State of Mind
This week, I’d ask you to consider what state of mind you have been in lately.
Better yet, have you had any “Whoosah” moments?
Whoosah is a slang expression variously used to indicate or achieve a state of calm and relaxation.
Particularly when you don’t have anywhere to go, you can let your mind wander or relax. I decided to relax.
However, how do you put yourself in the proper frame of mind in California, celebrating 100 years of Toastmasters down the street from Disneyland?
On top of that, the second day you’re in California, there is an earthquake.
Between the peaks and valleys and various roller coaster thoughts, I wasn’t on vacation but on an adventure that would be an incredible seven-day journey.
Over the last seven days (August 11, 2024, through August 17, 2024), I had the unique opportunity to be in a specific state of mind during our Annual Toastmasters Convention in Anaheim, California.
It was our centennial celebration!
What was interesting for me was being with and around like-minded people who brought Toastmasters into their minds and worlds.
Notably, being around so many like-minded people, with the majority present having the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation behind their names, me included.
The Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award represents the highest level of educational achievement in Toastmasters.
Even though we were celebrating 100 years in the area where Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, our founder, created the vision of Toastmasters, something was different.
My state of mind during the Annual Toastmasters Convention had me reflecting on why I was here and the opportunity to attend a Toastmasters meeting at the first club established. (Smedley Chapter One Toastmasters Club in Santa Ana, California.) Founders District!
The meeting theme was “Walk in the footsteps of Ralph Smedley.”
I physically took a tour from his Church to the YMCA building, which all happened under the vision of Dr. Ralph C. Smedley.
To be clear, Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that builds confidence and teaches public speaking skills through a worldwide network of clubs that meet online and in person.
Toastmasters International, as the name implies, has approximately 270,000 members in more than 14,000 clubs in 150 countries.
Seeing and hearing each of the 150 countries’ names and flags during the opening ceremony or the parade of flags this week was a state of mind.
Our newest country, added to the list less than six weeks ago, was Mauritius, officially the Republic of Mauritius.
During one of our leadership training sessions, I had a NEXUS moment when the gentleman introduced himself and gave me his card.
All the top three leaders of each district (known as the Trio) attended workshops in their specific areas, and the gentleman from the Republic of Mauritius was also a Program Quality Director, like me.
It was electrifying during the opening ceremony on Wednesday night, with the entire Toastmasters community present.
Sitting in the audience, I thought about the connection of my two grandsons’ father, who has roots in Mauritius because his mother is from that island.
Today, many speakers, myself included, give credit to their experiences with Toastmasters.
Yet, every day, people have no idea of the benefits of Toastmasters International.
It’s an organization where members invest in themselves at a small cost of $60 every six months. Those joining the first time also pay a new member fee of $20, which supports your designated pathway projects.
The Toastmasters International tagline is “Where Leaders are Made.”
When I think about leaders and Toastmasters, I also think about a call to action.
Each of us wants our listeners to take action after hearing our speeches. With Toastmasters, the learning never stops. Join Toastmasters, and you will:
Toastmasters is not about flying alone like the Eagles; it’s more about being a pigeon and flocking together to help each other succeed.
As they say, “Don’t be afraid to be outnumbered; Eagles fly alone, pigeons flock together.”
I admit my adventure never stopped, as the first leg of my trip back home took me to Atlanta. I heard babies crying on the plane and watched an individual needing medication as I hustled to get from Concourse A to D to catch my connecting flight.
As luck would have it, I made it to my seat within twenty minutes, and the aircraft closed its doors, not knowing it would be grounded from taking off because of the thunderstorms in Atlanta.
I learned that they had weather birds or spotters in the air to determine the best routes for things like this.
It didn’t matter to me because I was on the plane and had nowhere to go but home.
There was no connection except to get in the car.
As I thought about everything I had been through the entire week, waiting for the storm to pass was the least of my worries.
Today, I challenge you to think about the state of mind you have been in lately and all those “Whoosah” moments. Where you able to achieve a state of calm and relaxation?
Blog source: https://mckinleysthoughts.com/state-of-mind/
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