BSP 2- Organize your speech
Title: Appreciating Detours
Time: 5~7 minutes (I was OVERtime)
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You are driving off a destination, suddenly, a road closure; you take a detour.
You are all set with everything all planned out, suddenly, an unforeseen setback; you take a detour.
You are building your dreams with this man. You can see your future together, suddenly, another girl came along; you take a detour.
We don’t like detours. Most of the time we’re in a hurry to get to our destination or reach our goal; why take the longer route if there’s a shorter one? And at times we rigidly plan our lives and we want so much to stick with that plan that we just can’t welcome setbacks… or detours.
But let me tell you the reasons why I believe we should appreciate detours in our lives.
First: You wouldn’t benefit from the fast and easy.
I am on diet 75 percent of the time. I know it doesn’t show. I’ve known Atkins Diet since college. It’s a low carbs diet. With this diet I can shed off 4 kilos in 4 days so that’s 1 kilo per day. It’s the fastest that I’ve ever tried and it’s pretty easy too. With no exercise needed, you can eat anything you want as much as you want so long as you wouldn’t exceed 20 grams of carbs daily. Fast and easy. But you know why Atkins diet wasn’t so effective on me? For that exact same reason; because it’s fast and easy.
Take this week for example.
At the start of this week I was like, “I’ll be having another speech, I have to go on diet.”
Monday: “It’s ok, I still have 4 days, I can lose 4 kilos before Friday, I’ll start tomorrow.”
Tuesday: “Three more days, three kilos will be enough.”
Wednesday: “2 days more, 2 kilos will suffice.”
Thursday: “I still look fine, I’m ok with 1 kilo.”
Friday: “Forget it, I’ll just start next week.”
See? You wouldn’t benefit much from the fast and the easy.
Second: The longer the journey, the longer the preparation.
My best friend was a scholar since high school. She was sponsored by a Japanese priest. Unlike other sponsors, this Japanese priest doesn’t want to make his identity known. But my best friend was still firm on her wish to at least see her sponsor in person. To do this, she needs to go to Japan. After college, she had her chance. She saw a company that sends off employees to Japan. My best friend applied and she was accepted. But before she got hired, she found out that she had a cyst that needs to be removed through surgery and it will take her months to recover from the procedure. Unfortunately, the company could not wait that long. It left her heartbroken.
After surgery she accepted an offer from a different company. After a few years she decided to work in Malaysia. It gave her opportunities and financial resources that after some time she was able to travel to different places in different countries. And just last year, she was able to reach her dream, she went to Japan. It took lots of researching on her part to find her sponsor’s whereabouts but she did. Nine long years after the detour and she finally reached her dream. Do you think it would have been the same if she hadn’t took the detour? I believe that it was the detour that gave her the ability and resources to make her dream happen. It was the detour that gave her the maturity and mental preparedness she needed to turn her dream into reality.
Because detours give us time.
Third: Detours allow us to discover new things and meet people too.
A few years ago, mom and I went to her home town in Surigao. We went there by plane. But on the way back, we were not able to get ticket so we were forced to take a less convenient alternative; we travelled by bus.
It will only take a few hours if you travel by plane. But if by bus, it will take you 2 days and 1 night. It was excruciating. My body felt sore. I felt sticky and stinky. But you know what, I actually enjoyed the ride.
I remember seeing the trees, bridges, towns and communities we passed along the way. I remember the smiles and conversations we shared with the strangers we’ve met at the bus and stop overs. I remember the pot luck dinner we had with these strangers, sharing food and stories as if we’ve known each other for ages.
I remember the RORO boat. I remember the salty breeze of sea air on my face. I remember watching the sky by the dock, and the sea, the jumping fishes. I remember looking down at the sea foam that looked so much like soap bubbles.
I remember the long conversation I had with mom. I remember touching her hands when mine felt cold. I remember resting my head on her shoulder when I felt tired.
Do you think all these would have happened if we had taken the plane instead? Will I see the beautiful things I saw? Will I meet the people I’ve met? Will mom and I talk the way we talked or bonded the way we did? I bet not.
It is good to have a goal. I believe it is imperative to work on achieving one. But we should not forget that the journey is just as important because it is this journey that will mold and transform us to be better people as we walk our way towards our goal.
When I was young, I thought I’m going to be rich and successful by the age of 25. Years after my 25th birthday and my rich and successful self is still nowhere to be found. I sure am having a taste of my own life’s detour. But I’m not in a rush as I intend to take my time and enjoy the journey.
I’d like to end my speech with this wonderful quote from Earnest Hemmingway that says, “It is good to have an end to journey towards, but it is the journey that matters in the end.”
Good Evening, Everyone.
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When i had this speech, crush(now mentor) also had his. When the votes for the best prepared speech were counted, we had the same number of votes. It was a tie. until a member sent her vote which contained crush's name. in the end he won. oh, well..
03:10 PMにcinderellaareus によって書かれました。
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