Category Archives: Public speaking

Probably related to Toastmasters

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Parenting with M-B Theory {radio interview}

This is the beautifully edited presentation of a conversation Dennis and I had for his weekly radio show, Live the Life.

In it we touch on what Myers-Briggs theory looks like in application with children.  Most of all I see the interview as a teaser.  There is so much to this theory (as I’ve tried to explore in my own series of articles) that, naturally, 25 minutes won’t cover it all.  But I hope even a couple of stories can spark a few imaginations to see the usefulness of a theory applied to real life.

My favorite resource for practical family application is the book Mother Styles by Janet Penley and Diane Eble.

I think anyone interested in a deeper understanding of type application will find enough in that book to keep applying for a very long time.

I’m still trying to decide whether to post the 1.5 hour lecture I gave back in January.  I suppose this is my toe in the water of public opinion.  Yes. It really is different for me to hear my spoken voice than just to see my written words out there.

Anyway, check out the recording if you have time, and please come back over here to let me know what you think.

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Storytelling class

I can’t remember if I mentioned it before, but I recieved a scholarship for the Summer Arts Festival’s storytelling class.

This was very cool because I wouldn’t have been able to go otherwise.

The combination of personalities and beliefs creates an interesting chemistry.  Elisha’s been sleeping poorly again, and my awareness is  being filtered through that tiredness, so sometimes I feel like I am missing something in the interaction.

Picking a performance story for the class has been interesting, too.  My mind keeps changing and taking on new ideas (and guessing how others will perceive those ideas), shifting my thoughts about what’s appropriate for this group.

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Priorities

(I’m pre-timing to keep Gma’s latest at the top)

Toastmasters came up again this weekend, since it comes up every week. We, Jay and I, have been doing a jugging act with responsibilities. We’ve definitely come up with a current hierarchy of priorities:

  1. Our (core) family of five
  2. Next level of family: Gma Mom and Dad
  3. Everything else

TM definitely falls into the realm of “everything else,” and Jay (and I) could both come up with some pretty convincing reasons to dump it. The interesting thing was that when I prayed about it Sunday and Monday (about the only days TM enters my consciousness during the week), I didn’t feel like I’m supposed to totally drop it. So I went. An hour doing something absolutely separate from the rest of my world (except for EP). It was refreshing in a weird way. I was pretty scattered, but that’s understandable.

When I get babysitting time– from Jay or anybody else– it’s been to go up to the hospital to visit Gma and/or spell mom. It’s continually running, with no stolen “nap-time” moments like I had when I was “continually running” with a new baby. It feels surreal.

Yesterday was the first time Gma’s slept while I was with her. She was exhausted. I think she works harder than she should on her PT, trying to get strong enough to go home. Only, the PTist has said she’s strong enough to go home, so it’s not that issue keeping her in.

It was nice to just sit still and read for an hour (Judy kept the girls that morning) while Gma and Elisha both slept. It was sad too though, feeling stuff back in limbo instead of on a clear “improvement” track.

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First entry: who I am (in summary)

Just last night I gave my first speech for Toastmasters. That’s a club where members learn and practice giving speeches. The first required presentation is called the Icebreaker, where you (basically) introduce yourself to the group. Since it is as good a description as any I can come-up with, here is my introduction, to (from?) myself.

I found an encouraging quote from C.S. Lewis early in my college career: “God makes each soul unique. If he had no use for all these differences I do not see why he should have created more souls than one. Be sure the ins and outs of your individuality are no mystery to Him; and one day they will no longer be a mystery to you.”

I’m still in the process of de-mystifying, but here are three of the most significant categories in my life: First, my “unchangings,” being a Christian, wife and a mother; second, my business efforts; and third, language and music. Continue reading →