My objectives:

• Appeal to noble motives and challenge the audience tp achieve a higher level of beliefs or achievement
• Appeal to the audience’s needs and emotions, and use stories, anecdotes and quotes to add drama
• Avoid using notes, since they may cause the audience tp doubt your sincerity and conviction

One important lesson that I’ve learned in the past is that my topics are best selected if they have a personal nature. Hence, what better way to inspire my audience than with my new yes challenge! (And, as an afterward: I believe it was delivered fairly well, although my ending was a bit weak.) 10th speech completed

2008 was fantastic. I loved and lost, and loved again. I traveled and studied, I worked hard and played harder. I toured the Niagara Ice Wine Festival, fell in love with San Diego, drank Tequila in Tijuana, ate sushi in Bermuda, took in some witchy history in Salem, spent a good chunk of the Winter and Spring in British Columbia (Vancouver, Kelowna, Whistler…), and spent the Summer flying around Ontario (Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Timmins) and made Ottawa my temporary home for 2 months – when I wasn’t cottaging, that is. I reconnected with some amazing people from my past, and made new connections that I plan to take into my future.

I became more of an adult. Took out an RRSP loan, formulated an appropriate savings plan, acquired a fantastic business partner + benefits page, and making plans to move forward with my present place of employment and my present love relationship. I cut off the safety blanket known as my hair, and am loving the care, freedom, and worry-free aspect of it all now. My passion for my love ebbs and flows, but now it seems to be in a definite pattern of free flowing goodness. I am blessed and loved.

Goals for 2009

• Be continually conscious of my health and diet
• Learn some form of martial art – Aikido, Tai Chi, Qi Gong…
• Return to Vancouver, Halifax, Orange Country, Mexico and possibly visit Asia
• Finish my yoga teacher training
• Attain my Zend Certified Engineer designation
• Learn Flex
• Collaborate with my fantastic partner on some projects
• Finish my 10 speeches to receive my CC (Competent Communicator) award at Toastmasters
• Learn some additional modalities in energy healing
• Visit more spiritually charged destinations

2008 goals that didn’t make it

• Visit San Francisco
• Apply to grad school

The following have been on my list for the past 2 years… maybe this year I will actually see them to fruition?

• Get my Registered Practitioner status with the Canadian Reiki Association and complete my teacher class outlines
• Write my exam with the Certified Personal Trainers Network
• Master of Herbology with Dominion Herbal College
• Finish my course work with the University of Metaphysics and Pathways of Light

I believe in being realistic, although I am certainly ambitiously realistic. Happy 2009… and may the new year bless you with health, wealth, and wisdom!