Deepavali Vazhthukkal

To those celebrating, here's wishing you a very Happy Deepavali! 

On Saturday, I stepped up to support Set Yee, Club VP Education at the Kajang Toastmasters meeting at Mitty & beans, Prima Saujana. I took on two roles: Table Topics Master and Table Topics Evaluator. 

Using the theme "Riding the Waves of Life" and the word-of-the-day "navigate", I prepared impromptu questions that drew active participation from those who attended. 

Overall, it was a stimulating session that truly tested the five speakers (two Toastmasters and three non-Toastmasters).

My namesake graciously invited me to promote my two books on public speaking – and I managed to get 5 books sold (three Diamonds and two Pearls). Getting my works out there and into the hands of readers is rewarding!

Photos from the meeting:

Nobody

On Wednesday, I caught up with members of the Super Speakers Toastmasters Club over at CW Tuition Centre in Taman Kinrara, Puchong. 

It turned out to be a solo flight for the assignment speeches, but I was ready to roll! I delivered my Level 1 Ice-Breaker for the Presentation Mastery pathway, titled "Nobody". 

The speech peels back the curtain on who I really am: a quiet soul who genuinely enjoys his own company and spends most of his time alone. An autophile. 

While others dread the silence of an empty room, I welcome it as a sanctuary. For me, solitude isn't a state of lack; it is a full, vibrant landscape where my mind finally has the space to breathe. By spending so much time inhabiting this quiet world, I gradually blended into the background, until I eventually became invisible. And so, a nobody.

This marks my second time hitting the stage this week and #964 overall. 

Other meeting highlights: Stepped up as Ah-Counter. Sold a copy of Pearls. And our happiest thanks to Khalid Idris for bringing sweet relief and smiles with his legendary ice cream potong! (Mine was a durian flavor, and it was absolute bliss!) 

Here is me sharing photos of the meeting:

Nine Lives

On Monday, after a brief sabbatical – okay, a long, unauthorized hiatus – I finally returned to the Money & You Toastmasters Club at Commercial Circle Sdn Bhd, on Jalan 1/137B, 5th Mile, Old Klang Road in Kuala Lumpur. 

[I used to be a regular there. I even paid dues for an entire term, which technically makes me a lifetime alumnus in my own mind]. 😜  

A huge thank you to Chin Siew Mui for advocating for me and securing one of only two coveted speaking slots. 

I stepped up to deliver "Nine Lives", my second speech for Project 4, Level 1 under the Engaging with Humor pathway. Milestone unlocked: this marks my 963rd speech!

My speech focused on a confession: for a long time, I genuinely believed I was a cat. While it may sound bizarre, it is a recognized clinical condition known as galeanthropy. 

Convinced of my feline identity, I lived under the illusion that I had nine lives. Looking back, I shared how I spent eight of those metaphorical lives just trying to find my footing. 

Pointedly, I told my audience not to wait until they are down to their final chance to start valuing the only life they actually have. Learn from my missing eight lives, so they don't have to waste theirs. 

Now, on my ninth and "last" life, I urged them to trade the fiction of nine lives for the friction of a real one. We only get one shot – let's make sure we live it purposefully and meaningfully.

My evaluator, Kelly Chaw from Sunway Toastmasters Club, made a great point. She said I ended my speech on a serious note and that it could actually be enhanced with a bit of humour. 

Anyway, it was a good speech and a good meeting! 

As a footnote, four attendees were inspired to purchase six of my books (two Diamonds and four Pearls).