A Journey from Toothmaster to Toastmaster

What do you do when you go to see a dentist? You open your mouth and say “Ahhhh”----The bigger ah you make, the more room your dentist has, and the more your dentist loves you.
What do you do when you say ah- in Toastmasters? Relax, the more ahs you say, the more room you have to improve, and the more we love you.

Toastmaster, ladies and gentlemen,

I was a dentist, a "toothmaster".
Being a dentist gave me the power of persuasion.

There was no objection to anything I said.
"Mr. Lin, you should stop seeing your mistress."
"Take my words, vote for candidate No. 2. No.1? He is a lousy guy."

My patient was always lying down with his mouth wide open. How could anyone say anything against me with his mouth open? Ah is the dental patient's only language.
Do you want to argue with a woman holding sharp instruments (raise instruments), please raise your hand? No? Good, you are as smart as my husband.

Whenever I wanted to argue, no I mean "to communicate", with my husband, I didn't have to treat him with tea, coffee or a shower. All I had to do was make him have a dental appointment with me. It settled everything.

Being a dentist also gave me a special ability to recognize people.
I was not good at recognizing people. To me, faces all look the same, two eyes, two ears, one nose, one mouth---I never could differentiate between 林志玲 and 侯佩岑 by looking at their faces.
Inside someone's mouth, that's another story, another world. A fortune teller is able to tell your fate by reading your palm. I, a toothmaster, can always tell who you are if you show me your teeth!

Now, everybody, open your mouth and say ah.
"Oh, Charles! You are sitting here," "Hey, it's Hubert over there, long time no see."

I could manage everything inside a mouth. But what about outside the mouth? When I speak, if my patient, no, my audience, is not lying down with mouths open, will they still hear me? How could I survive outside the hospital?
Luckily a magic journey from toothmaster to Toastmaster brought me another world, brought me salvation. (take off white coat)

Salvation no. 1
A toothmaster is bossy, not persuasive. (throw white coat away)
A Toastmaster is persuasive, not bossy.

While Ah is the dental patient's only language, Toastmasters use English, Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese and body language. Whatever language we use, we learn to listen, to communicate, to be persuasive but not bossy, and to give compliments instead of punishments.
My husband and I have a better relationship since I quit my job and joined Fluency. When he comes home, I welcome him with a warm-up session: I sing him a nice song, “you are my sunshine, my only sunshine.” , tell him a silly joke or present him---a hot dance. He loves it just like we love Fluency. The moment he lies down beside me, I no longer order him out of reflex, "Say Ah". It’s a perfect time for my little, humble opinion, I always start with a kiss, a kick then more kisses. It works out every time. Shih, these are my secret weapons from Toastmasters, sweet but powerful.

Salvation no. 2
Toothmasters reach in to other people's mouths,
Toastmasters reach out to other people's hearts.

Now I get to know people by heart, not by teeth. Every face tells a story. Toastmasters club is a place where we send our message to touch each other’s hearts.
I know Deena is taking cello lessons, which has improved her relationship with her daughter. Emily is still fighting with pimples, but she has a sincere boyfriend who knows true beauty is beyond skin deep. When I retire, I can always play Mahjong with Jessie, Cathy and Sammi or any member who is available. We toastmasters even plan for next life, and in my next life, I'm sure to find Allan the elephant in Africa.

Furthermore I'm definitely, absolutely, 100 % sure that I don't have to check your teeth to find out.

Next time when you meet me, don't say Ah to remind me who you are.
Instead say, " Linda, the more mistakes you make, the more----(audience chant) we—love—you.”

Dear members,
Being a toothmaster makes me a living;
but being a Toastmaster makes my life.
I love you too.

Toastmaster---