An Unplanned Meeting, A Beautiful Experience
Sometimes, the best meetings are the ones that were never planned.
On 28 September 2026, a few members of The Indian Stammering Association (TISA) decided in the morning to meet offline in Patna. By 4 PM, Abhinav, Jitendra and Naresh came together at Veer Kunwar Singh Shaheed Udyan, Patna, for an evening filled with conversation, practice, laughter and learning.
Atendees:
- Abhinav
- Jitendra
- Naresh
What started as a simple meet-up turned into a meaningful Self-Help Group (SHG) experience.
Starting With Meditation
The meeting began with a 7-minute guided meditation session.
It gave everyone a chance to slow down, become calm and be present before beginning the activities.
By the end, the feeling was simple:
“Ab toh thoda aur meditation karne ka mann kar raha tha!”
It was a peaceful way to begin the evening.
Life Updates & Impromptu Speaking
After meditation, we had a quick catch-up about life—what everyone had been doing, what was happening personally and professionally, and simply reconnecting with each other.
Then came an impromptu speaking activity.
Each participant had to think of a topic and speak continuously for around 5 minutes.
Creating thoughts instantly and speaking for five minutes without preparation wasn’t easy. But that was exactly the point.
It provided an opportunity to practise:
- Thinking on the spot
- Organising thoughts
- Speaking continuously
- Building confidence
- Listening to others
Tongue Twisters & Lots of Laughter
Next came the tongue-twister challenge!
We challenged ourselves to speak difficult phrases quickly and clearly—and, of course, there were plenty of laughs along the way.
Activities like these may look simple, but they can make a meeting more relaxed and encourage everyone to participate without worrying too much about making mistakes.
Taking Public Speaking Outside the Group
One of the highlights of the evening was stepping outside our comfort zone.
Instead of limiting our conversations to the SHG members, we interacted with people outside the group in the park.
We spoke with a shopkeeper, a couple and other people around the park.
One shopkeeper shared a thoughtful perspective on stammering: rather than focusing only on the difficult parts of life or allowing other people’s reactions to define us, we can continue doing our best, learning and growing.
That short conversation became one of the most memorable moments of the evening.
More Than Just a Meeting
The evening wasn’t about following a fixed agenda.
There was no elaborate plan.
There were just a few people who wanted to meet, practise, talk, laugh and learn together.
And that’s what made it special.
The meeting gave us opportunities to practise communication, public speaking, spontaneous thinking and social interaction, while also reminding us about the importance of connection and community.
TISA SHG meetings are not about being perfect.
They are about creating a space where people can speak, listen, experiment, make mistakes, learn and grow together.
Looking Back
By the end of the evening, we had spent time talking, practising, challenging ourselves and laughing together.
It was a beautiful reminder that sometimes you don’t need a perfect plan.
You just need to take the first step—and meet your people.
Keep speaking.
Keep connecting.
Keep growing.
