SUMMER LOTUS

If you love nature and walking, this is the perfect destination for you even when many parts of Japan is sweltering in summer.

Stepping off the platform at Karuizawa station, one could not help but feel that this is an unconventional part of Japan— a best kept secret that the natives probably like to keep for themselves.

I am in the Europe of Japan, the Shin-karuizawa area of karuizawa town. With my friend, Rosemary, we have come here with the sole purpose of “Momijigari” — an activity to view autumn leaves, specifically the maple leaves of Japan. No skyscrapers are visible, no obstructive sign boards and no heart stopping traffic in sight. What capture my senses is the crisp, cool and pristine air and the open spaces that this place instantly avails.

Karuizawa and its history

Karuizawa town’s total area of 156 sq km with a population close to 18000 is nestled in the east end of Nagano prefecture at the foot of Mount Asama, 1000 metres above sea-level. The average temperature here is 22 degrees though in winter it can be colder than Hokkaido. Originally it functioned as one of the shukubas or post stations for travellers who sought lodgings and transit for their goods and horses during the Edo era. In the Meiji era, the place declined when travellers to this place reduced.

In 1886, an English missionary, Alexander Croft Shaw came to Karuizawa and loved this place as it reminded him of his native Scotland. He set up residence in Kyu karuizawa (Old Karuizawa). Other foreign missionaries followed suit and today it is not surprising to find many small churches dotting the wooded hinterland. Many famous people also came to build their cottages here as their second residences.

With the development of the high speed rail link, it has become a very popular summer retreat from Tokyo’s fast paced life and also the suffocating heat in the summer months. Karuizawa is known during the 1998 winter olympics to hold the curling events though it was hosted in Nagano. Another notable event was that the fact that Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko first met each other at the Karuizawa Tennis court in 1957 and romance blossomed between them .

Plenty of Activities for the nature lovers

Karuizawa is a blissful sanctuary for nature lovers and hot spring aficionados.

As an avid walker, I am immensely interested in the abundant walking trails that this town gives. For a start, walking down Hondori (main street) from Karuizawa station then turning into Kyu karuizawa Ginza street, looking at the architecture of each low level building is a delectable experience. Some are still restored to old ryokans (traditional Japanese inns).

Around this time in October, the trees lining the roads are already ablaze with the yellow, orange and red hues of autumn.

Many of the shops in the buildings sell Japanese mechandise, jams and juices being an outstanding produce and gift ideas from this town. Delicious bakeries, fine craft shops, souvenir shops, ham and sausage eateries, boutique hotels, fine dining restaurants make us stop in our tracks to check them out. The myriad number of art museums and galleries can also be enjoyed for an entrance fee.

Indeed, many visitors use rented bicycles to explore Karuizawa town. Taxis or rented cars may help one access further spots.

At the end of Kyu Karuizawa, the stores vanished to be taken over by lush birch and larch trees which seem to spread out into eternity. Around this area, we spotted the Shaw Memorial Chapel and behind it is the Shaw house which is a two storied wooden building that has a Japanese exterior but European interior. This is the first western styled summer house of Karuizawa. Looking out from his windows, one can understand how Alexander Croft Shaw is charmed by the rich green forest and the peace of the surroundings.

At the bus stand not too far away (Nite bridge), a vintage looking red Karuizawa kotsu bus would stop at scheduled times and allow visitors to get off at several stops. One way is Y500 but two ways is Y750. The kotsu bus commences from Karuizawa station and provides a perfect way to enjoy all the sights of this quaint town.

With this bus, we had a pleasant ride up the inclined path to the Usui Pass Observation Platform. By walking, it takes 1 hour 30 minutes. This summit otherwise known as the Mihadai or sunset point gives a panoramic view of Mt Asama, Mt Myogi and the surrounding mountain range.

It is indeed a wonderful experience to take in the sights at this height of 1200m ; the thick foliage with autumn leaves of red, yellow, orange and brown whirling and wreathing in the sharp cool breeze, the silhouette of the gentle mountain range stood steadfast in the background.

Nearby is the Kumano shrine. There is a beautiful leafy trail that takes 2 hours to walk down back to where we took the bus. At the entrance of this trail is a sign showing ‘there are bears” . One way to keep them at bay is by making noise with a bell or even conversation.

