Monday, February 27, 2012

Know Where To Go

Greetings Happy People,

Do you know where you want to go?

At an early age I did.

One of my favorite passions is travelling. Whenever I get an opportunity to go from one place to another, I would take it. When I was 12 years old, I started looking at maps. Just before vacation time, I took the time to open up a good atlas, look at the different routes to travel, and estimate the time it will take to get from Point A to Point B. There are some things about the open road that I like. I like the adventure, the scenery, and the opportunities that arises. There is never a dull moment when it comes to my travels.

One of the major challenges of travelling are the detours. At any given moment, one can have a detour that can affect the how long it will take to get to that destination..When that happens, it helps to have a map. Think about it, one can open up that atlas and look for alternate routes to the same place. It can help in more ways than one.

What if one doesn't have a map? Well, there are many options to take. One could ask for direction, others can make a split second decision to take a path on the forked road, and some would just be lost. Being on the road has its up and downs, you never know what can come your way. No matter how a person gets lost, they can always find that path that will get them back on track. And when they get to that place, they can rejoice in arriving at that destination.

There were many times that I got lost in a journey. Fortunately, I found ways to get back on track and get to the place where I want to go. Other times, I found my way back home.

It's amazing how a road trip parallels what one goes through in life. Like the open road, life has many detours, forks, and dead ends. The question is how one is able to get through these obstacles to get to that place they want to go. Some people make it, others are not as fortunate and end up getting lost.

Sometimes it helps to have direction in where you want to go. You can have a map, a GPS system, or just a vision. It does not matter as long as you know where you want to go.

Do you know where you want to go?

If you know, then go!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Bad Excuses - Nobody "Likes" This

Greetings Happy People,

When was the last time you've ever made an excuse for something?

Was it something that was out of your control? Was it something that involved a personal crisis? Was it something that just came out of the blue?

Or was it a complete "cop out?"

We humans have a tendency to make excuses. Some of them are credible. Others are worthy enough for a 3-5 minute Tall Tales speech. Nevertheless, these excuses are a temporary obstruction of things that we want to do in life. For the goal-minded individuals, excuses are seen as challenges that can be conquered. Some people are honest with their excuses, others are not so much.

We also have those people that overuse excuses to the point where they blame others faults and situations. One good example of this is someone calling into work because of a dead goldfish. That's right, a dead goldfish kept this person from working that particular day!! Holy strawberries!!

In the age of big brother - I mean social networking and emails - some of us can tell whether an excuse is credible or not. If one backs away from a certain thing due to any type of excuse, it is shown on different levels. Credibility can be questioned if one person claims to have the flu while pictures of them were taken at a nearby golf course throwing their golf clubs in the lake. More credibility can be questioned if a person that claims to be visiting their sick grandparents gets caught in some illicit affair with the neighbor two houses down the street.

When these type of "excuses" happen, it is best to be upfront and honest about it now, than get caught later in life. So many heartaches can be saved by this.

If you are a person that likes to make bad excuses for the sake of it, remember that karma exists and whatever you do will come back to bite you. One can run, one can hide, but somehow the truth comes out.

When will be the next time you will make an excuse for something? Will it be for something that is out of your control? Will it involve a personal crisis? Will it be something from out of the blue?

Or will it be just a complete "cop out?"

Only you have the answers to those questions.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Monday, February 20, 2012

Open Door, Closed Door

Greetings Happy People,

Seventeen years ago, I had the opportunity to look into an 8-week program called Speechcraft. It was a program that gave an idea what a Toastmasters meeting is all about. I loved it so much that I joined two more sessions before graduating from UNLV.

That experience allowed me to do pretty well in Toastmasters.

This coming Wednesday, I have the opportunity to give a presentation about Toastmasters at the same place where it all began for me. Talk about a good payback opportunity!! This happened when a fellow Toastmaster named Michon told me about a chance to talk about Toastmasters to some engineering students. It will take place at a celebration known as Engineering week (or E-week for short).

At first, I was a bit hesitant. I had questions about when and where this was going to take place. I worried about how I would look in front of these people studying the same things I studied back in the '90s. What words could I say? Without any delay, I told Michon that I would be more than happy to do it.

Somehow I knew that this is going to be an awesome opportunity. How well will I do? You will find out about it either on a Facebook status or the next post I write on this blog.

As Michon opened this door of opportunity for me, another one remains closed.

