Greetings happy people,
Before we get started with today’s blog, I have the following poem I am going to share with all of you. It is entitled “My Child.”
From the seed that was planted in the fertile land
I will nourish you day and night
In my mind I will do what I know is right
For you are my child
I promise to shelter you from the danger
That lurks from every wayI
want you to be with me every day
For you are my child
Love, encouragement, and tenderness
Are what I am willing to give
And I will do so until I cease to live
For you are my child
Don't forget where you come from
Don't forget where you start
The place that beats within my heart
For you are my child
I love you!
On and off, I have been writing poems since 1995. Some were good, some were okay, and some were awful. “My Child” was one of the best poems I ever wrote. The story behind this poem happened in the spring of 1998, back when I was an Engineering student at UNLV.
When I first wrote this poem, my intent was to write it for one of my friends. Her name was Melanie and she was going to school the same time I was. She is a smart, friendly, pretty, and an amazing individual that one would really like to know.
As I was walking to one of my classes, I saw MeIanie sitting on a bench feeling very sad, lonely, and depressed. Feeling concerned, I asked what was wrong with her. She told me that she was pregnant and her boyfriend left her. She had one of those confused looks where she did not know what to do and was on the verge of tears. It was at that moment, I decided that I was going to cheer her up. Instead of just telling her that everything was okay, I decided to write her that poem.
Once I finished writing the poem, I gave it to her. When she read it, she was on the verge of tears again – this time it was happy tears. Melanie was quite thankful and she was feeling better that day. Not long after I gave her that poem, she had a beautiful healthy daughter named Nia.
Eight years later, Melanie and I were co-workers at my current workplace. She was walking with a little girl tagging along by her side. I asked Melanie who is the beautiful little girl. She said that her name was Nia. And she introduced Nia to me as the man that wrote the poem for her. WOW!! In a way, that made me feel pretty good to know that after all of these years, that poem meant a lot to Melanie and Nia.
This was a good example on how doing something nice for someone can go a long way. On any given day, we know some people that would face hard times. It would leave them feeling very sad, confused, and depressed. Many people would just walk by and not do a thing about it. A helping hand can really make a difference in touching a life. It would show that someone really cares.
Who knows!! The life you touch today can make a bigger impact for you tomorrow. All it takes is an open heart and a random act of kindness to get it done. Once more people are able to do this, the world would be a better place to live in. All we have to do is just take the first step. IT CAN BE DONE!!
That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Jesse I-I-I
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Final Division D Governor Letter!!
Greetings fellow Toastmasters and guest,
Before we all get together for the Toastmasters Leadership Institute this coming Saturday morning 8:00am at the CSN Cheyenne Campus, I would like to say some final words as your Division D Governor.
First and foremost, I thank each and every one of you for helping this community go further than it could. You are all amazing and I find it a pleasure to serve all of you as your Governor for this year. Without you all, none of this would be possible.
I have been to all 28 (soon to be 29) Division D Toastmasters clubs here in this Las Vegas valley. And I find that no matter which club that I am in, we all share the same dream and vision that Ralph Smedley had 85 years ago at a YMCA basement in Santa Ana, California. This is helping people become better speakers and leaders not only for this organization, but for our respective communities as a whole. I am very confident and assured that this same sense of community spirit will live on for not only the next year when fellow Distinguished Toastmaster Narayanan Doraswamy, becomes your Division Governor, but for many years to come. Together we can live the legacy!!
If I were to describe my year of serving you as your Division Governor, it would have to be that it was an amazing ride!! I am thankful to get in touch with not only the people I have served in this Division, but also outside of it too!! Whether it is working with other Division Governors here in southern Nevada and central California, or driving out to different places such as Primm, Bullhead City, San Luis Obispo, Fresno, and Bakersfield, or even just having a fun time, I really would not trade these experiences with anyone!!
I am also thankful for my team of Area Governors. Karyn, Pablo, Jake, Nora, and Adella, you are all great leaders and you are all awesome!! I find it a pleasure to work with each of you and I really could not have asked for a better team. When I looked at all of you before stepping into this role, I knew that you would be great leaders for your communities!! Three President’s Distinguished Area, two Select Distinguished Areas, and a President’s Distinguished Division – if that does not tell you about the high-caliber leadership in Division D, I don’t know what will. You have all done a fantastic job, and I thank you for helping me take this Division to President’s Distinguished heights!!
