousin. He’d lived alone until the age of 60 in his parents’ basement with no friends, no girlfriends, then surprised the entire family by meeting someone and getting married. I asked him how he’d mustered up the courage to approach his future wife, given the depths of his isolation. “I joined the Toastmasters,” he said, referring to what is likely the world’s largest organization devoted to teaching public speaking. He’d never seen a therapist or taken meds. One or two dozen hours of speech training changed his entire life. I’ve since learned that this is what speech training does. When speakers put themselves in their listener’s place, they find it easier to explain themselves. The confidence that we can make ourselves known and understood is transformative."
I subscribe and can share the link, but I am not sure how many will be able to read the full article free. It's called "An Ancient Solution to Our Current Crisis of Disconnection" and was pubished Nov. 27, 2023.
Rhetorical training is tantamount to installing the operating system for adult social life.
