L5P3: Thank You, My Lady

“Part of the journey is the end. Yet, a new chapter is waiting.”

Life is like a book. Some chapters are sad, some happy and some exciting. But if you never turn the page, you will never know what the next chapters holds. 

Tonight, I have 2 stories to share. These 2 stories I had never shared with anyone. 

The first story is about “The Women I Had Undressed.”

It all begins when I decided to write a romance genre speech with explicit erotica. Sex, religion and politics topics are frowned in Toastmasters community. I wanted to challenge that. Because following is not really my style.

But as I wrote my script, memories of my mother came back. 11 years ago, I had a misunderstanding with my mother after my wedding. It was a small amount of money, less than RM5k. That RM5k unfolded frustrating, emotionally draining family dramas of the past decades. It wasn’t my Mum’s fault, but I refused to listen to her. I did not spoke to her for the next 6 months. 6 months later, she passed away. The last time I saw her was at my wedding. I had no chance to say sorry and goodbye. Since then, I was laden with guilt and grief for the past 11 years. Every single time I delivered this speech, a part of me will sank.

Yet, I finally found peace at Division level contest. I reconciled with the fact that I could not turn back the clock, but I can honor my past by cherishing the present and creating better future. The present is the lady whom I undressed, who fought with her life to bring our 3 beautiful children to this world. I could never, ever match the sacrifice she made for our family.  I see my future in my daughter's eye. I strive to raise my standard as a father, so that the man who is going to undress my daughter will love, care, respect and raise her up more than I could be after my inevitable departure from this world.

The women I had undressed taught me how to love. Thank you, my Lady.

The second story is about “Professional pay”.

November 2021. I received a text from a beautiful, charming lady. “You came highly recommended. We would like to invite you to be our speech trainer.” To be honest, I was thinking, there weren’t much for me to gain as trainer. As much I loved to spend more time with her, saying “No” was my first choice then. 

The day came when I first met her in person. Definitely she was, and is more gorgeous than I saw in Zoom. We had lunch at Paradigm Mall. My first impression on her was “high and cold”, but when it comes to the club matters, she became warm and caring. That lady is none other than our Madam President, Coco Ooi. Bewitched by her beauty, I agreed to be the trainer for the club. 

Weeks passed. We scheduled for the second meet up to iron out the workshop details. It was rainy season and we met at a café in Bukit Jalil. We worked out the detailed plan, and I could see Madam President was very happy with the plan.

Here is the real story behind. I was broke. Totally broke. My house instalment was behind by 2 months. My credit card was maxed out. I was left with RM30 in my wallet. My bank account was almost empty. It was a series of bad decisions and bad timing that landed me into this situation. I was prepared to liquidate the education fund for my kids which I build for years. 

The café bill was about RM70. To save my pride and ego, I told Madam President.

“These are professional work. I think should demand for professional pay.”

Madam President was little taken aback. Her smile disappeared. She asked: “How much is your rate then?”

“My trainer rate is minimum RM 2,500 per day. Today, PJ TMC received special discount. You take up the bill today.”

Immediately her smile came back. “No problem at all!”. Madam President, I wanted to take up the bill that day. That was one of the lowest point in my life. I was totally broke, broken emotionally and spiritually as a father.

 

22 December 2021. The workshop was a success. The attendees were learning and enjoyed themselves. “Alan, the members learned much from you and truly enjoyed themselves tonight. Thank you,” Madam President said to me.

That simple "thank you" dawned something in my heart.  I heard a soft whisper, “Alan, you forgotten your gift. Why do you keep it?”

Indeed, months of tormenting lock downs had taken a serious toll on me. I forgotten my gift – demonic persuasiveness and commanding public speaking skills.

Since then, I channeled my gifts and skills with fiery passion. In barely 3 months’ time, we secured research projects from MRANTI and McDonalds. Never in my life I thought I could directly contribute to livelihood of at least 6 families and indirectly 40+ families.

All these happened because Madam President Coco Ooi, insisted to have me as the trainer for PJ TMC. She sparked positive change and opened a new chapter in my life. For that, I am utmost grateful. For this very reason, I accepted the invitation to be PJ TMC member, playing the role of messenger, to pay back our Madam President.

As a token of appreciation, I have bought a piece of land for our Madam President. By the virtue of having a piece of land in Scotland, under proclamation of Queen Elizabeth, hence forth and in perpetuity be known by style and title of Lady and shall hereafter be known as Lady Coco Ooi Phei Phei.

It is my sincere wish that, one day, not too far into future, I will attend Lady Coco’s  garden beach wedding to give a toast. I even had the ending line: “You lucky man, treat our Lady Coco well, else I will raise the whole Toastmasters community to hunt you down!”

 

To all the PJ TMC members, thank you so much for being such a wonderful audience. I hoped I added value to your Toastmasters journey. Thank you for helping me to reconcile with my past.

While I wished Lady Coco could continue as Madam President for another term, but I know she have a bigger plan for her life. I wish her all the very best in her future undertaking. Thank you, Lady Coco Ooi, for opening a new chapter in my life.

“Part of the journey is the end. Yet, a new chapter is waiting.”

By the authority vested in me as the appointed Messenger to PJ TMC, receive your blessings from Infinite Spirit. 

As we are at the sunset this chapter, let us be grateful for the journey we had together. Allow those wonderful memories and learning to settle into our mind and heart. As we are opening up a new chapter in our life, let those beautiful memories and learnings to become our source of strength, inspiration and encouragement to our life journey. May we become light and blessings for others.