Many of us have had the experience of working in the garden or at least familiar with what’s involved. There’s a variety of tools that we can use to accomplish different purposes and toiling of the land. If I was to deposit a handful of tools in front of each of what would you chose to represent you?

I thought I would use this speech to provide a moment of self-reflection.  My question for myself and for each of you is what kind of tool or message do you want to share?

I ask this question in relationship to our personal goals and our desires to become better communicators. Many of us join organizations for self-improvement or to contribute to the community. I joined a speech organization due to my communication challenges. But as I learn how to communicate more effectively I wonder what is my message?

There are four areas I would like to touch upon of how we as individuals communicate and how our intent in our communication has the potential of providing a positive force upon our lives as well as the lives of others. I like to touch upon: 1.ourselves, 2. at home, 3. our community, and 4.our nation. Our motivations and actions defined to the type of message we share in each of these areas.

Self:

We only have to think of each January 1st and each of us think of creating new goals to understand that we all have a natural inclination of self-improvement. The fact that we leave the comfort of our homes to meet once a week to hear each other give presentations is yet another indication.

Our personal motivations and actions power our achievements. the direction of our success will be influenced by what message you want to communicate.

I have always liked musicals one of my top favorite musicals is the 1776 musical, which is a humorous musical about the writing of Constitution. Though the movie depicts humorous moments, it also helped me see the men who contributed to the creation of a nation as individuals. One particular Individual is labeled as obnoxious and disliked. But ironically, in spite of those traits, John Adams was a key contributor to the creation of our nation. One only needs to read the correspondence between him and Abigail to better understand what kind of individual he was what his personal motivations were.

By way of action, I say that I really really want to eat better. I pick up this piece of marshmallow spread. Here is the spoon. Can’t you see how my actions support my intent? What is my real intent?

Home

The message we share at home can influence future generations. Our parents raised us in their homes and as we become became adults, we have the chance to raise our own children. Our personal attitudes, biases and preferences are transferred by what we teach our children.

I learned of one storyteller who used her skills of communications to solve a personal family problem. She has a special needs child that the children of the neighborhood were afraid of. To address this problem, this mother started having story telling concerts at her home and invited children to come over and listen fun stories. This gave a chance for the children of the neighborhood to meet and become comfortable with her special needs child.

I remember one year my sister and her family were building their own home. I know nothing about construction, but I had two hands. My sister’s family had the ability to spread a bunch of grey good on cinderblock. Our family’s actions illustrated our message to my sister and her family.

Community: Am I being played?

Of recent years, I’ve come to really distrust politicians. I had a very interesting experience in a city hall meeting that I attended. There is one particular city Councilman that I’ve liked. At the meeting a business wanted to accomplish a certain task in the community and gave presentation to city government for them to agree. The City Councilman, I liked stood up and excuse himself from the final decision  because he accepted money from this business for his campaign. As the Councilman left the stage, The businessman stated that he was not aware that his company had contributed and expressed worry that the city Council might alter the acceptance of his proposal because his business’ involvement with the Councilman. He feared he was being used.

This event made me realize that maybe the Councilman was being sincere and excuse himself, but it also made me realize that there was the possibility I was being played. At the moment I don’t know which. But as I become more familiar with political games and how they use words to flatter the citizens. I realize that I must be on my constant guard even on politicians I like. This event makes this Councilman’s actions suspect? I realize I need to monitor other behavior to see if I can find him to be a person of integrity.

The actions of others in the community illustrate a more clear message. People give their time to contribute good in good ways to or the community, not just through the theater, sports programs or social events, but also help in building homes for the needy, staffing food banks and literacy programs .

Country:

At the national level, there is so much name-calling and accusations that sometimes it becomes quite clear what people’s motives are. They are displayed by their actions. One small example is how the left and the right slandered the vice presidents during the last national election. That Sarah Palin is so stupid, populate that with the media that wants  a certain individual to win, and the message gets repeated over and over and over again. citizens listening to a repeat message over and over again who have not made their own decision may simply follow the dictations of the media. As a counterpoint, people who are in the opposite boat talk about how Joe Biden is an idiot. And then certain parts of the media will give examples of things he said. Many of us as lazy citizens listen and believe. We don’t bother to do own research. We swallow the propaganda of the left or the right, whole.

If you want to determine the actions of our country of decades past or in the present. Let’s evaluate what our intent by our actions and not just our words. How we interact with our allies or opponents dictates the type of integrity we possess as a nation.

The left may accuse some of nation building. the right will accuse some of turning the country to communism. The name-calling continues to escalate. Accusations are often made without adequate support. Such circumstances gives us an opportunity to evaluate which messengers earn our trust. Do you like them because they say the words that we like hearing? A city councilman gave me flattering words. Politicians of our nation use the same tools and messaging to influence the citizenry.

Chief politicians come and go. We would be fools to think that things will change when one leader leaves and another comes in. It’s the people behind the figurehead but also influence policy and action.

The overall idea is that we as members of a speech organization make efforts to become better communicators. We should also consider what type of message we want to share.

Part of America’s success, was because of our individualism. Immigrants left their nations of origin to populate and build a new world. We employed sweat, courage, and ingenuity to accomplish our goals. Our accomplishments range from the continental railway to man reaching the moon. We as leaders are improving communicators skills. We can share a message that will build or destroy.

My invitation is that we share a message that will build. Thank you.