Connecting Makes You Special

(This is a Toastmasters speech I delivered for the Pathways project — Inspiring Your Audience. A bit of context: Michelle, Steven, Lily, and Yang are all members of my club. Lily and Yang are best friends. This speech reflects on how meaningful connections can make us feel valued, seen, and truly special.)

During the Table Topics session of our last meeting, Steven asked Yang:

“If you were the lead wolf in your group, how would you distribute the prey?”

Yang answered without hesitation:

“I would give priority to those people who connect with me deeply.”

I know Lily is safe.

Yang’s answer reveals a simple truth:

People naturally trust, like, and prioritize those they feel connected with.

Connection makes you special!

Recently, I wrote an article about Michelle and joked about her popularity in our club.

Why is Michelle so popular?

One major reason is her willingness to connect. Many of you can probably recall moments when Michelle reached out to you.

Me too. When I was still standing at the doorway of Miracle, she approached me and encouraged me tremendously. She told me about the club’s history — and about its wonderful people. That clearly showed how deeply connected she was to everyone.

Not long after I joined, she was elected club president — and she successfully talked me into taking the VPE role, even though I didn’t think I was ready.

Do you know how she lured me in?

She said she would only accept the president role if I was willing to be her partner — the VPE.

She really knows how to make you feel special, doesn’t she?

I remember one thing she kept saying:

“This is a great opportunity to connect with members.”

And she was right.

I wasn’t someone who would naturally take the initiative to connect with others. But becoming VPE gave me the chance to get to know members better and to see each of them as a unique individual. At the same time, it helped me feel more comfortable, more confident, and more involved in the club.

While working together, Michelle and I also grew closer personally. We talked often — not just about club business, but also about our personal lives. For example, we would exchange strategies on how to take care of our husbands — just kidding! But truly, along the way, we realized that, deep down, we had a lot in common.

That’s when she started calling me 小蜜 (bestie). 

Connection makes you special!

As The Little Prince describes, connection has a special power. In this classic book, the fox explains “connection” to the little prince using the word taming.

Before being tamed:

“You are just one boy among a hundred thousand boys… and I am just one fox among a hundred thousand foxes.”

After being tamed:

“You will be unique in all the world to me, and I will be unique in all the world to you.”

“Taming” simply means establishing ties. That’s exactly what connection does: it turns ordinary people into special people in our lives.

We are drawn to those who make us feel seen.

Joining Miracle gives us opportunities to “tame” each other. We don’t just meet at regular meetings — we connect outside of them too: gatherings, celebrations, cottage trips. These shared moments create strong, lasting ties.

During these times, we share laughter, reflections, and vulnerabilities. We see each other beyond speeches and slowly become part of one another’s memories. And, more importantly, we are there for each other — celebrating successes and lending a hand in times of need.

After all, the most special people in our lives are not the loudest or the most accomplished.

They are the ones who notice us, who listen to us, who care about us — the ones who truly touch our hearts.

That is what true connection is all about.

So take the initiative: go out, reach out, truly connect. Because —— 

Connecting makes you special!