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On The Bricks

January 2, 2020

Did you miss a chance to make an impression over the holidays with a wonderful insightful toast?

When you do a toast, you don’t want to embarrass yourself. So, here’s a few tips for the perfect wedding toast taken from Toastmasters magazine. You can rearrange them a little to be a good toast for almost any event, including Christmas or New Years Eve or Day, a wedding or even a divorce, maybe a child’s baptism.

Where there is a gathering, there could be a need to celebrate the occasion with a heartfelt toast. These proven tips are geared to help you deliver a memorable toast with confidence and finesse.

  • Identify yourself. Open with a brief explanation of your relationship to whomever is being celebrated before beginning the toast.
  • Be prepared. The best toasts include an opening, a body, and a conclusion.
  • Stay on topic. Although you may be nervous, stay focused on the person and their special day. The toast is not about you.
  • Get personal. A toast should be original, heartfelt, and customized for the occasion.
  • Use humor but avoid telling potentially embarrassing stories and using offensive language.
  • Be creative. Avoid clichés and consider using a relevant quote to illustrate your words.
  • Be brief. A toast should last no longer than three minutes.
  • Stand; lift your glass by the stem and say, “I’d like to propose a toast.” Pause to allow guests to shift their attention toward you and give them time to lift their glasses. When you start speaking, lower your glass to about waist height.
  • Practice makes perfect. Rehearse your message in advance in front of a group of friends.

Maybe at your next social event you can toast the party host or the those in attendance.

It certainly beat the old “Here’s to you and here’s to me, in hope we never disagree. And if we do, then to heck with you, here’s to me.” That old stand – by doesn’t make you many friends.

Thought for the New Year: I’m walking into 2020 with a clear heart and mind. If you owe me, don’t worry about it – you’re welcome. If you wronged me, it’s all good – lesson learned. If you’re angry with me, you won. I’ve let it go. If we aren’t speaking, it’s cool. I love you and wish you well. If I’ve wronged you, I apologize. It wasn’t intentional. I’m grateful for every experience that I have received. Life is too short for pent up anger, grudges, extra stress or pain. Forgiveness is a gift to yourself. Make 2020 a year of forgiveness and a season of positivity.

See you on the bricks!