I have been assigned to give a talk at church tomorrow on priorities for busy graduate students. I have spent all morning writing my talk. Not sure it is quite right but don't know what else to say.
Whenever I write a talk I end up writing it out. I feel like there is a bit of a stigma for this, that you should just take notes and speak by the spirit. I have done this before and I can do it just fine, but I feel more comfortable having it written out. Does this make me less spritiual? I kind of feel like it does, or that people think that. I know my friend Diana must feel the same way because she made me reassure her once that it was okay she wrote hers out. I shouldn't feel ashamed for being prepared and I am able to modify according to time, etc, but I like having a good guide. The apostles have their talks on the teleprompter, so it must be okay, right?
Anyway, I realized just barely that I am a poor candidate for this talk. I think I do a good job of staying on top of school and not stressing much. I do make time for my family, maybe to the extreme where I don't study enough? I know I can't seem to keep my house clean, my cupboards stocked, get enough sleep, and have the energy to exercise since I started SuperBlock. I don't feel up to riding my bike inside today but feel guilty just writing in my talk about the importance of taking care of yourself. And like I said, I am an addict. I have been feeding my Lost addiction at every spare moment.
I hope I am not a hypocrite!
5 comments:
First of all, I didn't know you were a LOST addict! Me too, me too!
Second of all, I think you are very good at prioritizing and at having a balanced life. If you weren't worried about prioritizing, you wouldn't have even written the talk ahead of time because you wouldn't care about it.
I don't think writing the talk out is bad so you shouldn't worry about it. For me, I could also wing it, but I feel like my message is better and clearer when written. The Spirit can guide you about what to write in your talk just as much as it can guide you when delivering it.
Also, I had a dream about you last night. I dreamed that you had a baby boy the same time Thomas was born. I was trying to give you a baby gift when you were visiting so I had you "shop" in Thomas' closet. You didn't have a baby without telling me, did you?
Sorry for such a long comment. Good luck on your talk!
Yes, the Spirit can be just as strong while planning a talk or lesson as it can while delivering it. Remember the scripture that says "If you are prepared, ye shall not fear." There is no doctrine to suggest that preparation is a bad thing in any situation.
Thanks for the words of support. I think the talk went very well, in the end. I could tell at least a few people were listening despite the many crying children.
And nope, no babies yet! I really think I would have a hard time with priorities if I had to juggle that right now, too.
I have finally reached the point where I can go without a word for word script. However, my outlines are much more detailed than what other people use--otherwise I forget things. I think it just takes practice and perhaps feeling passionate or like an expert on something. I like to think of it like when you give a testimony--you don't plan it out, but it still can come across very well done. I think we don't give ourselves enough credit for thinking on the fly. I also practice a lot at work--I've given about 15 class lectures this semester.
As for the priorities, maybe it's not that you're an expert, but that 1) you have valuable insight that will touch others or 2) you needed to hear it yourself. I think that we all have to give ourselves a break and allow a messy house every once in a while. Too bad I give myself that break all the time.
I think that your talk was very good and I enjoyed it so if you had it all written out then it works.
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