Page 22 - voices November
P. 22
TERRY TALKS
Taking Risks Empowers Us to Live
Alive in The Present!
Terry Beard
I met 80 people from all over the world, from 18 years the military. Like minds joined in solidarity.
of age to 85. We spoke French 24/7, total immersion, I decided many years ago to get off the sidelines
six full weeks. Today, I remain in contact with five and on to the dance floor of life. This schooling
classmates from around the world. I took the chance experience reinforced my awareness that taking a
and had been rewarded with rendez-vouses around chance, taking a risk continues to enrich my life.
the globe. At the end of my studies, my wife Pascale joined
Today, I am constantly reminded, of the rewards me in Villefranche. It was great to see her and to share
of taking a chance, taking the risk to advance. My with her my new life . . . as a schoolboy.
whole Life I have been risk-taking. And each time I took a chance to advance in France.
that I have taken a risk, I have landed on a higher More than ever I am convinced that it is always a
step. I have been rewarded. It has not always been good policy to take a chance to advance. Life is not a
pretty while taking the chance to advance. dress rehearsal. Laugh out loud, who cares, don’t be
Taking risks has been a big part of whom I have afraid to make mistakes speaking a foreign language,
become. and to have people giggle at themselves.
Going to a French school in Villefranche spiked Be open to others, and people of all ages will
my consciousness like never before about the flock to your door, here in the USA or in France. . .
importance of taking risks. I had been taking risks ou Autour du Monde. Court newness. If we always
but not always conscious of the impact—not always do the same old thing, the same old way, we won’t
stopping to think about the consequences. grow, and we will begin to wither away.
The reward, I gained from school in Villefranche When it was Toastmaster time at the L’Institut,
was more self-confidence and self-esteem, feeling as required of all students, I was ready, not scared,
encouraged and accomplished. I learned to speak because my fellow Toastmasters in Portland have
better French, meet more and more people from given me the chance to advance by speaking in a
different walks of life, different beliefs, different safe harbor. I was prepared. No notes, I spoke from
career tracks, etc. the heart in French. Thanks a million times fellow
We school students supported and encouraged Toastmasters!
one another like I hadn’t experienced since I was in Whenever you have a chance to do something new
22 ONE COMMUNITY
