Battery

Prepare for the future but live in the present.

Believe it or not, I’m a member of Changkat Toastmasters.

Today is my first time delivering a speech here, but this is not the first time I attended our meetings. I was gone for some reason. And I will be gone again.

My fellow toastmasters, shortly, you will know why. This experience has taught me the greatest lessons in my life that I will treasure forever.

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I was born and raised in the Philippines and have been away from home for twelve years.

I almost lost my job in 2009 and so to ensure that my job is secured, I never stopped improving myself at work and outside work.

For twelve years, I live my life as if there’s no tomorrow.

After Bermuda, I moved to the USA, then to Hong Kong. After eight years in Hong Kong, I moved to Singapore last year.

Last year was the peak of my life.

Like Hyder, I want to be a coach too. To be certified, I took up a course of one hundred twenty-five hours of online classes.

Also, I became DTM in 2018, so I aimed to be a Professional Speaker next. Aside from Changkat Toastmasters, I’m also a member of Asia Professional Speakers Singapore.

I’m also part of Bermuda Chess Olympiad Team. The next Olympiad is in Russia in August this year. To prepare myself, I hired a professional coach and started training last year.

On top of it all, I got a new job in a new company and a new country.

New job, Chess Olympiad,

Life Coaching, Public Speaking

ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

Other than your day job, imagine the things that you love doing.

— —

Like what I usually do back in Hong Kong, I focus on work during the week and beat myself up in other activities after work.

Coaching on weeknights.

Chess on weekends.

And, public speaking from time to time.

One day, my friend approached me.

“Shiela, remember that you just moved to a new country, and you are still new to your job.

You’re not taking a break.

Even machines need time to rest.

Your battery is falling down.”

“I’m okay. My goal after ten years is to be a Professional Speaker and a Life Coach.”

“It’s okay to prepare for the future, but live in the present.”

I did not listen. I was confident. Everything will be fine — my day job and preparing for my future at the same time.

Things were going okay until December 13th; it was a Friday.

I was sick, but I still came to work on Friday the thirteenth.

What happened next was beyond my imagination.

That night, I told my teammates that I won’t join the Chess Olympiad.

I also stopped attending public speaking events. That’s why you didn’t see me after the Humorous contest.

For coaching, I only had one hour remaining left to graduate, but I stopped it too.

One by one,

my future was falling down.

What would you feel if you suddenly stopped doing the things that you love?

I needed to stop everything so that I can focus on my job.

I also took two weeks of vacation to rest up.

But it’s too late. Two weeks is not enough to recharge the battery of twelve restless years.

I can’t believe that I also gave up the last card in my hand…

I quit my secured, rewarding, and fulfilling job.

It’s not because of Coronavirus but I quarantined myself from everything.

Can you imagine losing your job?

My experience proved to me that in a second, life could take everything.

New job, Chess Olympiad,

Life Coaching, Public Speaking.

I lost them. ALL AT THE SAME TIME.

I should have listened to my friend.

Prepare for the future, but live in the present.

When we live in the present, we notice what’s going on. We recognise when our mind and body need to rest.

It’s been a month now.

I’m happy to say that my battery is now fully recharged and I’m back!

Last week, I completed my coaching course.

Today, I’m delivering this speech.

And I believe that in God’s perfect time, I’ll get a new job.

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s okay that we set goals but let’s make sure that we live in the present. Find time to relax whether by spending quality time with your loved ones, listening to music, or watching Korean drama. Take a break. Your mind and body need it.

In closing, let us all remember what my friend told me.

Prepare for the future, but live in the present.