Journal #1 :
This chapter highlighted the importance of public speaking and how to effectively deliver your speech in a way the audience will understand. Good communication skills are vital in everyday life and in fact is one of the top skills that employers look for in future employees. We must be able to get our point across whether it be for school projects, job interviews, or even conversation on the streets about beliefs and politics. If we don’t talk about the things we believe and can’t participate in healthy debates then we aren’t truly being the best citizens we can be.
In order to be a good public speaker we have to be able to organize our thoughts in easy to understand ways and be able to get our point across while still connecting to the audience. A speech uses the same type of conversational skills that you would use when talking to a friend meaning you always need to shift and adjust the meaning to make sure the listener is understanding everything. I’ve never thought of public speaking in that way before so this really stuck with me and helped me see public speaking in a new light. When talking to a friend we wouldn’t use big words and try to speak in phrases that are difficult to understand. We are trying to relate to the crowd not impress them with sentences they can’t understand. This concept makes the speech itself way less scary and more like something to look forward to.
Journal #2:
On my nightstand, always close to my bed, sits my little pocket buddha. He is about the size of my thumb, which means he’s travel size and travel he does. My little blue buddha travels everywhere with me and has visited over 11 countries thus far, never leaving my side. He calmly sits with legs crossed over each other and a single hand held up as if in the middle of a calming prayer, the other hand remaining in his lap. He is meant to signify harmony and mimics the similar pose done by the real statues that show when buddha has reached enlightenment. I know I can always reach down and feel his soft weight in my hand to feel calm and collected almost immediately. It helps ground and humble me and make sure I keep my karma in check.
Growing up, I struggled with my religion and beliefs, which is a very big part of who you are and who you become. I was always told what is and what isn’t rather than deciding for myself. I didn’t get the chance to truly explore all my options until I was older and could understand that there was more than what I was told. Instead of choosing christianity or catholicism or judaism (etc.) I got the option to choose myself. I always had a gentle idea of my beliefs but once I got to truly explore my options I discovered what I relate to. While I am not fully buddhist, I do agree with a lot of the ideas presented through the religion such as karma and reincarnation. I chose to not believe in gods and people but rather forces of nature. My little buddha helps to remind me to be the best I can be.
OUTLINE
1.) Description of Buddha
a) size and color
b)physical description and meaning of pose
2.) Meaning of Harmony
a) significance of harmony
b) feelings from it
3.) Beliefs
a) upbringing
b) newfound beliefs
