Not sure what to say. Just going to wing it!
Have had mixed feelings as I plunged into this next chapter / adventure of my life. Felt some overwhelm as I looked through the MKE emails and stumbled my way through the website. But the strongest feeling was that of excitement. This looks like the place I am meant to be!
At my stage in life, don’t want to take too many wrong turns. But also, I don’t want to lose my sense of adventure and the courage to continue pursuing my dreams. Many moons ago I bought the Og Mandino book ‘The Greatest Salesman in the World’ along with a stack of other self-help and motivational books.
Somewhere along the way I donated them, likely not having read all of them. For sure, I did not read OM’s book 3 times a day, spending 30 days on each scroll. Perhaps that’s where I went wrong. Or perhaps it wasn’t the right time. This is the right time!
Odd as it seems, it feels like I have spent most of my life preparing for this program. Why it took over half a century to get here, only my subconscious and God know the answer. On paper, or should I say on video or digital medium, it looks like I had what it takes to achieve my biggest dreams.
Despite coming from a poor home with parents that, although they loved me and my siblings, also struggled with addictions. I learned to take care of myself financially at an early age. Paper routes, selling eggs for a local farmer, doing odd jobs and then working for local farmers while going to school.
Despite questionable or nonexistent study habits, I managed to get through high school and eventually a university degree and even a professional designation. It was an erratic, but pretty successful academic journey, when I look back.
Along the way I took the Dale Carnegie Course and even won the best speech competition at our final class. Later I joined Toastmasters and my competitive nature led me to win several club and district level and ultimately the regional humorous speech competition.
Although, in hindsight, it appears I have achieved many of my dreams, somehow it feels like this was only the tip of the iceberg! Looking forward to where life, this program and my dreams take me next.
Great read Dale, Funny how books find their way back in huh? Those scrolls really are something!
Way to go, Dale, I feel I can relate to a lot you wrote about. When the pandemic hit, I reflected on what I had not done that I had always wanted to do. I didn’t go to college so I registered in August of 2020 and graduated with my AA in Elementary Education in May of 2023. For me, I am the only college graduate in my immediate family. I started class at age 60! But it is never too late. I also joined Toastmasters back in 2015, DTM 2x, I was in Florida now I am in Houston with District 56. I am excited about your journey and look forward to seeing how it will unfold for you. Thank you for sharing your story.