Watching Jack stride up to the stage in his cap and gown to receive his diploma, she is seeing a new chapter open for herself, too. — In the realm of life’s grand tapestry, there are moments that transcend mere existence and become vibrant threads woven into the fabric of our souls. I don’t know who said this. Maybe Maya Angelou. On the way back home from STEM High, my mind jolts through these words to reflect…

The divided opinions make America great. But what does this contrast make for this country? — There are three waiters in three countries. They had a bad time with their girlfriends the night before. For the Chinese waiter, he would still come to work but wear a dark face all day long. So you can see his personal life on his face. The Japanese waiter would…

Staying entirely truthful in public is a mission impossible. I will try to make the lies beautiful. — While practicing public speaking, I like to give the same speech multiple times in different clubs. Coming from different audience and different perspective, the feedback can be very insightful. A couple of weeks ago, I prepared a speech with the title “Spin the Wheel’. I wanted to deliver the message…

I am repeating myself, but the wheel is way ahead of the first rut it made on the muddy road. It’s growth in a circular mode. — Last week, I gave my fourth icebreaker speech in my Toastmasters club. It marked the start of my fourth path in the Pathways program in four years. Pathways is a Toastmasters-featured training program. It has eleven paths, each path could go from a couple of months to multiple years. Each…

Regardless of the lightness or weight that may ensue, it keeps us grounded, gives our lives some meaning. — Before the pandemic, I was a member of a Toastmasters club in Moreno Valley. We started the meeting at 615am on Friday morning. Yeah, a crazy time. I volunteered to drive one of the club members, Jimmy Ford, to the meeting. Jimmy was close to 90. He was a retired…

Oh how I long to break free from the default settings in my head…… — There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at…

Let’s fake it till we can’t make it. And that’s Okay. — Have you ever felt the awkward air between you and the stranger sitting next to you in an airplane? Imagine you are on a three hours flight. You happen to sit next to an extroverted guy. He fills the three hours with banters and laughter. I admire him to death…

It’s about finding joy in the small things and making the most of the present moment. Like it or not, it’s time to make New Year’s resolutions. It’s also time to make fun of the New Year’s resolutions. Are we still seriously working on them? How long would we stick…

Ernest Hemingway said, “The world is a fine place and worth the fighting for.” …2023, please prove it. — I survived 2022, but never felt so close to death. It was the fifth year since my wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I remember her doctor got me out on the day and said, “She has about six months.” Death is the invisible elf in our house ever since…