Speech Reflection

I have one of the worst habits when it comes to giving a speech...I memorize word for word.  I have done this since high school so it is a habit that is going to be very hard to break.  When I prepare for a speech, I begin by typing out everything I want to say and then organize those thoughts into a meaningful order.  This outline becomes my lifeline when I go up to speak.  Although our brains are amazing things, they can let us down when we least expect it.  I clearly experienced this when I took a long pause in the beginning, racking my brain for what I was supposed to say next.  This has to be one of the most terrifying situations when giving a speech because people don't always pay attention when you're talking, but when you stand there fighting for words, EVERYONE is alert then.  After this horrifying pause though, I was able to pick back up and finish without any other mishaps.  I have never watched myself give a speech so I was interested to see what other annoying habits I had.  Fortunately, I did not sway, use filter words, or avoid looking at the audience. When giving a speech, you become so focused on what to say next that you become completely unaware of your body.  I was pleased to find that I kept control of my movements and engaged with the audience more than I realized. Overall, I presented about as well as I expected.  I just hope I learn my lesson and avoid memorization for future speeches.