Another beautiful hiking trail with the option of hopping on the bus midway should one decide not to continue walking is the trip to Shiraito falls. You can access Shiraito falls by public bus outside the Karuizawa station. The ride is about 30 minutes, taking you through lush forest of larch, which is by now bursting with autumn splendour. Shiraito falls means white thread falls and is a 3m high by 30m wide crescent shaped waterfall. Clear water originates from Yugawa river and gushes out from the grounds of Mt Asama. The water fell over the rocks like fine white threads, hence its name.

From Shirato falls, some may choose to trek back to Kyu karuizawa, ‘the Ginza district’ of Karuizawa or use the bus which do stop at another falls called the Ryugaeshi falls.

A notable stop by the bus is at the Old Mikasa Hotel from which a 20 minutes walk will lead back to Kyu karuizawa street. This hotel is an entirely wooden hotel made mostly of cypress wood with western architecture designed and built by the Japanese (1906 to 1970). It was frequented by foreigners and influential people from political and financial circles. It was designated as a national cultural asset since and opened to public viewing (entrance fee Y400). What is most distinctive about this hotel are its ornamental features such as the geometrically designed window frames, engraved curtain boxes and the use of curved brackets. Inside, the retro décor of that era still exudes old world charm.

Manpei Hotel, an old building in a secluded part of the town but restored to its former glory, still functions as a hotel and is a leisurely 15 mins walk on an idyllic path off the main road or kyu karuizawa. John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono spent many summers at this monumental Manpei Hotel.

A 15 minutes brisk walk from our hotel on hondori road(main road) brings us to Kumoba pond where more autumn ambiance and one may be savor this season to the fullest. Amid the calm reflective water, the trees encircling the pond, the walking trails round the pond gives a different angle to appreciating the beauty of this place.

The options for trekking and nature indulgence is limitless as naka-karuizawa (inner karuizawa)and minami-karuizawa (southern part)also offer more nature trails and activities like birds gazing, golf, horse-riding etc . They are hugely popular past-times.

Food, Shopping and Accommodation

Food in Karuizawa is as refined as the place itself. Among the foods, tender and juicy Wagyu beef with salad, rice and soup was an unforgettable et meal at the food street near the factory outlet. Even an unassuming corner shop serves up the most delicious kinoko(mushroom) pasta.

Besides shopping at the kyu-karuizawa “Ginza” district, the upscale factory outlet (Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza)that is located near the karuizawa station itself is a great window-shopping experience but one has to look hard for bargains . Cost of accommodations are not as formidable as it was thought given this upscale resort town.

Besides hotels, boutique hotels, there are also minshuku (people’s inn) or Japanese guest houses. They are often family run giving you the simple traditional Japanese experience without breaking your bank account. Bath facilities are usually shared. Another budget option is the pension houses that are also often family run. The difference is that they are western style houses.

There is so much more to explore in Karuizawa such as Naka Karuizawa which is an area with upper class restaurants, cafes and shops. You can spend a wonderful time here just sipping coffee and be immersed in the subtle sounds and sights of nature.

While in Karuizawa, it is a good opportunity to take half a day to go to Nagano to visit the world’s only hotspring where the macaque monkeys or snow monkeys live naturally and love soaking in the hot springs heated by the Shiga Kogen volcano. The Jikokudani spa literally means ‘Hell’s valley spa’ and it has acquired this name from the hot steaming water that the monkeys soak in.

The journey to Hell’s valley spa starts from Nagano station. From here, by the modes of transport listed at the bottom of this page, you would arrive at Kanbayashi spa area. Here you would begin your most refreshing trek through the forest that ‘Yumichi promenade’ which would lead to the snow monkey spa park.

This 25 minute trek through the green forest is the most serene I have ever experienced despite being quite deserted. It is not uncommon to spot some local elderly people soldiering on slowly. At one point, the valley would appear in front of you and the sun suddenly shines brightly after the shaded forest trail . The steamy hotsprings can be sighted in the open distance. During our walk, we saw in the distance a brave soul soaking in the hot spring and basking in the glorious sun. He was oblivious to us looking from across the valley.

The entrance to the monkey spa costs Y500. If you walk further down the boardwalk, you would see the snow monkeys frolicking in the hot water pools, some chasing each other and also many more sitting pensively along the edge of the steep cliffs around the area. Do watch your belongings or they may be snatched away. The macaque monkeys make very good subjects for photo taking. Indeed, this is a place that should not be missed if you have come this far to Karuizawa.

