One frame, many voices, one Toastmasters family!
15 August 2026 | Trivandrum Toastmasters
Every Toastmasters meeting leaves me with something to think about.
Sometimes it is a lesson about speaking. Sometimes it is about listening, leadership, teamwork or accepting feedback. And sometimes, it is simply about discovering something new about myself.
Our Meeting No. 629 of Trivandrum Toastmasters, held on 15 August 2026, revolved around the theme “The Joy of Anticipation,” led by our Toastmaster of the Day, TM Alexy.
The theme made me reflect on the positive emotions that come with looking forward to something meaningful. Anticipation can bring excitement, hope and motivation—even before we actually reach the destination.
Our Word of the Day was “Anticipation”, and the Phrase of the Day was “Getting there is half the fun.”
Two Speeches, Two Perspectives
The meeting featured two Prepared Speeches.
TM Rakesh presented “Missing Customer,” while TM Jayakrishnan delivered “What do you see?”
One of the things I enjoy about Toastmasters is that every speaker brings a different perspective and style to the same platform. As listeners, we learn not only from the content of a speech but also from how the speaker communicates it.
Thinking on Our Feet
The Table Topics session was conducted by TM Nidhi.
Impromptu speaking continues to be one of the most interesting challenges in Toastmasters. There is little time to prepare, and yet we have to organise our thoughts and express them clearly.
It teaches us to trust ourselves.
We may not always have the perfect words immediately, but we can learn to pause, think, organise and speak.
That confidence grows with practice.
The Value of Evaluation
The Evaluation Session was conducted by TM Surjith.
DTM George evaluated the first Prepared Speech, while veteran Toastmaster TM Jayapalan evaluated the second. The TAG Team then presented their reports:
- Timer: TM Abhilash
- Ah-Counter: TM Sreekanth
- Grammarian: TM Smitha
As General Evaluator, TM Surjith looked at the meeting as a whole and shared his observations before handing the stage back to the TMOD to conclude the theme.
This is one aspect of Toastmasters that I particularly value: the culture of constructive feedback.
We are not simply told whether something was good or bad. We are encouraged to understand what worked, what could be improved and how we can do better next time.
That mindset of continuous improvement is one of the greatest lessons Toastmasters has given me.
My Roles at Meeting 629
This meeting gave me the opportunity to serve as the Grammarian and the official photographer (that’s why I’m missing from this pic).
These may seem like very different responsibilities, but both required me to pay attention.
As a Grammarian, I had to listen carefully to the language being used throughout the meeting.
As photographer, I had to observe the meeting from a different perspective and capture the moments that told the story of the evening.
Both roles reminded me of something simple:
When we pay attention, we notice more.
And perhaps that is one of the most valuable habits Toastmasters is cultivating in me.
Celebrating Each Other
The meeting ended with the recognition of members who excelled in different roles.
Best Role Players: TM Alexy & TM Nidhi
Best Speaker: TM Jayakrishnan
Best Evaluator: DTM George
Best Table Topics Speaker: TM Smitha
Best TAG Team Players: TM Abhilash & TM Sreekanth
Congratulations to all the award winners and to everyone who contributed to making Meeting No. 629 a meaningful and enjoyable one.
What I Am Taking Away
My Toastmasters journey is gradually teaching me that communication is much more than speaking confidently in front of an audience.
It is about listening.
It is about observing.
It is about accepting feedback.
It is about supporting others.
It is about stepping forward when a role is offered—even when we are not completely sure how it will turn out.
And perhaps most importantly, it is about being willing to keep learning.
The phrase of the day, “Getting there is half the fun,” stayed with me.
We often focus so much on reaching our goals that we forget to appreciate everything that happens along the way.
But every speech, every role, every evaluation, every nervous moment and every small improvement becomes part of the journey.
That, perhaps, is the real joy of anticipation—knowing that there is always another meeting, another role, another challenge and another opportunity to grow waiting ahead.
The journey is not simply taking me somewhere. It is also helping me become someone.