I enjoy speech competitions. However, with my pending appointment as Area 62 Governor (*knock on wood*) I am now ineligible to compete in any contests for the next 1.5 years. Disappointing, yes, however there is so much opportunity within the Toastmasters spectrum that there will always be something to keep me stimulated. This coming week, for example, I will be Chief Judge for one contest and the Chairperson for another. These roles are, admittedly, slightly out of my comfort zone – especially chairing an entire contest – however, this is one of the reasons I joined Toastmasters in the first place. A gentle nudge from one’s place of comfort is often all it takes, before opportunities are unveiled and accepted in places they were not previously.