Karuizawa can be a day trip from Tokyo but to really enjoy this wooded area, its history and culture, it is advisable to have at least an overnight stay. You are guaranteed to feel refreshed and recharged after this and will wish that you had stayed longer.

How to get there:

Karuizawa: From Tokyo station ride the JR Nagano Shinkansen “ Asama” (bullet train)It takes 1 hour 20 minutes to Karuizawa station.

Snow monkey spa of Hell’s valley spa in Nagano : From Karuizawa station ride the JR Nagano Shinkansen (30 minutes )to Nagano station.

Change at Nagano Station to Nagano Dentetsu railway line( 50 minutes)

Get off at Yudanaka station to catch the bus to Kanbayashi onsen area (12 minutes)

See signboard of Jigogudani or Hell valley spa and walk to monkey spa (30 minutes)

Here are five quick tips

Money and time. It is said that time is money but they are not the same. If you have time and the wisdom and persistence to achieve, you may make money. If you have money but poor use of time, you would not be able to use your money optimally.

Time is fair. It accords us each 24 hours everyday and it is up to you to make full use of it. Money is tangible but time is not. It slips away without your knowledge, it is marching onwards into eternity.

So often, it is said that youth is wasted on the young. Some people think that there is always time on their hands, some never realize that time is elusive and in their graying years become filled with remorse over what they could have done with their lives. Let us be mindful now !

You can achieve much ! What one needs is a series of steps.

Until we can manage time, we can manage nothing else — — Peter Drucker

Keys to time management;

1 Schedule your program and stick to it

It is similar to financial management. If you have a certain budget, you do not overspend. You spend on what is important and necessary. In the same vein, you could allot time for what is urgent and required to be completed first and do it at the time stated. In other words, prioritize and also delegate where needed. Like in the corporate world, you have a time and interval for meeting, a deadline for your project and a scheduled overseas call. Everything will fall in place if you have a system.

2 Persist with your plan

If you tend to sit on your laurels until you feel the deadline draws nearer or you are a whimsical person, put a stop to this bad habit. Just get cracking if you really want to see results. Where this concerned, the ball is really in your court. Take baby steps if necessary but the key is to get started and keep your goal in mind till you finish.

3 Make full use of your ‘fragmented’ moments

In between work, there may be pockets of free time. Even while waiting to commute or your transport runs late, you could strategise on your next plan. Using this time for example to make an online payment or learn some new words from dictionary.com are time well spent. On my way to work in the train, once my priorities are planned, I would commit to memory new vocabularies and phrases, meaningful quotes by famous authors which I then apply to my life. It also make the train journey less arduous.

4 Be punctual. Being on time shows preparedness. It proves that you are respectful of the person you are meeting, are committed to what the meeting is about. Only then will you be taken seriously. Being early is a greater virtue but being punctual certainly is a mark of courtesy. A missed appointment is a missed opportunity that may never come by again.

5 Learn to say no. Decline requests to do many things if you are already super busy. It is better to be truthful that you may not be able to give a good result to what is requested than to assume the role and not even embark on it. It is disappointing and a time waster to the person who had expected a good favor from you. When you are spread too thin, you would have to reconsider what are the issues that you have to drop or attend to them at a later date.

A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life — — Charles Darwin

Time is money and cannot be bought.

Time is opportunity and it allows you to attain your goals if you manage it well.

Time is life and wasting it is equivalent to wasting your precious life on this planet.

With this value in your hands, you could seize back more control and make the most of your life.

The war slogan that inspire us… its history and application today

Everyday is a test — — of my resolve to keep calm and carry on doing things that I have to do. Everyday brings with it new demands. When one lot of work gets done, you bet another one will pop up whether it is office matters or personal challenges and pose a barrier to your otherwise perfect day.

I try to take it in my stride. Sometimes they are not my problems but others. But I always feel that Providence has been so kind to me in that I have managed to overcome most of my obstacles in my own way without much disastrous effects. Then it is my obligation as a mortal being to lessen the suffering of others in little ways that I can offer.

It helps if I keep calm. I am by nature anxious, excitable, worrying and impatient. Those are not ingredients for a placid mind but age has a blunting effect on our emotions. To be more accurate, one has to experience certain amount of vicissitudes of living to become stronger and attain a peaceful mind. In Asia, we call that ‘Having eaten more salt than rice” as the old folks would say. Translated as ‘seen much, done much’, nothing surprises anymore. Not even a crisis. Everything will turn out all right.

