"Stories of a Learner": The BG Chronicles Chapter One

"There is no way to make a child know just how important everything they learn is until they grow up; that is why they have teachers and parents to guide them to pay attention and do their best!

...and not all teachers work in schools."

I wish I paid more attention when I was learning...

"Children grow up when they become independent, and are called adults...

Adults grow up when they have children, and are called parents...

But here is the thing; this is not about age!

And you don't need to give birth to have children."

This started as an impulse 2 weeks ago and I just decided to run with it...

Do I have a lot to say... maybe

Does anyone want to listen... we will see

Since Shakespeare plays in High School, I have been fascinated with writing stories but I have been telling them much longer.

My earliest memory of pubic storytelling was as a 4 or 5-year-old kid boldly walking into a meeting of the elders at my grandparent's home in the village to recite a rhyme:

"I stand before you, to sit behind you, to tell you a story, I know nothing of..."

Irony, alliteration, rhyme; classic...

But think of the situation: 70 to 80-year-old Igbo chiefs listening to this little boy muddle through an English rhyme.

I got a standing ovation!

And to this day, I have uncles who first ask "What is the story?" before saying hello, every single time we meet.

So I am just here telling stories, now on with the show...

rhyme and rhythm #publicspeaking

As you may be aware, I love music; my wife says I also love the sound of my own voice. I am also a fan of literature: poetry, prose, and drama. It is wonderful how they often intertwine. However just recently at mass, it dawned on me that music, poetry, prose, and drama could be useful to me in public speaking.

I am a Nigerian; this means I have rhyme and rhythm, fervor and flamboyancy... and no this is not a stereotype in my case, no matter what my wife or sisters may say.

But I have been known to outpace the beat, when I dance or clap, and yes, speak. Too fast, too loud, too low, too many gestures, etc.

So I had an epiphany during the responsorial psalm... "she is reading the Psalm to a melody; why can't I speak with a melody?"

Umm...

Speech has rhythm and words, which are the building blocks of speech, are just phonetics separated into syllables that can be stressed, dragged, or paused in between, for emphasis... and style.

So why did it take me so long to let my speech, sing?

I mean clearly, we remember songs, lyrics, and melodies a lot better than we remember quotes and the easiest way to learn a new language is to learn its songs.

I blame it on never learning music...

Yes, I was taught but I never learned. Actually studying half-beats, beats and longer makes you appreciate the power of sustaining but more importantly the power of pausing.

A pause has impact

A pause allows you gather your thoughts

A pause gives structure to your speech

A pause lets you catch your breath

A pause gives the audience a break

And makes sure you carry them along.

And anyone who has rhythm and knows how to dance understands the pause as well; after all the movement of your feet is dictated by the beat.

The heart of storytelling and speaking, whether public or private, is to communicate; and nothing speaks straight through to our hearts and souls like music...

So I wish I learned to let my words sing when I spoke, by taking my time to pause and move to the rhythm...

Take a note from Will, use a 5 count... match it to your heartbeat... go fast when your heartbeats fast... go slow when it calms... and don't forget to breathe.

#parenting #education #publicspeaking #rhyme #pause