Speech #5 – your body speaks
Weather forecast: Winter (07-24-2017)
Seasons come and go, and each of them has a very unique feeling. The atmosphere paints our moods and the weather marks the transitions. Leaves in fall, snow in winter, flowers in spring, and AC in summer.
Fellow toastmasters and guests,
Can you please raise your hand if you enjoy winter?
I didn’t envision many of you raising your hand, and that’s OK because now I can convince you how you can see winter differently.
Seven years ago, I was reading the newspaper while I was having breakfast and one of my friends pointed out to me a fundraising event that took place during the third week in February at Portage Lakes State Park in New Franklin, OH. He said that people in the hundreds were brave and crazy enough to jump into a freezing lake to raise money for charities, and I said with great excitement “I want to do that”.
Would you voluntarily jump into freezing cold water?
Would you pay to jump into freezing cold water?
Going back to 2011, I did.
I did voluntarily jump into freezing cold water, and I did pay to do so.
I was very excited about The Polar Bear Jump, and a little disappointed because el Niño was causing the weather to behave in the upper 30s and 40s. I arrived an hour early with a chair in my hand and a backpack with clothes to change.
I was not able to convince any of my friends to join me and that's OK because 386 participants were as brave and crazy as I was to take the plunge. Not only I was getting a wristband when I registered, but I prepared myself with hot chocolate and a souvenir t-shirt.
My first sight of the lake had me thinking about the thickness of the icy surface. There was an area cut out somewhere in the middle of the lake decorated with a 7-feet tall inflatable polar bear and the number 2011. From far, I could only tell that the ice blocks were this thick (show how small with your fingers), and from a close range, this THICK (show how big with your hands). I walked by the beach, leaving footprints behind me and recognizing the best area to sit.
People were dressed up with superhero costumes and others were just sporting swimsuits. The organizing committee advised all the participants about not diving head first and highly recommended wearing shoes to avoid possible cuts. The weather was still in the 40's, and the first participant was ready to take the plunge while I waited patiently for the number 181 to be called.
The number 100 was called and I started to get ready to the temperature by wearing my 3S suit (shirt, shorts and shoes). When I was ready to face the water I extended my arms, jump in the air and I let the lake take my soul and $35 dollars I voluntarily paid. Thermal shock and brain freeze took over. Two firemen helped me reach the ladder and I walked happily out of the water. The steam out of my body marked the end of this experience and I promised to do it again because 20 seconds wasn’t long enough for me.
I repeated this experience again in 2014 with my already trademarked jump.
Seasons come and go, and each of them has a very unique feeling. Winter transforms my mood and makes me look forward to another day in paradise. Would you be willing to jump into freezing cold water for a good cause?
Alvaro R.
Seasons come and go, and each of them has a very unique feeling. The atmosphere paints our moods and the weather marks the transitions. Leaves in fall, snow in winter, flowers in spring, and AC in summer.
Fellow toastmasters and guests,
Can you please raise your hand if you enjoy winter?
I didn’t envision many of you raising your hand, and that’s OK because now I can convince you how you can see winter differently.
Seven years ago, I was reading the newspaper while I was having breakfast and one of my friends pointed out to me a fundraising event that took place during the third week in February at Portage Lakes State Park in New Franklin, OH. He said that people in the hundreds were brave and crazy enough to jump into a freezing lake to raise money for charities, and I said with great excitement “I want to do that”.
Would you voluntarily jump into freezing cold water?
Would you pay to jump into freezing cold water?
Going back to 2011, I did.
I did voluntarily jump into freezing cold water, and I did pay to do so.
I was very excited about The Polar Bear Jump, and a little disappointed because el Niño was causing the weather to behave in the upper 30s and 40s. I arrived an hour early with a chair in my hand and a backpack with clothes to change.
I was not able to convince any of my friends to join me and that's OK because 386 participants were as brave and crazy as I was to take the plunge. Not only I was getting a wristband when I registered, but I prepared myself with hot chocolate and a souvenir t-shirt.
My first sight of the lake had me thinking about the thickness of the icy surface. There was an area cut out somewhere in the middle of the lake decorated with a 7-feet tall inflatable polar bear and the number 2011. From far, I could only tell that the ice blocks were this thick (show how small with your fingers), and from a close range, this THICK (show how big with your hands). I walked by the beach, leaving footprints behind me and recognizing the best area to sit.
People were dressed up with superhero costumes and others were just sporting swimsuits. The organizing committee advised all the participants about not diving head first and highly recommended wearing shoes to avoid possible cuts. The weather was still in the 40's, and the first participant was ready to take the plunge while I waited patiently for the number 181 to be called.
The number 100 was called and I started to get ready to the temperature by wearing my 3S suit (shirt, shorts and shoes). When I was ready to face the water I extended my arms, jump in the air and I let the lake take my soul and $35 dollars I voluntarily paid. Thermal shock and brain freeze took over. Two firemen helped me reach the ladder and I walked happily out of the water. The steam out of my body marked the end of this experience and I promised to do it again because 20 seconds wasn’t long enough for me.
I repeated this experience again in 2014 with my already trademarked jump.
Seasons come and go, and each of them has a very unique feeling. Winter transforms my mood and makes me look forward to another day in paradise. Would you be willing to jump into freezing cold water for a good cause?
Alvaro R.