Tuesday night, I attended my first online Toastmasters meeting from the comfort of my laptop. I ordered a webcam off of Amazon last week. Overall, the meeting was a success and this made all the difference compared to using my iPhone or iPad mini. I’m looking forward to my next online Toastmasters meeting. My options include visiting Cranberry High Noon or Earlybirds, attending the Fall Symposium (still up in the air for now!), or having to enjoy Greensburg Toastmasters in the comfort of my own home this November. I want to plan an in person visit to CHN between Thanksgiving and Christmas (11/20 to 12/18)
I was gifted with my laptop from my cousin and her family last Christmas after I talked to Katie at our family reunion last year. She asked me about my blog and I told her I wasn’t posting as much, mainly due to limited resources. I told her that I was interested in buying a laptop after the holidays. This laptop has worked great for my blogs, for storing any pictures I may take with my camera, and now it works great for attending online Toastmasters meetings. Maybe my Christmas list to Santa (don’t judge) should include some accessories like a new laptop bag. Another microphone or a light may be in my future as well.
Back in 2020, the world was in lockdown mode due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the start of a period of up and down emotional roller coaster rides that would go until this most recent summer. Toastmasters wasn’t exempt from the lockdowns as well, as contests were cancelled and clubs would have to meet online for the foreseeable future. Enter the online platform known as Zoom. For over a year, our club had to meet online. It took a lot of getting used to, a lot of growing pains were dealt with, and a lot of people felt discouraged. Eventually, Greensburg would make the leap to hybrid (online and in-person) meetings.
I was dealing with a lot in 2021 despite some good experiences like turning 40 and attending Rob and Sara’s wedding. Changes were going on at work with the merger about to take place, and I was dealing with my own growing pains in my other journey. I was about to deal with other changes in my life, as well, as I would be leaving my job I had for 13 years and getting a job closer to home with more opportunity and room for advancement.
I achieved my Distinguished Toastmaster award in the Fall of 2019. Since then, I’ve gone through the motions in my journey. I struggled to adapt to the new technology when COVID forced us to do our meetings remotely. For a few years, my Toastmasters fire wasn’t burning as bright as it was and my light was starting to dim. I gave more of my energy to the new Laurel Highlands Toastmasters when I joined in early 2022. Being tabbed as the incoming president for my home club (Greensburg) gave me a new lease on life in Toastmasters. Using my laptop to attend Tuesday’s Laurel Highlands meeting helped me enjoy the meeting more. I’m finally starting to enjoy these hybrid meetings.
I finally had the opportunity to celebrate my achievement in person at the District’s DTM Gala in July of 2021. It was a great night as we all got together for the first time since the pandemic. We danced to disco music, even as the fire alarms forced us outside. It was one of the few other things that made 2021 good. Not to repeat myself, but it was a year of change. The dreary days we had in October of that year signaled the end of an era for me at my job, and I knew changes were coming soon. The mood was very depressing. I made some boneheaded decisions and invested my happiness in all the wrong places. Thus, that also led to my emotional roller coaster ride.
Fast forward to next year and, things are looking a lot better as the holidays approach. Christmas 2022 was COLD but in my heart it was WARM despite everything that happened (Benny being in and out of the hospital due to his health issues). I took my first paid vacation in 15 years and had fun Christmas shopping in Pittsburgh. I got back to blogging in January thanks to my new laptop. 2023 was looking good, and then the rains came again.
Benny was back in the hospital in February (on my sister’s birthday) and this time it would be a more prolonged stay as they tried to nip it in the bud with his health issues. That took its toll on me emotionally. In addition to that was the negativity spewed on TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney. This once again led to me questioning my own journey but in the end, I emerged victorious. I wowed my friends at Summer Club Officer Training with my outfit and my Coach purse and learned once again not to change for everyone. Hopefully this rollercoaster ride is done.
Today, I continue to excel in my Toastmasters journey and in my fashion journey. The future looks bright, and I know I have lots of support but it all comes down to me and my own self-love.
Happy 100th blog of 2023!
Stylish 🍒 