Whatever life brings, “Keep calm and carry on”. One day, I received as a gift a laptop cover with these words. I chanced upon the origin of this phrase while surfing the internet.

History of the slogan “ Keep calm and Carry on”

In 1939, with the threat of WWII against Germany looming, the British government commissioned the design of war propaganda posters to raise the morale of the public in case of massive air attacks on major cities.

It features a king’s crown, a symbol of the state, set against a red background with the words “Keep calm and carry on”.

2 1/2 million copies were printed but the posters were not sanctioned for immediate public display and placed in Cold Storage even though the War raids happened. After the war, the prints were largely pulped to save paper.

In 2000, an original copy was somehow discovered under some books at an auction by a bookseller, Stuart Marley and his Wife. The couple who bought it , decided to frame it and put in the shop. Lots of people liked it and wanted to buy .

Eventually they made copies for sale and sales soared. Other companies started to use it as a theme for many products with these five words appearing on mugs, bags, t-shirts even to this day.

There was so much interest that it even sparked a trademark war.Almost 80 years on, the phrase that was supposed to be a propaganda of that era has undergone a dramatic change. Originally, it was to show a kind of British trait , a bravado in the face of war , that literally would call for them to ‘ pull together, have a cup of tea and get on with it” This slogan has found its place all over the world in times of personal and national crises even today.

Now, because of commercialism, this phrase has been trivialized- you see products, slogans , speeches using this phrase and they have added their own concept. One says

• keep calm and drink tea -Mug
• Keep calm and call Mom- sticker
• Keep calm and sit down -chair …… and so on….

Whatever the modified phrase is, it calls out for us to remain calm in the event of adversity, difficulty or crisis. That is the start of resolving or alleviating a problem. No amount of shouting or crying or complaining helps. Such behavior would only muddles the mind.

“Set peace of mind as your highest goal and organize your life around it”—-Brian Tracy

I think that this phrase reflects an important attitude to life that we all should adopt. In a crisis of any sorts, life still have to go on, so keep calm , you can think better! Then carry on and do your best!

I almost think this should be on everyone’s lips. Problems don’t go away- they wait to get solved with a calm mind. It is very testy, mind you. It is easier said than done and that is the challenge.

In my clinical session, patients are often nervous and some would actually feel faint. Even if the job is difficult, a dentist should always keep calm or would add anxiety to the patient. We smile, joke a little, speak gently and move slowly all to put the patient at ease. With that mentality, the problem is often resolved without any issue as the patient becomes more co-operative.

So many times I have to keep my cool when problems erupt whether it involves myself or my loved ones. I may be in the midst of my work or on a vacation. Nothing should break my peace because I know and trust that things would turn out alright. Even if it does not, something good would come out of it. So, there are rarely disruptions in my life at least mentally and emotionally because it is all in our mind to control any upheaval. That is the way to live.

I can attest to this personal growth and after 30 years, I am still reaping its benefits.

I have been a Toastmaster for close to thirty years. Though my progress in public speaking has been slow due to my own degree of participation, I have improved markedly over the last few years.

Now, I do not dread taking up speech projects when asked. I am more aware of the requirements of the speech and have often met its objectives which is part of the training of Toastmasters. Most important, I have managed to let go of my crutch which is my script or my notes. By doing that, I have learnt to control my fear of public speaking, appear more authentic and courageous by engaging the audience as well as ad lib where necessary. I have not fainted as feared because of the loss of words sometimes.

I am glad that I did not give up on this activity and unlikely to ever do so. Some of us are old timers, mostly in their fifties and sixties and are still reaping the joy and benefits of being Toastmasters. There are good reasons if you would read on….

Real stories of members

1 Member A lost her job recently but was able to secure a new job although she was already in her sixties. During her job interview, she stood out among her younger contenders. She knew that her chances were slim but she is capable. Being a long time Toastmaster had built her self confidence, mindfulness and poise. She told the interviewers after the discussion, “ Please do not judge me by my age but by my performance” . She got the job and have proven her worth since. She attributed a large part of her success to Toastmasters activity.

