8 Comments

Inspiring story David…thank you for sharing! My story briefly was winning a penmanship contest in 5th grade. Was taught well be my mother who had outstanding penmanship! I was the person in charge of the class for the day and got to select people to color the Thanksgiving mural in our class. It showed be at the time I could do something better than others if I applied myself and accept a leadership position that has helped me today. Happy ‘23 let’s pray 🙏🏼 for a blessed year with Agape Love towards others we meet! 😎🎉

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It's wonderful when adults provide that little boost for children. Makes all the difference. I want to thank you for the blessing of support and encouragement you have given me in 2022. Wishing you a blessed new year.

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We are here for each other…here’s to a blessed’23!

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I saw your post today and I realised I did not get one of your Daily Ikigai emails for a while. So I went to look for you in my mailbox. One jumped at me, you sent it on my birthday (1st of April) and it included a beautiful Haiku. I remember we talked about writing poetry sometimes. I am so grateful for your gift David, thank you for sharing it with us, happy you are part of my life.

I am now crying as I went straight back to the benches of my highschool. There was a poetry competition and the literature teacher asked if we want to share something. I gathered the courage to read the poem which started with: “Dreaming of a wish, wishing for a dream” in front of my classmates, when I was 15. It was one of the most vulnerable things I had done up to that point. The teacher asked me to write more and to share with her for the contest. She said it was deep but she looked concerned. She had readings to. I never shared any more until 2020.

Happy New Year David! I can’t wait to read your book and hopefully some more poems too.

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I'm not sure if you recall but it was your poetry that was the inspiration for me to write that poem. Happy New Year to you!

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Excellent story. I enjoyed reading it David.

I remember my elementary days way back when I was in Grades 1 and 2 then. Those were happy moments too. I was always on the top 3 of our class that brought so much happiness for my mother because she was able to come up ontage to pin ny award. With a bright smile , she told me, "I am so proud of you" That encouragenent gave me 1000 joys and inspired me to do my best in whatever I do.

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Makes all the difference. To hear 'I'm proud of you' can be everything for a child.

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I was reflecting on this story today and sharing it with the leadership coach that is Doug Conant while thanking him in August for the prompts I found between him and Brene Brown (among countless others) over the past several years to:

stop hustling for my self worth and start walking in the life story that is my leadership story.

Through this story, I also remembered a bit of a turning point when I somehow won the "Ms Spirit" award during a cheerleading competition in 7th grade despite so many odds.

Please accept my infinite gratitude David for the privilege to share your story and revisit trips to visit my grandmom in Indiana & one of our shared favorite spots...Split Rock Lighthouse as we transition to 2024.

May this new year be as fun, playful and supportive as possible and may your wildest dreams continue to become your reality...or better this next Gregorian trip around the sun!

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