Things I’m Passionate About - Speech

David Brooks, past International Speech Champion advises that the best speeches are written down word-for-word. I'd like to share my speech from the Toastmasters Competent Communicator manual project #1, The Ice-Breaker.

“The happiness of a man in this life does not consist in the absence but in the mastery of his passions. Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809 - 1892)

Mr. Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters, welcomed guests, as we enter into the season of gift-giving I believe the greatest gift we have ever received is the gift of CHOICE. We all have a choice in life, we can choose to complain about the hand that life has dealt us, or, we can choose to make the most of our personal experiences. I have committed myself to live a happy life...I have chosen to live a life with purpose. I have made up my mind that whatever I do, I will do it, with passion. 

You may have heard the saying, “A man is known, not by what he says but by what he does” and so I would like to share with you some of my life’s passions.

1) When I was a teenager growing up in the United Kingdom I set myself a lifelong ambition; to visit every country in the world all 195 of them! I love to travel.  So far I have been to 17 countries. I have visited Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, Venezuela, Suriname, Grenada, St. Vincent, Jamaica, Barbados, Canada, Bahamas. Turks & Caicos. I’ve lived in 4 countries, Trinidad & Tobago, the country of my birth, United Kingdom, Guyana and now in the USA. I have been fortunate enough to go on two Caribbean cruises in the past 12 months. Plans are now in the works to do a ‘road-trip’ a drive from New Jersey to California and back.

2) I love being musical, both singing and playing instruments – my Dad is a music teacher; he taught me that my body is the greatest musical instrument! The ABC of music is the Diatonic Scale also known as Sol-fa. (Sung) Doh re mi fa sol la ti doh’, doh’ ti la sol fa mi re doh. That is what I sing to maintain focus when I run.

HarTech Craft Artisans

3) I love creating things with my hands, being a self-taught carpenter I’ve built 4 built-in closets, and numerous small construction projects around my home. I became a telecommunications technician while living and finishing school in the UK because I wanted to use my hands. 10 years later, In 1984 I started a leather handicraft business and worked together with my wife building that business for 12 years. Two months ago I built a workshop to start making leather products again on a part-time basis and also to paint when so inspired.  Samples of the unique handcrafted creations and one-of-a-kind, personalized designs that HarTech Artisans makes can soon be found on www.etsy.com  20% of all profits from this activity goes to The Light Of Pearl Foundation www.lightofpearl.org a children’s cancer and education charity founded in memory of my Mom, Pearl Lucille Harvey, who passed away 12/23/1968.

4) I love to run, not being very fast I moved up to longer and longer distances. Last month I completed my 14^th marathon and I have devoted all my running to raise funds for charity. I recently joined forces with a wonderful charity called Running on Love http://www.active.com/donate/NJM2011/Team1JHarvey to raise funds for the Light of Pearl Foundation…. My long term goal is to run at least one marathon each year for the next 25 years.

5) And finally through my experience with Toastmasters, I have grown to love public speaking.  As part of my purposeful living I have chosen to devote myself to speaking to inspire. In sharing my life experience it is my hope that others are inspired, not just to float through life but to make waves.

What are you passionate about?  Don’t keep it to yourself, share it!

All I have done, all I have yet to accomplish, can be encapsulated in this statement of pure gratitude by John Bradford; “There but for the grace of God go I.”   

Mr. Toastmaster.  

Things I'm Passionate About.

Visited UMDNJ Toastmasters in Newark NJ after a 6 month absence and gave a speech on passion. This is the third Toastmasters Club that I belong to and this speech is speech #1 from the Competent Communicator manual. I'm doing my 2nd CC program. Please take a look at my speech and leave a comment; share what you are passionate about! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX0vOpYf8Ug

How I felt after finishing the Richmond marathon in a record time for me!

I will post the written version soon. :-)

Salani kahle (stay well - in Zulu)

PeaceWarrior.

My 14th Marathon/Party

On Saturday November 13. Four days after my 53rd birthday I ran my 14th marathon, the SunTrust Richmond Marathon in Virginia. My 'baby' daughter always complained that she has not been able to see me run a marathon and be there to support me; so I decided to select a marathon based on where she was. You see, my 'baby' is now a sophomore at University of Richmond, Va. I heard a lot of good things about this marathon from ERC members who have (most of them) PRd in this race. 

So I was eagerly looking forward to having a good time. Which is  in itself unusual for me because I normally take just getting to the finish line of a marathon very seriously. If you ever saw my face during a 26.2 mile run, you'd think I was a Supreme Court Judge about to pass sentence on some deviant! I leave my celebrating to  a few days after I cross the finish line, when I regain feeling in my legs!

