We managed to persuade CC Tan Soo Guan to part with his 1st Runner's Up speech at the 2009 Toastmaster Division 'C' Humor and Evaluation Contest to share with all of us. Enjoy!
Staying Happily Together – 2009 Division 'C' Contest, Segi College, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
I know Apa Rao from my first job. Whenever I see him, I would greet him like this, “Hey, Rao! How is life?” And he would reply, “Tan, What is life without a wife?"
Soon, we both move on with our careers and lost touch. One day I meet him at Sungai Wang Plaza and I exclaimed, “Hey Rao! I understand that you are married, congratulations! How is life?” He replies, “Aiyoo! Tan, what is life with such a wife?”
For those of you who laugh the loudest; I understand how you feel. It is like when you are single, your life is really miserable and after you are married, you wish you are dead.
Fellow Toastmasters and guests, tonight, based on my 16 years of married life, I am going to share with you 3 simple ways on how to stay happily together with your spouse.
All marriages are made in heaven, so to stay happily together, we must remember GOD. G-O-D.
G- Give and Take
In any good marriage there must be a give and take attitude. Example, when I find my wife feels strongly on certain issues, I will let her give all her views. I will just stand and take it. I will take it all if I must! She gives and I take!
Of cause, don’t get me wrong, I don’t take all the time. I also give. This is when it concern money. I give and she takes. When I give her more she takes more. Ah! Now I am smarter. I only give a little bit and the balance I keep it in my pocket.
Ever since both of us joined Toastmasters Club, I was trying to convince her to follow the Tabletopics rules whenever we need to discuss issues. She will have her say for 2 minutes. Ring. Then my turn for the next 2 minutes. Ring. Then her turn. Now, pause fillers like sob, sob, ahh, ahh will be included into the 2 minutes.
This way we can truly focus on the issues and not talk about the past, her mother-in-law and everything else but the real issue.
Of cause in reality things don’t work out as planned. When it is her turn, she will think she is giving her advance speech and speak non-stop for the next one hour! I am still trying to work it out.
Continue Part 2 tomorrow
Good speech , you should have got 1st.
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