September 17, 2025

This week’s meeting, led by Toastmaster Audrey, explored the theme “Breaking Sound Barriers.” Audrey shared the story of Chuck Yeager, who in 1947 became the first person to break the sound barrier. It was a perfect reminder that what once seemed impossible can be achieved and that we too can break barriers in our own lives.

Our word of the day, chosen by Nitin, was:

Transcendence (n.) – existence or experience beyond the normal or physical level. The word connected beautifully with the evening’s theme of going further than we think we can.

The first speaker of the night, Lily, delivered her third Toastmasters speech, “I Did It!” She shared how a health scare became the catalyst for a transformational journey over the past year. With small, steady steps starting with 15 minutes of exercise a week, improving her eating habits, and gradually building new routines, she achieved sustainable progress in health and happiness. Lily also spoke about her growth through Toastmasters and her improved work life balance, reminding us all that meaningful change is possible one step at a time.

Next, Amber delivered her Icebreaker speech, “Adventurous Spirit.” She took us on a journey through her childhood moves from Hong Kong to Belarus, then to Germany, before ultimately landing in the US. Today, she thrives as a Chinese newscaster, private jet pilot, and outdoors adventurer. Amber shared a pivotal moment at age 15, when a solo train trip to Ukraine landed her in the wrong city, teaching her lessons in trust, courage, and self reliance. Her message was powerful: with persistence and bravery, anything is possible if we are willing to take the first step.

Our third speaker, Kirti, presented her Dynamic Leadership project, “Mind Over Matter.” Through a humorous take on morning negotiations with her “Lazy Unmotivated Self,” Kirti showed how hitting snooze, bargaining for blanket time, and eventually making it to the gym can be seen as a negotiation rather than a failure. Her speech gave us permission to view our inner battles not as obstacles but as opportunities to strike creative win win agreements with ourselves.

After the prepared speeches, Ramya stepped up as Table Topics Master, inviting both in person members and online participants to respond to spontaneous questions tied to the theme. Even our guest Melissa jumped in with enthusiasm, showing the true courage of Table Topics.

From stories of transformation, courage, and clever negotiations with ourselves, the evening reminded us that breaking sound barriers, both big and small, is always within reach.

See you at our next meeting!

Thank you to member, Dawn, for helping with this week’s meeting notes!