Melissa

Last week I had the pleasure of having dinner with some fellow Notable Northgaters after our meeting. We talked about all kinds of things, including marathons. Specifically, why someone would go out and perform a task where the very first person to do that same task died immediately afterwards?

The answer to that question is to do something, to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Completing a marathon, even a half marathon, is not easy. It’s hard work. It takes months of training and is often painful and scary. With the proper training anyone can complete a marathon, yet only 1 percent of the world’s population has ever done it.

At this point, I’m sure you’re wondering what any of this has to do with Toastmasters. Everything really. Why would we as Toastmasters willingly show up every week to speak in public? Why would we willing do the one thing that more people are scared of then dying? Because we want to do something, to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. Everyone brings something to the Toastmasters experience that the rest of us can learn from.

As 2009 comes to end, I challenge you to look back at the year and see how far you?ve come. Did you complete your CC or CL? Or perhaps an advanced award? I challenge you further to look to the year ahead. What will you achieve in 2010? How much will you grow, how far will you go? I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and all the success in the world in 2010.