Some of you may know that when I was much younger (like ten years ago), I used to participate in Toast-master competitions. One of the components entail the speaker weaving a whole story or some entertaining speech based on a word or sentence provided by the organizers.
Some samples of the questions I got before are:
a. What do you on a bad date?
I kid you not. This was actually during my law school days. I was first-runner up. The judge of the competition, some prominent partner of a prominent firm, actually leaned over to whisper in my ear whilst handing over the trophy - "we are giving this to you because we thought you made good of a difficult topic".
I can't remember very much of what I said except that alot of people were laughing, then again, when do people not laugh at what I say (hurhur). Something about remembering why you went on the date in the first place and taking off clothes. Hahaa.
b. "Naked" and "Island"
I kid you not again. This was the topic that I got in Secondary Four. I think I was second runner-up in the Nationals. I cant remember exactly the topic already, apart from the words above. But I do remember thinking I was the only one trying to crack a joke out of what I got. The others were all too serious, but the judges seemed to like that.
Some samples of the questions I got before are:
a. What do you on a bad date?
I kid you not. This was actually during my law school days. I was first-runner up. The judge of the competition, some prominent partner of a prominent firm, actually leaned over to whisper in my ear whilst handing over the trophy - "we are giving this to you because we thought you made good of a difficult topic".
I can't remember very much of what I said except that alot of people were laughing, then again, when do people not laugh at what I say (hurhur). Something about remembering why you went on the date in the first place and taking off clothes. Hahaa.
b. "Naked" and "Island"
I kid you not again. This was the topic that I got in Secondary Four. I think I was second runner-up in the Nationals. I cant remember exactly the topic already, apart from the words above. But I do remember thinking I was the only one trying to crack a joke out of what I got. The others were all too serious, but the judges seemed to like that.
Funny what we remember when we intentionally call things to mind.
Anyhows, why am I talking about this?
I have been thinking, thinking, thinking.
And I guess I remember these competitions of old because:
i. in those days, i had to weave random ideas into a story from a word or theme that was given to me. A story that the audience would like. It made me happy that people found my throwing of ideas together entertaining. Being random helped.
ii. these days, i have to weave values and truths and reconcile them into a belief system. I guess we really live (as opposed to waking up and just living today because you didnt die in your sleep and you are just carrying on where you left off when you fell asleep yesterday) when we are forced to articulate and make coherent what makes your belief system - your own. And it is not easy.
Anyhows, why am I talking about this?
I have been thinking, thinking, thinking.
And I guess I remember these competitions of old because:
i. in those days, i had to weave random ideas into a story from a word or theme that was given to me. A story that the audience would like. It made me happy that people found my throwing of ideas together entertaining. Being random helped.
ii. these days, i have to weave values and truths and reconcile them into a belief system. I guess we really live (as opposed to waking up and just living today because you didnt die in your sleep and you are just carrying on where you left off when you fell asleep yesterday) when we are forced to articulate and make coherent what makes your belief system - your own. And it is not easy.
But. Real growth comes when we have to grapple with new truths and ideas and face the possibility of changes to our belief system. Or development. Or depth to it, whatever you may want to call non-status quo. That, is not easy. Hahaa. Which is why some people grow and some people dont.
Being a source of entertainment doesnt feature so much now, though I do think I can still amuse.
So what would one say of the word, "Dreams"?
So what would one say of the word, "Dreams"?
times since 16 October 2006!