People have been asking me what is next once I step away from the role of Division Governor on June 30th. Well, I will still remain active in the Toastmaster community. I will be the President of two Toastmaster Clubs (Bachelors and Bachelorettes AND the Silver State Toastmasters). I will also be the Vice President of Education for three more (Carpe Momentum, Centennial Hills Toasters, and Starmasters). Heck I may have some time to become a Chief Judge during Area & Division Contests too!! And just when I think it is safe, I could get myself ready for another three-year run along the top District officers positions including District Governor - Hmmm. Time can only tell.
If I have any advice for the future leaders that will serve in the 2009-2010 year, it would be one simple word – community. Whether it is through your team of leaders, or through the people you serve, establishing and maintain an effective community is very important in the success of the Clubs, Areas, and Divisions. With a strong powerful community, no force can really stop you from being successful!! As long as you have the spirit, the drive, and the bonding teamwork, you will thrive!!
If I have any advice for guests that read this message, I would encourage you to check out a Toastmasters meeting!! We have 54 (soon to be 55) Toastmasters clubs in the Las Vegas Valley alone!! There are 12,000 of them all over the world in 90+ countries!! All you have to do is step in the room where a Toastmasters meeting is taking place and just enjoy what each club has to offer. You will be impressed with what is out there!! To look for a club near you, just go to the Toastmasters International website (http://www.toastmasters.org). Come on by and tell them I sent ya!!
That is all I have for you as I write this final letter as your Division Governor. Remember to take care of yourselves and please keep the success thriving as we go forth to the next year. We all can do this as we build on our distinction. Thank you for your time and attention.
“DA- DADA DADA- DAA DAA!!”
Sincerely,
Jesse Oakley I-I-I, DTM
2008-2009 President’s Distinguished Division D Governor
(2012-2013 President’s Distinguished District 33 Governor??)
District 33 Toastmasters
Monday, June 22, 2009
I AM COURAGEOUS!!
Greetings happy people!!
My name is Jesse Oakley I-I-I and I AM COURAGEOUS!!
Yes, there are people that already know that, but it took last weekend to discover this miraculous thing for myself.
I have done many courageous things within the last year: served as a local Division Governor for half of the Toastmasters clubs in Vegas, learned how to swim, sang in front of a karaoke bar audience, and asked a woman out on a date (which led to an awesome 13-month relationship).
Despite these fantastic things, I felt that more has to be done. It was like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle still needing to be placed in order to get the full picture.
While the “Living in the Now” meditation exercise is working well for me, and the certain breakthrough moments I had before helped make my life better, I knew that there was something still needed to make the overall picture much clearer than before. That was when last weekend happened.
On Friday, I experienced my deepest meditation session with a few of my buddies at a seminar. The visions I saw while meditating were truly fantastic!! I channeled deep inside my mind and it took me to places I have not been in many years. I laughed, I cried, and I awed in pure amazement. When it was all over, I discovered my own inner courage!!
Thanks to this breakthrough discovery, I created and received many miracles that weekend. I had the courage to help out with my community by sending bottles of water to thirsty people at a nearby park, I had more courage to start up a super dynamic conversation with my dad, and I had also set more personal goals for myself to establish by the end of 2009!! I also discovered that more miracles were also coming my way – whether I received or created them!!
In addition, this discovery also increased the size of my heart. I thought I had a big heart before, but once the deep, visionary meditation was done - my heart grew tenfold!! It increased my confidence, it further increased my positive thinking, it made me appreciate the things I have, and it further increased my own courageousness!!
With an increased heart also came an increase sense of love. Not just the type of love you see in relationships, sex, and marriages, but the type of appreciation that can be seen in different facets of life (such as my family, friends, workplace, and my own environment). This is way better than creating any form of negativity that would generate wars, mistrust, and victimization.
Now that I discovered my own courage, I would like for you to discover your own. If you have it, find ways on keeping and making it stronger!! Once you discover it, feel free to use it for the betterment of yourself and the environment around you!! GO AHEAD....Be courageous!! Create your own miracles!! Make a difference in the lives you touch!! It will be better for everyone to have this type of vision!!
That is all I have right now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention!!
My name is Jesse Oakley I-I-I and I AM COURAGEOUS!!
My name is Jesse Oakley I-I-I and I AM COURAGEOUS!!
Yes, there are people that already know that, but it took last weekend to discover this miraculous thing for myself.
I have done many courageous things within the last year: served as a local Division Governor for half of the Toastmasters clubs in Vegas, learned how to swim, sang in front of a karaoke bar audience, and asked a woman out on a date (which led to an awesome 13-month relationship).
Despite these fantastic things, I felt that more has to be done. It was like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle still needing to be placed in order to get the full picture.
While the “Living in the Now” meditation exercise is working well for me, and the certain breakthrough moments I had before helped make my life better, I knew that there was something still needed to make the overall picture much clearer than before. That was when last weekend happened.