2 Another senior member B is nearing seventy years old. She is still working in the financial sector and doing well. She has won awards and company trips. She has attributed her success in her career to being a Toastmaster too. The public speaking skills acquired have helped her in doing sincere and succinct presentation to her clients. Not forgetting the listening skills that are developed when you participate in the club. When there is clarity, there is understanding of her products and services.

3 I have also watched new Toastmasters who are not that articulate when they first joined the club. But they have persistence and passion to achieve the ability to communicate well with the audience. Though English language may not be their mother tongue, yet at least three of them became champions in our club speech contests at different times beating the native speakers.

4 It was personal growth that I have gained. I have become less self conscious and am able to articulate my points in a more organized manner though I think that there is still plenty of room for improvement in terms of persuasiveness. It is a knack that will take more time to acquire and I only have myself to blame for not being more active in my club’s program in my earlier years. I feel that I am having a nice career. Aside from doing my best clinically, I am able to explain to my patients in a very clear and systematic way so that they would understand their condition and treatment. So far, my clinical sessions have been smooth going.

Why Toastmasters is so effective and beneficial

Like my fellow members, I must credit Toastmasters activity to my full development as a better communicator and the reasons are as follows-

1 A very good club environment where members come from diverse backgrounds so there is so much to learn in one meeting. A fantastic networking opportunity as well and a ready positive audience.

2 A very comprehensive program with guidance from structured manuals. This enables the members to grow at their own pace- You hastened your own progress if you volunteer to take on speech projects more regularly and prepare diligently. The projects also have increasing levels of difficulty which is a good challenge to attain greater heights in presentation.

3 A mentor- mentee system where the mentor could hone his critical judging skills to advise his mentee in a constructive and sensitive manner. The mentee receives very useful feedback from an experienced member and feels supported to achieve his goals.

4 A toastmaster that takes part in the Chapter meetings has a chance to play a different role each time and build up different significant skills. The role players for the evening range from;

a) Sergeant at arms who starts the club meetings rolling and gets everyone warmed up with a short speech on a certain theme. He or she also takes care of the logistics.

b) The emcee who is the Toastmasters of the evening introduces the speakers and ensure that the club meetings run according to the program sheet.

c) The table topics master dishes out topics for members to speak extemporaneously so that we all learn to speak off the cuff . With constant practice, we could organize our ideas with a good message to boot.

d) The timer-keeper keeps track of the time each speaker has taken so that each speaker speaks within the time allotted and the meeting ends on time.

e) The ah counter counts fillers which are unnecessary time wasters like ‘Um”, “ you see” and so on. Members are fined S$1 if more than five fillers are uttered to add to the club’s coffers.

e) A few project speakers are appointed for the meeting and they are expected to deliver their prepared speeches.

f) Evaluators who are usually experienced Toastmasters are appointed to give feedback on the speakers for their further improvement. As they say, “ One may be too close to the forest to see the trees” and most speakers do not see their own flaws such as a speech content or delivery flaw or poor gestures and postures or lack of.

g) Language Evaluator or Grammarian would evaluate the use or misuse of the English language so that all members would be encouraged not to make the same mistakes again in terms of grammar, syntax, words choice, pronunciation, etc. I feel that Toastmasters activity is an extension of learning English in schools in a more in-depth manner.

h) The General evaluator gives feedback on the whole night’s proceedings such as how the meeting is being run, the performance by role players, the food and add if any to the constructive feedback of any speakers as well as make further suggestions for future meetings.

i) We must not forget the President of the club who has the privilege of being a leader and has the duty of giving the opening speech as well as the closing address. He or she would have the opportunity of giving at least twenty speeches in his or her term. The improvement becomes obvious for each president as I have witnessed over the years. It was my term as the club’s President that I learnt to lose my script or crutch as I called it, feeling better than ever. I also develop the increasing ease with which I could craft a seven minute speech. It is the training that comes with the duty of this role.

j) Aside from the individual responsibility as a member, the club has an exco committee that meets regularly to plan events for its members. Here, we groom ourselves into leaders and organizers. The club activities could evolve and a new committee is formed each year under a new President (committee members may volunteer for another role such as treasurer or secretary, etc) and the club could continue to benefit its members and new comers.

Hidden Advantages

1 Due to the need to prepare for the project speeches, the member has to read more. This can only be beneficial as one has to put on the thinking cap. Reading is often neglected once a person graduates from school. He or she becomes involved only with the job and hobby and have forgotten that the greatest treasure and wisdom lies in reading. Being a Toastmaster will revive this need and develop the interest. This greatly helps in writing a good speech content.