This time I tried something new...a friend invited me to a party that very Saturday night in Newark and I said I'd be there to support the launching of her non-profit organization. It meant driving the 5-6hrs back to NJ immediately after the race and being on my feet for the evening - unheard of in the past! 

I'm fond of telling people that being able to run a marathon is all in the head, just tell yourself you can do it, then go do it! So I told myself I can recover in time to go party!

It was a perfect day for running. I got to downtown Richmond around 7am with my support crew, Faye and daughter Andrea and was able to park for $3.00 in a 4-story parking lot just one block from the start line! (I love smaller marathons). The temperature was around 48 degrees but warmed up quickly to about 55-60 degrees as the sun came up. The start was very well organized with the 8k, half-marathon and marathon starting right on time with 30 minute intervals. I met fellow ERC Tracey Keller at the start and we agreed to run together as we had similar end-time goals. I said I would be sooo happy if I could break 4 1/2 hours. (my previous time was 4:53 at Philly last year). For the first time in a marathon I was forced to stop and use the porter john....at 2 1/2 miles! And I have not seen Tracey since! I had to stop again at mile 9. 

For the first 13 miles I was chatting with any and everyone, stopping on the first of two bridges to take pictures and singing at the top of my voice to one of my favorite songs by Peter Tosh' playing by a roadside DJ, 'Get Up Stand Up, stand up for your rights'. I felt great and was thoroughly enjoying myself. I crossed the half-way at 2:09. When I hit mile 20 with no cramps at all (a major problem for me in the previous two marathons) I said to myself "save some for the finish John, so far, so good". I crossed mile 24, at 4:00 and felt good. I thought the best part of the race was the last 400 yds...it was all down hill! I was able to lift up my head and lift up my chest and lift up my knees, and pump my fists sprinting to the finish passing at least 20 people!!!  My Garmin watch said 4:25 I thought "Awesome" and It felt good. Official time was 4:29:47 due to my two pit stops and partying along the route.

Oh yes I made it to the party that night in Newark NJ at 8:45pm. Goals met!

p.s. I was also very inspired by a runner I met Dana Casanave, who was running her 45th marathon this year! Her goal is to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks raising funds for orphaned children in South Africa. She also planned to run another marathon the very next day on Sunday 14th, in Pennsylvania. Read her blog at http://www.52beginnings.com/

Next up for me, New Jersey Marathon, May 1st 2011.

Be Well,

The Harv,

PeaceWarrior. 

Will's Wisdom

The Great Invocation

VERY IMPORTANT RECALL!

VERY IMPORTANT RECALL!
The Maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to the serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.
This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.
This defect has been technically termed, "Sub-sequential Internal Non-morality," or more commonly known as "SIN".
Some of the symptoms of this serious defect are:

1. Loss of direction
2. Lack of peace and joy
3. Depression or confusion in the mental component
4. Foul vocal emissions
5. Selfish, violent behavior
6. Amnesia of origin
7. Fearfulness
8. Rebellion

To correct this SIN defect, the Manufacturer, Who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service FREE OF CHARGE.
The Repair Technician, Jesus, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs.  There is no additional fee required.
The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.  Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.  Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Kindness
5. Goodness
6. Faithfulness
7. Gentleness
8. Patience
9. Self-control

Please see the operating manual, the HOLY BIBLE, for further details on the use of these fixes.  As an added upgrade, the Manufacturer has made available to all repaired units direct monitoring and assistance from the resident Maintenance Technician, the Holy Spirit.  Repaired units need only make Him welcome and He will take up residence on the premises.
WARNING:Continuing to operate the human being unit without making these corrections voids the Manufacturer's warranty, exposing the unit to many dangers and problems and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.



For free emergency service, call on JESUSThank you for your attention!~ author unknown ~






“All thoughts, all passions, all delights, whatever stirs this mortal frame, all are but ministers of love, and feed his sacred flame.”

~ 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Be well,

PeaceWarrior.

Sian Welch & Wendy Ingraham - The Crawl - 1997

This is absolutely amazing!
This is why I bow down in total respect for ANYONE who completes an Ironman Triathlon!!!
Can you push yourself to this limit?  'Nuff respect to Sian and Wendy.


An Ironman Triathlon is one of a series of long-distance triathlon races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation (WTC) consisting of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bike and a marathon (26 miles 385 yards, 42.195 km) run, raced in that order and without a break. Most Ironman events have a strict time limit of 17 hours to complete the race,

“I run because it’s my passion, and not just a sport. Every time I walk out the door, I know why I’m going where I’m going and I’m already focused on that special place where I find my peace and solitude.Running, to me, is more than just a physical exercise... it's a consistent reward for victory!”

maalanyc  Sasha Azevedo quotes (American Actress, Athlete and Model)

Be well,
PeaceWarrior