On Friday, I experienced my deepest meditation session with a few of my buddies at a seminar. The visions I saw while meditating were truly fantastic!! I channeled deep inside my mind and it took me to places I have not been in many years. I laughed, I cried, and I awed in pure amazement. When it was all over, I discovered my own inner courage!!
Thanks to this breakthrough discovery, I created and received many miracles that weekend. I had the courage to help out with my community by sending bottles of water to thirsty people at a nearby park, I had more courage to start up a super dynamic conversation with my dad, and I had also set more personal goals for myself to establish by the end of 2009!! I also discovered that more miracles were also coming my way – whether I received or created them!!
In addition, this discovery also increased the size of my heart. I thought I had a big heart before, but once the deep, visionary meditation was done - my heart grew tenfold!! It increased my confidence, it further increased my positive thinking, it made me appreciate the things I have, and it further increased my own courageousness!!
With an increased heart also came an increase sense of love. Not just the type of love you see in relationships, sex, and marriages, but the type of appreciation that can be seen in different facets of life (such as my family, friends, workplace, and my own environment). This is way better than creating any form of negativity that would generate wars, mistrust, and victimization.
Now that I discovered my own courage, I would like for you to discover your own. If you have it, find ways on keeping and making it stronger!! Once you discover it, feel free to use it for the betterment of yourself and the environment around you!! GO AHEAD....Be courageous!! Create your own miracles!! Make a difference in the lives you touch!! It will be better for everyone to have this type of vision!!
That is all I have right now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention!!
My name is Jesse Oakley I-I-I and I AM COURAGEOUS!!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Baby Got Backbone
Greetings happy people!!
It was a Friday night. I was in a smoky, dimly lit bar standing on a stage with a microphone in my hand. This was in front of strangers I don’t know!! What I was about to do was going to be one of those unforgettable nights for I was about to sing my first ever song at a karaoke bar.
Yes, one of my livelihoods is speaking in front of people, but this was different, I am not in one of my relaxed settings at a Toastmaster meeting. Instead I was in a strange place with people staring at me. On the outside, I looked calm and very cool. But on the inside, I was nervous and a bit frightened - wondering if this was a smart thing to do.
As the music was getting ready to start, I had two choices: get off the stage and run OR throw caution into the wind and milk the fun out of it. Thankfully, I chose the latter.
The first song I ever sang (or rapped) was the classic 1992 song “Baby Got Back” by Sir-Mix-a-Lot. Luckily I knew the lyrics to the whole song. Once I uttered those first words (“I like big….”) I was on fire!!
During the performance, I realized that more people were getting on the dance floor and I decided to be in the middle of the action –shaking my booty and rapping to the beat. Once the song ended, I conquered another feat as the audience cheered my performance!!
Now I would occasionally attend karaoke bars and have fun on the stage. Whether it is Rick James “Super Freak” or Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night” or even Digital Underground’s “The Humpty Dance,” I would find myself having more fun each time I am performing in front of people that are into having a great time!!
This was an example on how trying something new can be awesome!! Imagine if I had got off the stage in the beginning. That would have been a closed door opportunity not knowing what could have happened. Fortunately, I was able to have the guts and curiosity to experience this new thing called karaoke.
Everyday people are trying new things and are realizing that it doesn’t hurt – unless it is skydiving with no parachute of fire eating with gasoline lip gloss. There is nothing wrong with going out there and doing what you want to do. The only person that would prevent yourself from doing something new is YOU!! If you really have the urge to try something out like singing at a karaoke bar, eating exotic foods, or travelling to a place you never been before – JUST GO DO IT - because you will end up feeling better for what you have done!! And that is something we ALL can sing to.
That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Jesse I-I-I
It was a Friday night. I was in a smoky, dimly lit bar standing on a stage with a microphone in my hand. This was in front of strangers I don’t know!! What I was about to do was going to be one of those unforgettable nights for I was about to sing my first ever song at a karaoke bar.
Yes, one of my livelihoods is speaking in front of people, but this was different, I am not in one of my relaxed settings at a Toastmaster meeting. Instead I was in a strange place with people staring at me. On the outside, I looked calm and very cool. But on the inside, I was nervous and a bit frightened - wondering if this was a smart thing to do.
As the music was getting ready to start, I had two choices: get off the stage and run OR throw caution into the wind and milk the fun out of it. Thankfully, I chose the latter.
The first song I ever sang (or rapped) was the classic 1992 song “Baby Got Back” by Sir-Mix-a-Lot. Luckily I knew the lyrics to the whole song. Once I uttered those first words (“I like big….”) I was on fire!!
