March is the busiest and most challenging month for me. It is also one of the most fruitful as my sales have been the best this month. In February, I was the No. 2 top producer. I think that I will be in one of the top 3 positions again this month.
March is also the time for toastmasters' international speech and table topics contest. Since I won the champion title in my club, I am representing my club today at the International Speech and Table Topics contest at Whampoa Community Club this afternoon. I will be competing with eleven other speakers from the Div. 1 and 3 clubs.
The title of my speech is "Life Begins at 50". Some of you may have read this article in my earlier blog. I have revised it. I will try my best. After the contest, we have our Dennis Wee Group annual Dinner and Dance. I would have to dance all night till 2 a.m.! What an exciting and fun filled day!
Cheers!
LIFE BEGINS AT 50
Some years ago, I taught in Anglo Chinese School Independent. One day while I was marking my students' creative writing, I was amused when I read an article on "My English Teacher". The student wrote, "Although my English teacher is old, she looks quite young and attractive!" Puzzled, I asked, "Kong Long, how old do you think I am?" "50" came the reply. Before I could gather my shock, somebody blurted out, "Why are you so stupid lah. How can our teacher be so old? She is only 28!" I told both boys that I was 38. Another hand shot up, "Teacher, I thought ladies don't like to reveal their age. Last night I asked grandma how old she was and she scoleed me". I explained to the boys that I enjoyed growing older because it means I could see Jesus faster! Kong Long explained that his mom was 45 years of age but did not have so many experiences as I do; hence he deduced that I must be be older than his mom. I had just taught my secondary 2 students how to use the words "induce and deduce". Two weeks later, Kong Long came to me and said, "I've brought you trouble, madam. Last night my mum was setting the dinner table and gave out a loud sigh, "I'm getting old". To comfort her, I said, "Don't worry mum, you can see Jesus faster!"
Today, ladies and gentlemen, I'm yours truly 53 years 3 months and 12 days old. Last January, we read that a medical practioner, Dr. Chiang, was given a new job at the age of 68. The government had asked him to set up a centre for senior citizens especially for those age 50 and above. My gosh, at 53, I fall under the category of people that Dr. Chiang is interested in. So many things had happened of late, that I almost forget I am more than half a century years old. Why! I only started learning the computer at the age of 50 and two years later, started my own blog and now have more than 400 articles with a growing readership in Singapore and overseas. My gosh! Life begins at 50!
At 52, I joined our company's Dennis Wee Group Toastmasters' Club. Enthralled by the program and motivated by our vice president for education, Vanessa Yong, I was encouraged to complete 25 prepared speeches in 5 months. Whenever people asked me why I had to rush, I would reply, "If I had more youth and more time, my procrastination would not be a crime! I could not believe that I could even win the champion award for Humorous speech just 3 months after joining the club. This is indeed an achievement considering that my first public speaking attempt in secondary schoold had ended in disaster as I had stage fright and became tongue tied.
All these 5 decades of my life, I had never allowed people or circumstances to discourage me. Due to constant problems with my throat and voice, I decided to quit the job I love the most - teaching. My colleagues were very worried but I told them God would not let me go hungry. I tried my hands at real estate. During the downturn of the property market, I bought over my client's Italian restaurant since I enjoyed cooking and eating. After running Rialto for 8 years I am now back again in real estate. I am grateful to Aveline Tan for bringing me into Dennis Wee Group for this is a fun company to be in. We also have an interesting, creative and inspirational boss in Dr. Wee. Interestingly I also realised that toastmasters activities had actually helped me to become a better agent, for they sharpen my sensitivity, quicken my wit and enhance my sense of humour. I remember a potential buyer angrily crying out on the phone, "What? Your client is crazy! How can the price be so high!" And he ended his sentence with a four letter word! Ordinarily I would blast back at such blatant display of rudeness and crudeness, but toastmasters' training has helped me to become more mellow. I replied, "Sir, if you don't come and view the property, how do you know, the floor could be gold plated!?" He laughed. He came, he saw and he bought.
All these 53 years I have travelled to 37 countries. Most of these were by package tours or mission trips organised by churches. I had often admired those backpack travellers who roam around the world on a shoe string budget. I never dream that shortly after my 53rd birthday, I would do just that. My nephew in Taiwan emailed me to visit him at a later date, but since I had bought my tickets, I would travel on my own. I looked into the internet and found the Happy Family Hostel. On 22nd Dec. I flew off to Taipei, not knowing if Happy Family Hostel really existed. Thank God it did. The owner of the hostel, John also introduced me to his girlfriend, Athena who turned out to be a toastmaster and area governor in Taipei. What freedom to be able to plan my own travel itinerary! The hostel also provides free internet. I was typing on the computer when my table and chair shook. Momentarily I thought the hostel could be haunted. It was only the following morning that I realised a severe earthquake had shaken Pingtung at southern Taiwan. My first experience of an earthquake tremor.! Life begins at 50!
Our government is often concerned about retraining as the population starts to grey. Some people even think that when we become older we become less valuable. We must always think of older people as good fine wine which improves with aging. The Ministry of Education still calls me up to do relief teaching in the schools and I have often been approached to provide tuition for the "O" level students. A tour company asked me for help at the last minute because their tour guide had taken ill. I was to lead a group to Europe since I had travelled extensively and can speak French fairly well. Sometimes my friend who runs the Italian restaurant would ask me for help in the kitchen especially when he has functions. It is fun and interesting to be able to do different things . Life begins at 50!
Since time immemorial, I have never been afraid to reveal my age. With maturity comes greater understanding and acceptance of life as it unfolds. Yesterday is over; gone is the anger, past hurts and regrets. Today is a brand new day, While I have life, let me live life to the fullest.
Ladies and gentleman. For those of you who are 50 and above, please do not think your life is over the hill. Do not be afraid to venture out and try new things, for it is still not too late to discover your hidden potential. Remember Colonel Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken in his twilight years. I have just started to learn to play the violin and this December I am going to northern China to visit the panda bears and to downhill ski on Xiling Mountains. Always remember, "Life begins at 50!"
