For years, <a href="http://www.toastmasters.org/" target="_blank"><strong>Toastmasters</strong></a> has been on my "To Do Someday" list.

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Last year, it logically moved from the "To Do Someday" list to the<a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/365-or-bust/" target="_blank"><strong> "365 Curiosities"</strong></a> list.

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And then.... My 365 list filled up with a <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/23/day-57-we-saw-dead-people-or-if-you-want-to-be-technical-orbs/" target="_blank"><strong>Ghost Hunting Expedition</strong></a>, an <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/10/11/day-356-my-very-first-concussion-italian-style/" target="_blank"><strong>Italian Concussion</strong></a>,  <strong><a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2010/11/09/day-43babymakestwo/" target="_blank">Unexpected Puppy Love</a></strong> and <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2011/12/30/lessons-learned-from-my-year-of-living-curiously/" target="_blank"><strong>much, much more</strong></a>.

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And then...I promptly forgot about Toastmasters whilst in the midst of <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/02/17/playdate-5-a-week-in-the-french-alps/" target="_blank"><strong>Heartbreak</strong></a>, <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/52-playdates/" target="_blank">Play,</a> and <a href="http://www.diaryofalatebloomer.com/2012/04/05/playdate-13-script-frenzy/" target="_blank"><strong>Script Frenzy.</strong></a>

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Until Britt and Hollywood (the friend, not the city) announced that they were attending a lunchtime Toastmasters meeting.  Would I like to flee from my cube for an hour to absorb myself in the Art of Public Speaking?

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Weeeeeeee!!!!  A lunchtime Playdate <em>and</em> a To Do Someday opportunity literally fell into my cubicle!

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On the way over, Britt and Hollywood nervously wondered out loud if they would be called on to speak.  Yikes!  Public speaking is the number one fear amongst Americans, you know.

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #800000;"><strong>Yep.  Our fear of public speaking trumps death. </strong></span>

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I secretly wished that I would be called on to speak.  Because I was a Theatre major once upon a time.  We're weird that way.

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The Toastmasters bestowed a warm and gracious welcome upon us.  They dazzled us with their speeches.  They encouraged us to sign up so that we could Feel the Fear and Speak Anyway!  (At future meetings.  Hmph.)

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Britt and Hollywood were on fire!  "Sign us up," they declared!

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And then...When I remembered the tens of thousands of dollars that my parents spent on my B.A. in Theatre (thanks, Parental Unit!), I realized that I've got this particular "fear" covered.

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<span style="font-size: medium; color: #800000;"><strong>Moral of the Story from Your Toastmasters Guinea Pig</strong></span>

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Have you ever thought about investigating <a href="http://www.toastmasters.org/" target="_blank">Toastmasters</a>?  Good for you!  Here's my unsolicited advice:

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If you are an American who fears Public Speaking more than Death, check out your local Toastmasters.  I really, Really, REALLY think you should go.  Next week.  Not next year.

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If your parents spent gobs of money on Theatre school, thank them profusely.  You should be pretty damn good at The #1 Fear.  Now get out there and get fired up about something else that's scary!  Like finishing that screenplay for instance.

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Is there anyone out there who would like to hold me accountable on this?  Because I am afraid.  Very, very afraid.

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