The Talking Traveller

MISSION STATEMENT

I recently became part of a speaking program for stutterers that have shown me the road to freedom. A technique that can give me total control if correctly applied and frequently practised.
- I still believe that practicing and correctly applying the technique gives me full control in any speaking situation. I am proud to be associated with this speaking program

I have finally been able to translate my thoughts, Ideas and emotions FULLY to other people without fear or struggle for the first time in my life. It is called the McGuire Programme.
- The program name is still the same, and also the results J

My progress has been TREMENDOUS since I've joined this program and I've had plenty of enjoyable speaking situations.
- I am continually progressing and moving forward and have added many memories and references to enjoyable speaking situations J

Unfortunately I still have situations where I hold back, where I avoid, where I stutter uncontrollably and experience the fear I hate. I not am willing to accept this anymore, I refuse to regress to the way I used to speak and have the same experiences. My current living status does not allow me enough speaking situations to improve myself as a speaker, therefore I declare the following.......
- Yes, I do still have some situations that remind me of the past. I still refuse to see those experiences as acceptable and use them as motivation. My present living status is providing me opportunities to improve myself on all levels.

I hereby declare war on uncontrolled stuttering.
- You bet! The war is on! My armour is getting thicker and my weapons technology improving daily. There’s a whole army behind me. If you are a uncontrolled stutter trying to get me, be afraid, be very afraid, I am going to kill you!!!!!!! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! 

I declare that I am going to devote a certain amount of time (and money) in my life to improve my speaking skills. I am going to travel the world with the focus on improving my verbal communication skills.
- Yip, eight months so far, and a whole lot of well spent money in seven countries.

I declare that I am going to do the following.......

• - To let go of my current living status,
  Goodbye engineer, Helo talking traveller!
• - To attend as many of the McGuire program courses and support groups as possible,
  Attended 1 course in New Zealand, 2 in Australia, 1 in Scotland, 1 in Ireland and 1 in Holland. Attended the Melbourne and London McGuire support groups. I attended the Speakeasy support group in Tauranga, New Zealand, and the Stottercafe group in Rotterdam, Holland. I also attended 2 Toastmasters meetings in Sydney and 3 in London.
• - To speak to as many people as possible and make friends worldwide,
  I have spoken to 5503 people(to the best of my calculations) of whom about 500 where full disclosures. Not bad, I feel there is a space available for improvement and means discovery. I have made good,honest friends in every country that I have visited!! J
• - To always practice controlled eloquent speaking,
  To be honest, No, not always. During certain times I have given in to spontaneous, sloppy, uncontrolled speaking. I do however realize that I was aware of all those situations, this has given me the knowledge and experience to know on what I have to work on. In many situations however I was extremely eloquent, to such a point that I had to convince people that I actually stutter. I motivate myself to always aim for eloquent speech.
• - To enter situations I have always feared, to deliberately use words that haunt me,
  Yes! I have entered many exciting situations and have documented many of them on my blog! I have deliberatly used many feared words in speaking situations. I am however aware that I still have word avoidances and I realize there are still situations and words that I will enjoy improving on. 
• - To try and help other stutterers on their way to eloquent speaking,
  I am thankfull that I can contribute to other stutterers recovery through coaching, support and giving advice. This is adding enormously to my own recovery.
• - To learn as much from other people and experiences, using that to help and inspire.
  -I have met many people, stutters and non, from different cultures, backgrounds, abilities and mindsets. I feel that I have gained valuable knowledge and have used that to help and inspire(even with a maori war dance!) and looking forward to continue doing this.
• - To improve my skills that I desire to be better at and become a better and eventually eloquent speaker
  I have unleashed dormant potential that has given me joy and confidence. I use these skills not only be a good speaker, but and effective and entertaining communicator.
• - To see the world, grow as person and enjoy my life journey.
  I see, I grow, and I am having a whole lot of fun doing it!

I feel that this is an opportunity, necessity and life adventure that I now am able to do and should grab hold of. I believe that by doing this I will conquer my fear of speaking, my fear of people, fear of myself, because that fear will prohibit my survival ......and I WILL survive!
- I am successfully surviving and am not letting go just yet! I am conquering, but more important, discovering.

Written by     Hein van der Merwe on 18-03-2006 in  Brooklyn, Pretoria, South Africa.
Evaluated by Hein van der Merwe on  11-01-2007 in Leytonstone,London,England.