Winning Speeches - For Contests and Impromptu Table Topics

 At the advanced online club, SALT, which stands for Speakers and Leaders Toastmasters, on Sunday 26th July 2026, I was the winner of a mock Table Topics contest, first our of seven contestants. The question was: Is it better to lose at love or lose at war? My answer was Dear friends - What an absurd, complicated question! Why should the two be related? Unless you were in love with a soldier or a spy or member of the military of another country. That doesn't apply to many people.  It might have applied to somebody in the past, such as Napoleon.  But let's start with the first part of this double-barreled question. Would you rather win or lose at love? Obviously you would rather win. But you have to learn to cope with losing.  I remember at the age of 16, or 18, when I thought I had lost a potential boyfriend, it seemed like the end of the world. That was so long ago, about fifty years ago, that I have had many other loves - so now I can't even remember his name. I ev...