Foghorn

Finding My Voice

I found my voice early in life.  As a child of the eighties, I grew up in a time before text messages were being sent between family members. At dinner time, my bellow echoed throughout the house as I called my siblings downstairs to the table, earning me the nickname Foghorn. 

A combination of natural ability, breath work, and voice training provided a strong foundation for this vocal prowess.  As a member of the school choir, I received disciplined training in mastering my instrument, the diaphragm - the largest muscle responsible for supporting the breath. Drama teachers also spent countless hours teaching breath work, articulation, and delivery.  

Growing up in Canada, public speaking was embedded into the public school curriculum.  We read aloud from text books and shared our creative writing in front of the class.  In the third grade I won a speech competition on the contentious topic of the legality of allowing domestic cats to roam freely outdoors.  My persuasive speech was delivered in French, to an audience at the Alberta Legislature.

Not everyone has grown up with the same exposure to speaking in public.  Public speaking is a skill like any other.  It requires practice, and a firm understanding of ourselves so that we can better connect with others.