During the performance, I realized that more people were getting on the dance floor and I decided to be in the middle of the action –shaking my booty and rapping to the beat. Once the song ended, I conquered another feat as the audience cheered my performance!!
Now I would occasionally attend karaoke bars and have fun on the stage. Whether it is Rick James “Super Freak” or Corey Hart’s “Sunglasses at Night” or even Digital Underground’s “The Humpty Dance,” I would find myself having more fun each time I am performing in front of people that are into having a great time!!
This was an example on how trying something new can be awesome!! Imagine if I had got off the stage in the beginning. That would have been a closed door opportunity not knowing what could have happened. Fortunately, I was able to have the guts and curiosity to experience this new thing called karaoke.
Everyday people are trying new things and are realizing that it doesn’t hurt – unless it is skydiving with no parachute of fire eating with gasoline lip gloss. There is nothing wrong with going out there and doing what you want to do. The only person that would prevent yourself from doing something new is YOU!! If you really have the urge to try something out like singing at a karaoke bar, eating exotic foods, or travelling to a place you never been before – JUST GO DO IT - because you will end up feeling better for what you have done!! And that is something we ALL can sing to.
That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Jesse I-I-I
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Positive is a PLUS!!
Greetings happy people!!
Positivity is good.
Thinking positive is GREAT!!
Feeling positive is ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC!!
I am a proponent of this bright, upbeat sense of attitude. It seems that when one can feel positive, the troubles of the world would lift off of the shoulders!!
There were times when I felt negative, depressed, and would worry about the past and the future. The more I did this, the deeper I would fall into despair. It really got to the point where I really thought everything was hopeless.
Thanks to a couple of good fortunes within the last 13 months, I am taking in a VERY different outlook on life. Sure there are certain pieces of the puzzle that still need to be fit. But once the picture came together, I started to look forward to brighter days – and IT FEELS GREAT!!
Whether it Is going through powerful breakthrough moments, rediscovering my own renaissance, finding that special someone, doing a special exercise (http://jesseoakleyiii.blogspot.com/2009/06/living-in-now.html), or just even hanging around more positive people, I can really say that this whole positive aspect is just FANTASTIC!!
Thanks to this revelation, I rarely have headaches, I worry less about things, and I just feel thankful to experience these types of GREAT feelings!! Heck, I even manage to crack more smiles :o)
Believe me. When you get a hold of this upbeat spirit, go ahead and accentuate it!! There is nothing wrong with being at this point because you have that right to live this way!! If you have been feeling, living, and thinking positive way before reading this message….please keep on enjoying the ride!! Staying in this spirited mood can take you to greater horizons!!
In today’s time where negativity would take presence, I would personally like to share this feeling with all of those that read this topic!! There are many ways to live, think, feel, and do positive things!! All you have to do is just go forth and find anything that can push you towards your positivity!! You will be amazed where this shift in direction will take you!!
That is all I have for now, thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Jesse I-I-I
Positivity is good.
Thinking positive is GREAT!!
Feeling positive is ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC!!
I am a proponent of this bright, upbeat sense of attitude. It seems that when one can feel positive, the troubles of the world would lift off of the shoulders!!
There were times when I felt negative, depressed, and would worry about the past and the future. The more I did this, the deeper I would fall into despair. It really got to the point where I really thought everything was hopeless.
Thanks to a couple of good fortunes within the last 13 months, I am taking in a VERY different outlook on life. Sure there are certain pieces of the puzzle that still need to be fit. But once the picture came together, I started to look forward to brighter days – and IT FEELS GREAT!!
Whether it Is going through powerful breakthrough moments, rediscovering my own renaissance, finding that special someone, doing a special exercise (http://jesseoakleyiii.blogspot.com/2009/06/living-in-now.html), or just even hanging around more positive people, I can really say that this whole positive aspect is just FANTASTIC!!
Thanks to this revelation, I rarely have headaches, I worry less about things, and I just feel thankful to experience these types of GREAT feelings!! Heck, I even manage to crack more smiles :o)
Believe me. When you get a hold of this upbeat spirit, go ahead and accentuate it!! There is nothing wrong with being at this point because you have that right to live this way!! If you have been feeling, living, and thinking positive way before reading this message….please keep on enjoying the ride!! Staying in this spirited mood can take you to greater horizons!!
In today’s time where negativity would take presence, I would personally like to share this feeling with all of those that read this topic!! There are many ways to live, think, feel, and do positive things!! All you have to do is just go forth and find anything that can push you towards your positivity!! You will be amazed where this shift in direction will take you!!
That is all I have for now, thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Jesse I-I-I
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