A smile

This is my fourth speech in the Competent Communication series in Toastmaster. The key points in the fourth speech is to take the listeners to an imaginative world. This means that words of the speech should be descriptive and each word is important.
So, this was my attempt of the 4th speech titled "A Smile". How I delivered this speech, do log in to YouTube to  watch. Here goes my speech...


A Smile

Good afternoon.

Today, I am going to speak about one enchanting gesture of human being which will make the whole environment beautiful and full of bliss. That is the word Smile.

Yes, my friends today my topic is ‘A smile and its features’. This talk is inspired by my son, who sees smile in all things, the car, lorry, spoon, plates, etc

To begin with I am narrating an incident.

One day I was very tired, frustrated in my life. I went to bed cribbing about everything in life. In the midst of the night, I was suddenly woken up by a sound. There was nothing…..I looked at the clock, it was still 5 AM.

I lazily peeped through the window, it was dawn. I could hear gentle voices, soft and soothing to ears.

I wandered into the balcony. It was the birds chirping and making soft music, what a melody it was. Leafs of the plants were shining with the dew droplets. Soft breeze blowing on my face… I looked up the sky. The orange color had filled up the sky, and everything looked so fresh and energetic. The whole atmosphere was scenic and a beauty. Nature at its best…

Suddenly, I saw a figure….resembling an angel in the clouds descending from the skies. I rubbed my eyes and looked up again, what I see, it was indeed an angel. The angel stood in front of me, smiling, I smiled at her. The moment she smiled at me, I was very happy.

I was mesmerized by her beauty and charm. I was more peaceful and was in bliss.

She whispered into my ears, keep smiling, who ever you smile today at they will be blessed…

I was so pleased to hear that…

The day passed on beautifully, and I could see more cheerful faces each time I smiled.
First, it was my cribbing maid, as usual she had come late, instead of giving scornful look and a blast, I genuinely smiled at her and didn’t say a word, initially she was surprised, and then she was so cheerful and she did some extra work. I was so delighted to see that…

When I was waiting in the traffic signal, I saw the traffic police. In the midst of honking vehicles, under the crouching sun, he was standing frustrated with rule breakers, and was screaming at one of the drivers. I thought let me try the trick. I looked and smiled at him. Lo..what I see.. he smiled at me back, and then on to all the other vehicles and the aura there turned magical. I thanked the angel in my mind for all this was because of her.

The same thing continued, in the office, with the colleagues and the managers… When I returned back home, I wasn’t tired, but lot of energy was still left in me. I was much more relaxed and spent good time with my family. I smiled at myself. I went early to bed, to wake up early and to meet the angel.

Next morning, I got up at the same time and I even met the angel, I shared her my experience, and told her to extend her wish for more days. She laughed at me and told me there was nothing magical she had done.

It was only the smile…..that was magical. I was not able to digest that, suddenly, I heard a roaring sound…I wanted to convince the angel, but the noise grew even louder… the angel vanished and I was trying to call her and reach her.

Thud!! I got up from my bed, it was my alarm ringing.

I shut it….and got up… I realized that was a beautiful dream…Sun had already risen and it was the start of a busy day…..

But then that day and every day after that was a beautiful day with a smile.

Friends, Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

A smile speaks a thousand words. The shortest distance between two people is a smile.Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. A smile can melt even the coldest of hearts. A smile can send a heart a flutter where once there was only stillness. A smile can dissolve anger or initiate peace. It can also cause confusion or answer many questions.

A smile is beautiful no matter whose face it belongs to. A smile costs nothing but gives much.  A warm smile is the universal language of kindness and it is the one which brings closeness between people.

 Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. 

If you don't start out the day with a smile, it's not too late to start practicing for tomorrow.

So, friends, keep smiling, be cheerful and let everyday be a beautiful day.

Thank You.