white notebook and yellow pencil

Start Where You are

Greetings, Fellow Toastmasters of District 77!

During my December 2021 message, I asked, “What season are you in?”

As you reflect on everything that happened, both Good-Bad-Indifferent, please take time and think about your personal growth.

Thankfully, almost four years ago, I read Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., and found many gold nuggets inside the book.  This book has since been updated and continues to help change the lives of all that read it.

If you’re like me, one of the many actions that I have planned for 2022 is to take a day and reflect on my wins and losses and how I can make 2022 better than 2021.

I like the quote that I pulled from Hackspirit.com that says,

“Start where you are.  Use what you have. Do what you can.” 

I believe this quote says it all.  Many of us, myself included, sometimes don’t know where to start and need inspiration or insight from others to stimulate our brains.

Confucius says, “It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.”  What a great quote this is leading us into the New Year!  I’m sure we’ve all heard the phrase that “Rome wasn’t built in a day” and neither were the achievements in life that have taken you to your greatness.   The fact that the statement is a “proverbial saying ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ suggests that a complex task or great achievement takes time and effort and should not be rushed.” 

Therefore, it’s only one reason why I believe that “Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.” 

I’ll close with this quote by Thomas Fuller- “All things are difficult before they are easy.”

Happy New Year, Fellow Toastmasters, and go ahead and get started on your reflections for where you want to be in 2022!

McKinley Curtis III

Vice President of Education, VA Voices 651363

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