2 Aside from learning and delivering the presentation skills, subtle improvements such as time keeping of one’s speech is acquired. This is very important as I have come across speakers who have no respect for the time allotted to them and allowed their presentation to eat into the audience’s breaktime. The audience have by then already tuned him or her out!

There was once, the speaker before me took 30 minutes of my speech time and hence dinner was further delayed following my presentation. I condensed my speech which became hurried but I had to alleviate the situation by telling everyone that I understood that our sugar levels were getting low and to bear with me while I tried to be concise. The audience laughed.

3 Toastmasters club provides many roles. When a member emcees the meeting, he or she learns to rise to the occasion with grace. He introduces the speaker appropriately and make sure that the lectern is properly handed over to the next speaker. There is smooth transition from one speaker to another and also between different parts of the program. The Toastmaster of the evening as we call him or her can make or break the meeting. This is a very important skill that is often needed in corporate meetings and therein lies the secret training available in our club!

4 You may think that you are not cut for public speaking. I used to think so too. As a dentist, my opportunity to speak outside my field is limited. We do not jaw enough, so to speak. Hence, my decision to join Toastmasters and it is the best thing that I have done in my life. Building self confidence, a new skill and developing the sense of well being are just some things money cannot buy.

5 An astute listener and critical thinker is what you may become. Since you need to evaluate your speaker, you must learn to listen well and observe their manner of delivery. Listening is key to a successful negotiation in business too. By listening with a heart and thinking critically so that you can give a constructive feedback to your fellow member for him to perform better is the best gift . These acquired traits would also make your family happy too as you become more mindful and sensitive to others.

Begin your journey with Toastmasters International now. I am not appealing for this action with any commercial benefits involved but purely out of the good that Toastmasters has done for me. I want to spread this great activity that is the brainchild of Ralph Smedley and you can read about how this movement have benefited countless all over the world.

Public Speaking is as necessary as the need to be able to swim to survive in the water. In the corporate world, the people with the ideas and the communication skills to advocate them are the winners. But to put forth your knowledge in an impressive and succinct manner simply makes one unbeatable.

Are you afraid of speaking in public

Do you notice people who can speak well do well too?

Do you wish to communicate your ideas in an impressive manner?

Do you want to make a difference but am held back by the lack of skills in speaking?

There are Toastmasters club in 143 countries today. Find out in your community.

As Nike says, “ Do it now”

Ralph Smedley, the founder of Toastmasters International

SIM II Toastmasters Club in Singapore

Do not underestimate the power of this skill

Personal history

Something was missing in my life when I was young. I was a real introvert, just doing my stuff quietly and always shadowing others. However, I always wanted good things for myself at least a reputable school.

I managed to get into reputable schools from a young age by the skin of my teeth where the grades just made it but I was greatly disillusioned with myself. At these schools, you would see talented young people since the schools are highly ranked. Some of my classmates were articulate, well read and rich. Many were not rich but they were highly intelligent. Some of them could even waxed poetical and some were simply mathematics geniuses. I was neither knowledgeable nor rich nor vocal and that truly put me in a disadvantaged position. To make matters worse, I was a stutterer.

On top of that, many of these outstanding students were also well rounded excelling in sports and extra curricular activities They were clearly leaders of tomorrow. I realized one hard truth — the world favors the rich, the smart and the outstanding people.

I continued my mediocre journey into the University. During Orientation, we had to go individually onto the stage to introduce ourselves. I almost died , having no experience in public speaking. University orientation was meant to be humiliating to humble the new comers, an odd tradition. Anyway, to cut my agony, I was shooed off the stage. Some brave vocal young classmates of mine performed well and were immediately glorified.

Subsequently after the trauma and the shame, I did not have a voice largely and chose to keep quiet throughout my next four years. I did not participate in any activities or took on leadership roles as expected. I did not feel equipped. Even until I worked as a graduate dentist.

Taking action

One day, something clicked in me. There was somebody trying to get out of me and it was trying to assert itself. I embarked on my quest to learn public speaking. I first signed up with BBC council for just three sessions. The agonizing part was to be videotaped and watched myself fumbled and mumbled and stuttered. It was embarrassing and brought back painful memories of my inadequate past.

