Life doesn't follow a baking recipe.From messy to peace.

Chong Andelina
Jan 23
5 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

This is the long form of my Toastmaster speech.

Key points:

Embrace the chaos and evolve

Experimental learning helps you to grow and evolve faster.

You have new potential in you, waiting to be uncovered. Arise!

link to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/57GHX2mi0j8aCPpm04iG6b?si=ZzbzzBsvSF2uOXCSoBkMgQ

Below is the Transcript of my toast master speech- by otter AI. Accuracy is up to 90%

0:05

This is a long form of my Toastmaster speech.

0:10

The title is, life doesn't follow a baking recipe.

0:15

How many of you are planners here?

0:21

I'm born a planner, and I love baking.

0:24

Years ago, I went through a career transition that lasted longer than expected. It was very frustrating at that point in time, but in retrospect, I'm grateful I found new parts of me.

0:38

I love baking for its position, and also a channel for me to use my creativity.

0:44

The Kitchen transformed as the sense of melted sugar and butter began to bloom inside the oven, the butter heaved and Rose and filled the cake pans when pulled from the heat, the top layer boasted a crispy crust that gave way to a pillowy texture, which melted in your mouth in the mess of possibilities during life transition, you won't know what will emerge On the other side, only in hindsight you have clarity.

1:24

I was transitioning from the mediator in the nonprofit sector to another industry, searching for my next purpose, as I had experience in the service role of the financial industry sector. Prior to that, I figured I could go back, given my experience and training during that time, numerous agency leaders wanted to recruit me into their team, but I declined, as sales was not my cup of tea.

1:58

I planned various career options, but the doors were closed. It didn't make sense.

2:06

Extremely frustrated, I decided not to plan at all.

2:10

Then I realized that was a bad idea too, as there were consequences.

2:17

Through experimentation, I arrived at the sweet spot of planning loosely

2:24

that helped to reduce my frustration, and that's good for my heartbeat.

2:32

Subsequently, I arrived at my next destination, working in the hospital, managing high stakes dispute.

2:41

That's when I realized that the last season of dealing with uncertainty was preparing me for the next chapter. Here, it was loading me for the role being a season mediator.

2:56

I assumed initially, that it will be a breeze. But I was wrong.

3:04

I was shocked that while I was still learning about clinical terms, I'll be called for meeting at very short notice.

3:12

The planner in me felt uncomfortable that I couldn't prep for the meeting.

3:20

Thoughts of resignation crossed my mind numerous times within the first month,

3:30

but the worry in me was determined to try to make it work.

3:39

Besides on the job training, I also spent time researching after office hours on how to do my job better, and I realized that

3:53

trying to mediate commercial disputes

4:00

in my last job was different, working in the hospital, we are dealing with emotional issues,

4:13

and I need to do more research and more readings on my own in order to do my job better.

4:27

Through patience, determination,

4:32

practice and God's grace, I got to my goal. I

4:42

passed the probation and I thrived in my job.

4:49

A few months later, my mom passed away, suddenly after a week in the ICU, it was my first encounter with death, and I was in shock.

5:00

A dark, heavy cloud follow me wherever I go. I can't get rid of it.

5:08

I decided to resign and be a caregiver to my beloved dad, who had cancer

5:21

after losing my mom, I don't want to miss the chance to be with my dad his last days.

5:30

Little did I know that navigating grief, the alien tsunami and being a caregiver were more challenging than managing high stakes disputes in the hospital.

5:42

Some days, it felt like I'm on a boat tossed violently by the sudden waves of grief. I held on for dear life.

5:54

At the beginning, I was scared and feared that I cannot find the shore of safety. It felt far, far away

6:09

to try an error.

6:11

I learned that I can feel safe by staying in the eye of the storm and wait for grief storm to pass. I

6:29

slowly, I let go of control, and my emotional landscape stabilized.

6:46

I resume working at another hospital,

6:51

and surprisingly, I realized my journey through grief has equipped me with another gift I was able to connect with the patients,

7:09

the deceased patients, and the families better. It

7:16

was not just a case of empathy.

7:19

I was able to connect to their struggles and their complex emotional landscape,

7:33

facilitating meetings between the medical team and the patient's family,

7:40

and having gone through grief

7:44

helps me to unlearn over planning and flow with life and situation, looking back now those situations equipped me to flow better in coaching conversations for my current role as a certified coach.

8:03

Specializing in emotional wellness and money stories.

8:10

Baking is about precision, while cooking is an art.

8:14

Being a caregiver, I move from the safety of being the official taster in my mother's kitchen to being an amateur cook, I battle with aggravation that mysterious art of guessing measurements of food condiments during food preparation, while dancing to the Rhythm of the oil splatters as a fried fish,

8:42

wearing baking gloves.

8:46

Through the smoke and experimentation, a new version of me began to arise.

8:55

Pull out my props, gloves and spatula.