Have you ever gotten a phone call you were absolutely not prepared for? I have that all the time. Today, I got a surprise call from someone. They were speaking Dutch, so I thought it was Vodafone trying to get me to buy something, but no…
Usually, I would like to think I am a very articulate person. I mean, sometimes people don’t believe it’s me on the other line because I sound a bit like a receptionist, but catch me off-guard and I will come off as either a bundle of nerves or a stoic robot. It was so embarrassing.
“Sure”, you say, “but nobody can expect to be fully ready to have a random chat, there will be a time when you’ll be caught off-guard”. You’re completely right. I still hate to be caught off-guard, though. If not for this, why did I practice so darned hard at Toastmasters for impromptu questions and speeches? I still have a long way to go, it seems.
I miss Toastmasters. I don’t miss being part of the board, but I miss the speeches. I miss racking my brains creating a cohesive story to tell and influencing people. I miss having to be quick-witted. I miss the socialization. Is it time to go back yet?