The title sounds like a good title for a poem. Perhaps one day I will use it as that.

For today however, it refers to two interests I have, one is Photography, the other Toastmasters.

Photography started as an interest for me in the early 1980’s and the obsession continues to this day. Toastmasters, I joined in 2008 and it has given me so much (and continues to do so), including the confidence to open up my photography business, a general confidence and being able to relate to people a lot better.

For the past 6 years the pendulum has swung heavily toward Toastmasters, especially in the 4 years I was on the Executive, culminating in being President this past year. The past two years have been quite intense as the Vice-President Education role and President carry the most responsibility (i.e. the top two positions). I also did the Youth Leadership Co-ordinator role last year.

Come 1 July 2014 I will be ‘Immediate Past President’ and am not looking to take on any Committee roles in any organisation for the next few years, having been on committees for most of the past 26 years. A break is overdue…

My photography business carries on regardless of what I do, however personal photographic projects had given way to Toastmasters in the past 6 years. I will always photograph just like I always will be a Toastmaster. Toastmasters however will slide into the background a bit more and become another tool I utilise and practice at in my goal to become a better communicator and along the way I can help others too.

Over recent months I’ve been getting more and more ideas for photographic/Art projects and attending the recent Head On South Photographic Festival has spurred me on even more!

I can feel the Pendulum starting to swing back already.

Written by David Johnson
1 June 2014