Monday, September 20, 2021
My winning answer to table topics question: which one sense would you rather keep if you had to lose all but one?
At Harrovians Speakers' club in London (on Zoom on the internet), September 20th 2021 I replied:
Sight, definitely. Because I am clumsy, and inclined to fall over, too, I need my sight to see where I am walking, outdoors and indoors.
Also on Zoom at Toastmasters meeting I can follow what is going on with the ticker tape speech to sound at the bottom of the screen. If I have to speak the same can happen.
I admire Helen Keller. She was able to give speeches when she was both deaf and blind. People tend to hear and see less well as they get older. /Most people lose some of their sight or hearing as they get older.
My parents both lost some of their hearing when they got older. So did my beloved uncle, but he was able to play the violin.
I use some sight now to understand what people are saying. You know that if you put me on mute or if I simply mouthed thank you, you could see what I was saying. The same applies (offline) when driving. You can see if another driver mouths thank you. Or another two word message, when I shall describe as get lost as families may be watching.
So, to sum up, sight is what I would rather keep.
Labels: blind, deaf, driving, get lost, Harrovian Speakers' Club, Helen Keller, lip-reading, lost hearing, mouthing, mute, parents, play the violin, September, thank you, uncle, Zoom
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Best Speaker on Helen Keller. 26Oct 1010 to Thomson Toastmasters, Singapore
Helen Keller was blind and deaf - yet she gave speeches. I can see you Mr President (Stanley Goh), fellow toastmasters and welcome guests. Imagine if you could not see the stage, make eye contact, tell if people were looking at you.
As a child I saw a sign outside a church, 'I used to complain I had no shoes, until I saw a man who had no feet'.
I thought about Helen Keller. She could not see. But she dressed beautifully. She dressed to please others who could see.
Thinking of others instead of herself gave her the courage to speak. People wanted to know about her problems and how she overcame them. Other people are interested in your problems and how you have overcome them.
If she could speak, although she was blind and deaf, you can too. You are lucky. You can see me and hear me. I am lucky. I can see you, and hear you. Please applaud the person who inspires me every time I speak, and every day - Helen Keller.
Labels: applaud, blind, courage, deaf, Helen Keller, lucky, overcome, problems, speech, Thomson Toastmasters