The course ended but not my pursuit of this new dream to be articulate. Everyday after work, I whipped out a book and practised reading aloud for twenty minutes to control my stuttering. Sometimes, I would tape myself though I hate my voice. It was not melodious enough.

Then I signed up for Dale Carnegie course that was available then. They taught public speaking and assured us that at the end of the ten sessions, we would be able to hold at least a 5 minute speech. On the first session, my self-introduction lasted 9 seconds. Among the students were professionals like myself, directors and managers, executives and office workers. We all had the fear of public speaking.

It was a well -organized course. The instructor’s message was forceful and inspiring each time . After his speech, the stage was ours. Each session, we were given a theme. It was ‘anger’, then ‘sorrow’ then ‘humor’ and so on and we were urged to prepare sincerely for our homework.

It was fun. The sessions were meant to elicit our emotions and in the process caused us to drop our facade and we would become our more authentic selves. We saw the improvement in each other. When the course ended, I felt that I have improved judging from the increased time I spent delivering my speech. No mean feat for an introvert.

The fear of public speaking never went away. So the quest to hone public speaking skill had to continue. It was during this time, I came across a Toastmasters club ( SIM II Toastmasters Club )which was gaining popularity among many clubs in Singapore. Toastmasters clubs are part of Toastmasters International, a non profit organization, first started by Ralph Smedley in the US in 1924.

Its purpose was to develop public speaking and leadership skills. But over the years, one develops increased confidence, listening skills, networking and many other intrinsic benefits. Today, it has become a movement with 357,000 members in 143 countries.

Benefits

That was in 1990 when I first joined SIM II Toastmasters club. Almost thirty years later, I am still with the club and we have certainly evolved. In the process of being a Toastmaster, we have taken on many roles during our chapter meetings from President to Vice president of Education to treasurer to secretary and so on. Each has its responsibilities and we learned new things other than our jobs. Most important, we learnt how to present a structured relevant speech that engages the audience, within the time allowed and speak with a good control of our nervousness if any.

During the chapter meetings, we also learn the proper and good use of English language which I find ever charming to my ears. Postures, gestures were all considered. We improve through the evaluations by more experienced fellow Toastmasters members and there is a mentor system as well to help new members get started.

Due to the diverse culture in the club and the sharing of ideas through project speeches, each member gains tremendous knowledge from outside their field and a better understanding of fellow members.

Significance of public speaking

I can attest to the benefits of Toastmasters.

People who joined public speaking courses and are willing to work at this craft would see tremendous personal growth. I have witnessed new members who came in without a system so to speak of putting across their ideas undergo change when they do their project speeches. A structured manual is given to new members. Once they get started, they should improve on the next speech following the evaluations given to them during the previous presentation.

Two members from China who were not particularly articulate at first but due to their own diligence emerged champions in club contests. The experience and recognition were also important attributes of their resumes. Subsequently, they have also advanced in their careers.

I have benefited much too. I feel more confident and have a sense of well being — — of being able to communicate effectively, of being able to negotiate better and understand others better as they may not be able to express themselves well. I have also succeeded in losing my ‘crutch’ which is my script to appear more professional. I have reduced my time fillers which are words of no meaning but used to fill silence during speaking such as ‘um’ , ‘ah’ and ‘you know’.

As a dental surgeon, I am able to explain succinctly my protocol to my patients and also handle any misunderstanding with ease. It all boils down to effective communication. Patients leave the practice happily, understanding the treatment they have received and this translates into more referrals. Everyday, it has been a pleasant working time.

The reality is that people at the top and in key positions are often people who are articulate. They are seen as leaders who dare to speak and can lead the followers. The truth is that people who can communicate well are seen as more friendly and attractive. The certainty is that you will have more success in what you want to achieve.

The ball is in your court

Do you want measurable personal growth?

Do you want to build self confidence and a sense of well being?

Do you want to advance rapidly in your career?

Do you want to be able to tell your stories and enthrall your audience?

Do you want to make more friends?

Do you want more opportunities in life?

Do you want to be respected for your ability to communicate?

Do you want to become more mindful everyday?

The benefits are immeasurable. I noticed that those members who brought younger children to observe the club meetings( they are not allowed to be members until 21 years old) improved in subtle ways. By inviting them to stand up and introduce themselves, it is a good start to becoming future toastmasters.