Days later, my Manager walked into the office and told me an opportunity to talk about a company that I have been involved with for the past 12 years. I asked her about the details and they sounded a bit sketchy. To find out about this "opportunity," we walked over to the office of our public relations specialist.

According to this person, the people responsible for organizing this opportunity at E-week did not have anything ready. No flyers, no programs, no script to tell people what this company is all about.

I shook my head and said "What?"

Apparently they wanted to keep the doors of opportunity closed for many people, but why? This closed door prevents anyone from taking steps to become better at what one can do. This does not look good at all. I would not be surprised if some type of negative response comes from someone's closed door.

I just gave you two stories on two different opportunities. One door was open and the other was closed.

If a person wants to grow, that person will walk through the open door. If the door is closed, that person will either open that door or find another on that is open.

If you are holding the doors of opportunity, please make sure that they are open for someone else. That chance WILL make a difference in your life and someone else's. Life is too short to keep that door closed.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I



Sunday, February 12, 2012

Pixie Doll

Greetings Happy People,

The following poem I want to share with you is called "Pixie Doll."

"Smoking my last cigarette of the night,
I stroll the sidewalks of Boulder Highway.
As I glimpse across the neon lights, 

It makes me feel so empty and confused.


My first years here were started in school,
Broke and penniless in every way.

I was tempted with mountains of cash
Greener than the doors I walked through.



I wasn't proud of the things I've done, 
To earn the cash I've made.
If I were to tell the things I've done,

It would disgrace my parents for life.


Performing tricks for different strangers,
Dancing in perfume and smoke-filled bars.
I brought delight to men and women,

But I could not find any joy of my own.


I thought I found it in empty bottles,
I thought I found it in pills and needles.
After surviving the crashes from these highs,
I knew that I had to stop. But how?

As I put out my final cigarette of the night,
Sunlight crept over the ample mountains.
As I behold the beauty of this sight,
It reminds me that it's never too late.



It is NEVER too late!!!"

This poem was about a prostitute named "Pixie." She started off on the right track, but somehow made a wrong turn in life. She has been through the dangers and pitfalls that one would not be proud of. From dancing to drugs to prostituting, she knew that something was not right. Unlike some of her "friends" that ended up in worse situations, she still has a chance to turn things around. Sometimes it just takes those first steps and she chose to walk in a different direction. One can hope that she ends up in a better life than the one she lived.

For the people that are not happy with the way they are living right now, all I got to say is that you have a chance to turn things around!! It may not be an easy thing to do, but somehow it has to be done. Whether it is by looking at the mirror, taking your first steps, or just believing you can do it, you have the ability to get out of that rut and into something better!!

Life may be too short, but it is never too late to do anything.

It is NEVER too late!!

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Is It Worth the Price?

Greetings Happy People,

I had a pretty interesting phone call yesterday.

It was from a friend that I have not heard from in a while. Let's call her "Rose."

We spoke for 20 minutes. It started off with nice hellos. After that, it took a different turn after being asked the following five-word question:

"How is life treating you?"

On my end, life has been pretty good. I am getting married in a few months, visited my folks, enjoying good company with fellow Toastmasters, and took a nice trip to Seattle.

On her end, she had the same problems that stuck with her for years. The man she is seeing is still treating her terribly. He would not allow her to do the things she wanted to do. He talk down to her as if she was a dog. He also put his needs over hers in an extremely selfish manner. To make things even worse, he abuses her physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Like the many times before, she complains about him and wishes to leave him one of these day. I asked her why doesn't she leave him?

Her response was money. She did not have enough money to move or go anywhere.

As a response, I asked her, "Is it worth the price?"

Silence dominated the conversation for the next few seconds..........

Talk about some food for thought.

Somewhere in the world, there are women that are in Rose's situation. They are in a relationship where their partners are abusing them more ways than one. It does not matter the age, race, gender, or financial situation, relationship like these can get worse if the person chooses to stay in it.

Why?

Some would say that it is finances. Others say that they can "change the person." They can also say that they are staying for the sake of the children. You also have some people that say that they just love them?

What?!! How they can love someone that abuses them goes beyond my understanding.

Hitting someone is not love.
Talking down to someone is not love.
Any type of abuse is not love.
Love beings with looking in the mirror
and asking yourself "if it's worth the price?"

For my sake, I hope Rose has enough courage to leave that jerk and start her life anew. Will she do it? Only she knows the answer. I just hope she picks the right one.

Life is too short to go be a part of this abusive cycle. One is way better than that.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I

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