Thoughts While Biking Around The Island of Taiwan As a Christmas present to myself, a toastmaster friend and I joined a bicycling tour around the island of Taiwan—a 950 km ordeal in 9 days. Even though there were 35 members in the group, cycling is by its nature a solitary affair which gives us a lot of time for contemplation. One recurring thought was how similar long distance biking is to Toastmastering and indeed, life itself. To realize the dream of biking around Taiwan, require two items. First, is the willingness to “step out of my comfort zone” --to do something I have never done before and as such, a willingness to be uncomfortable. Secondly, group support and encouragement are of critical importance ( friends helping friends). If my friend and I were to do it alone, it would be so easy to get discouraged for all kinds of reasons such as getting lost, flat tires, the strong headwind, uphill climbs and the persistent physical pain. The rewards along the way are the fellowship and wonderful scenery. However, the biggest and unexpected reward is the transformation that takes place inside after completing the ordeal. The sense of self confidence that permeates our entire being will forever be a part of us and shows up in all that we do. It dawned on me that this bicycling experience is a lot like Toastmastering. Through commitment and fellow members’ support we persist in our practice of public speaking and leadership. We look back on the uneven undulating road traveled and realize that we have grown and even changed. The only difference is that while bicycling has an end point, Toastmastering is a life long journey. ~ George Yen, DTM, Candidate for 2nd Vice President |