I followed these children and found that they have gone on to do well in school, participating in their school story telling contests. One teenager developed good communication skills and confidence enough to start a magic performance career.

Whether young or old, working or retired, public speaking is an essential skill to master. Life is so much more interesting when one is able to communicate well. Misunderstandings could be averted. Instructions could be carried out to a T. Opportunities opened up suddenly. This IS the secret to success and not many people are even aware of it.

The founder of Toastmasters International

SIM II Toastmasters club in Singapore

ways to increase your ideas are within your reach

I wrote several titles down in my draft but when I started typing, I drifted from topic to topic with nothing flowing from my pen. I went no further than a few sentences. I did not panic. It was not the end. Everything would be temporary. Suddenly, I became enlightened and I began to write about ‘mental block’.

It is not unusual to have a blank in our minds. That happened many times during my exams in University days due to the stress of studying. I was too anxious about the performance. When I looked back at the questions later, I would often regret greatly. I knew that I could have done much better even without mugging. The intensiveness of the situation had robbed me of the clarity of mind. All I needed was to relax, spot my questions, used my common sense. I had done regular studies anyway.

I am facing the same situation now and the past flooded back. It had also happened in my public speaking experiences. I would take a deep breath and wait. The mind is a wonderful thing that will serve you well if one does not coerce it too much. Soon the thoughts return. Ideas arise. We just need to believe in ourselves. When caught in a ‘stucked’ situation during writing, I learned to do the following…

1 Seek your strength in solitude. A quiet place, a corner, any place where you are unlikely to be interrupted and you will ease into a situation of mental activity that is not only productive but also far sighted. For me, it could be in the washroom sitting on the water closet, sitting at my desk even lying on the floor or bed. Just by myself.

2 Do not badger yourself over the loss of words. Get in touch with your feelings, your thoughts and your desires. Even a minute of meditation or a power nap does wonders. I am currently sitting at my desk in my room at 12.30am and ideas just flow. There are many ways to release your thoughts.

3 Sometimes I would play some music on my laptop while typing my story. I prefer soft music, something sentimental, sometimes classic that somehow elevates my mood and sets the tempo. It is as if my fingers are typing in tandem with the rhythm of the piece.

Once, I listened to a saxophone piece by Kenny G which was used as the background music to my recorded scuba diving tape and suddenly the wonderful underwater experience in the Maldivian waters played in my mind. There is something to write about.

4 The waft of aromatherapy even comes into play. To calm my senses, let flow the thoughts as I ruminate about the day, the week or the past. Positive or negative events, the aroma usually wakes my brain, sometimes it soothes it and I am able to narrate the incidents with a positive perspective of viewing them. Suddenly, I have so many stories to tell.

5 I found that old photos have a magical effect of evoking certain emotions that can spark a whole line of thinking. I marvelled at how time razed past me, how youth was especially a beautiful and special time. Getting older can make one more sanguine, it all depends on yourself. Youth was marked by a lot of angst and anguish because of the folly of youth. But as they say, they are only lessons from which we emerged better beings.

Judging from the amount of travel that my husband and I who are travel bugs did, the pictures make for innumerable interesting stories if we start to recall them. Travelling is indeed a source of inspiration for the mind.

6 The aroma of food and a delicious drink could stimulate my thinking cap. I am fortunate to have a domestic helper who is a great cook. I always said she is a Michelin one star cook. I watched her prepare her ingredients with great care and combination. Then the cooking began and she could transform those stuff into an art of a dish with an exquisite taste to go with. One time, my spouse was waxing poetical as if he had ascended to food heaven. My helper and I were totally amused how good food could elicit such a reaction. This incident or the cook herself and her intensive passion in culinary matters could well be an exhausting article to write about.

7 Now an idea pops up. Yes, it is walking which has a positive effect on creativity. A Stanford study has shown walking benefits one by boosting our ideas. Personally, whenever I feel stuck, I would walk to the kitchen, get a drink, move about in the garden for a while. Sometimes, I would go for my short brisk walking near my home and come back often with fresh ideas. That was an instinctive thing that I do.

Who says we have no ideas about what to write. Your five senses are your keys to writing. Use them. Most important, breathe and relax your whole being and see that every situation is temporary. Journaling has allowed me to get in touch with myself. These days, my mental blocks have decreased. Words, names , ideas, understanding, etc comes to me. It is a matter of patience and those steps mentioned may expedite it.