That's who I am! Yes! Definitely I am enjoying! Believe it or not, I am now writing this speech in a small piece of tissue here in Rock n Z bar here in Bahrain with friends at the same time listening heavy rock music! You see my schedule is not so tight… But you know what it's just so weird that seldom I feel tired with my schedule. As they say, if you have reason and purpose in whatever you are doing you'll not get weary of it. I love serving others before me. I like helping others, I am very outgoing person as they say, so why say no with friends especially those who are close to my heart?

Since I don't want anybody feeling bad, I always say YES! It feels so good that you are able meet the commitments you have promised, the meeting you have closed, the needs you have filled in, the demands you have granted, and the NOs you have said YES.

I used to handle group of youngsters in our place and one of the biggest challenge as a servant leader is to hear an answer “NO” from a member when you are actually asking a favor not for me but for them. For me it's a rejection of an opportunity! It's a word full of hopelessness. That's why I am so afraid to use it.

So when did I actually say no? Or do I say no when I want to say no? Let's say,    

“No, thanks I'm leaving.”

“No, I have prior commitment.”

“No, thanks I just finished.”

I just can't remember saying those lines. But I remembered myself saying:

“I give up!”

“I can't finish the task!”

“I feel exhausted!”

But I never left any work undone. It's just that I tell myself “I'm tired”.

I'd realized that I'm going to the point where I am abusing myself with a lot of commitments which sometimes I sacrifice my time to rest. When I was only new with my work in Manila I used have a lot of sidelines. Oh, that was a big break on my design career. Yes here, yes there, and yes everywhere! Oh yeah, I love working! Yes I finished all those tasks but all those feelings of success just ended up in the hospital. My immunity was very near to the ground and I'm like dead!

From that experience, I just realized that:  what is the point of saying YES, if you cannot give your 100% attention and time while putting your self in a pit. The better way is learning how to say NO and mean it and saying YES when you mean yes. YES It takes a lot of courage, and that's where we apply toastmasters, how you say NO in proper manner and gestures. For me saying NO is being brave enough to be true with yourself. I agree with Jana Kemp when she quoted with one of her written books, “To claim your right to say NO helps you find balance of personal, professional, and community involvement that inspires you to complete your commitments without wearing yourself out, short-changing the people important to you.” In other words, she is saying that this is the best time to use the word NO in daily conversations and I am one of her witnesses.

According to an author the best way to help yourself in making decisions in saying YES or NO you need to have POWER!

P-urpose: Do I understand the purpose

O-ptions: Have I been given choices? Do I need them?

W-hen: Can I deliver it on the requested deadline?

E-motional ties: Do I feel good in taking it on?

R-ights and responsibilities: Are my rights being respected?

i cant live without my BRA with me...

BUDDY (God)

RESPECT (family values)

ASPIRATION (to live life to its fullest)