A Free Meal

I finally talked my son into volunteering, and lo and behold, he's eligible for a free meal at a volunteer appreciation luncheon Nov. 11! For someone who expects instant gratification, he now appreciates the rewards of volunteering.

Tomorrow I'm judging humorous speech contests, and there'll be snacks. I'm planning to take a bag of Sun chips and something healthy to eat so I won't completely undo my weight loss.

Another thing happened this week -- well actually last week -- I decided to go for a DTM designation in Toastmasters. DTM stands for Distinguished Toastmaster, and it's not the easiest level to earn. To be a DTM, you have to go through the other levels, then you have to go outside your club. You have to get active with another club, and the Area, Division, or District leadership -- sort of like being a district manager. You either have 5 or 6 clubs that you take care of for a year, or 5 or 6 areas. Today I missed an opportunity to give a speech. Speeches are still a big part of earning the DTM. You have to complete all the AC levels. I'm an ACB (Advanced Communicator Bronze) The other levels are ACS (Silver) and ACG (Gold).

I've already talked to my boss about this and how it can be equated to being involved in a leadership training program, and he agrees. He's behind me 100%. Or at least he is now. I'll be using lots of vacation time while I'm visiting the clubs. I'm actually getting started by being a mentor/sponsor for a new club that will meet once a month, so I'm on my way!

It's funny...in January, I decided to work on my health and my personal development. They are happening! December 22, I joined Weight Watchers to begin the health part. Then in April we started a year-long personal development program that has become derailed. But the lessons I learned have helped get me fired up to make changes and to set goals. I'm still trying some on for size and doing some research. But knowledge is useless unless it is knowledge in action. Sometimes I spend too much time fixing to get ready to get started.

Get Involved

My son is always marveling at the free meals I get. It's because I'm involved and volunteer all the time. He's between jobs (has been unemployed for 9 months, and it's getting to both of us), so I took him to the main branch of the Library to sign up as a volunteer in their book store where old books are sold cheap. He'll work Thursdays from 1:00-7:00. He needs to get out of the house to do something besides visit his girlfriend and look for a job. He needs stimulating interaction. He's not getting it in front of the TV or his computer.

Because of my "civic" organizations, I've been so busy with stuff that I was meeting myself coming and going. But my activities have slowed down somewhat, and I actually have time to breathe. I'm very active with my church and Toastmasters, and they keep me pretty busy. Plus, I'm planning for retirement, which really just means when the time comes and I don't like my job anymore or I feel I can make more money doing something else.

Right now, I'm trying on different possibilities. I'd like to become a feng shui consultant, or a public speaker, or a wedding coordinator, or publish a magazine.

Plus I have an idea for a bracelet that I'd like to make and market to churches. It's sort of like the WWJD idea. It's to help you make good choices. I wanted to do this several years ago when the rubber bracelets were really popular, but I couldn't find a manufacturing contact for them until last fall. But, no one wears them anymore. So I'm looking at other possibilities.

In the meantime, I'm still publishing a bi-monthly newsletter and I do on-line newsletters for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator friend of mine, plus I sell Avon in addition to my church and Toastmasters activities.