Miyo’s Tsubuyaki
I may be quiet, but my mind is a chatter box.
Bleh! It’s okay not to be okay!
"It’s too much!” my friend said on the phone."What’s too much?" I asked. "I can’t take it any more. I used to call my friends anytime I wanted to, but now, I need to schedule everything beforehand. Even a phone call to my friend. I don’t want to respond to emails. I...
Grow Like Green Onions!
The quarantine has changed our lives tremendously and maybe permanently. It’s not all the bad news though. People are taking time to connect with their family, friends, and even neighbors in a meaningful way. I’ve been enjoying the aroma of star jasmine and fresh...
Storytelling on Stage vs Storytelling on Screen
The first time I took on VP of Education for a Toastmasters club was 2011. It was such a fun experience until, in an unexpected twist, I had to leave the country due to a visa issue. Thanks to technology and the club’s support, I became a virtual VPE. I was able to...
Get the Ball Rolling and See Where It Takes You
How did the year 2019 treat you? Very well, I hope. Believe it or not, every five years, I get a pivotal year. I moved to the United States in 2004, joined Toastmasters in 2009, became Area Governor AND found StoryMasters in 2014. When the year 2019 started, I...
What Makes People Laugh?
Many of my stories are entertaining, but it doesn't mean that I always try to make people laugh. My facial expression, how I say it, or the phrase I use - whatever it is, people often laugh without my intention. The other day, I challenged myself - I told a folktale....
There Is No Such Thing As Perfect Timing!
It's been busy two months filled with blessing opportunities; Write Work (6/30); Shoot 'Em Up (7/17); Strong Words (7/27); the Otter Story Hour (8/5). Every time when the opportunity was presented, I thought that the timing wasn't good. I had already committed to the...
I Dare Tell My Stories!
Who's going to listen to my stories? As a non-native English speaker, I always doubt about my English speaking skills. Even after living in the United States for over 15 years, there are still lots of words that I don't know or cannot pronounce properly. (Those...
Do What You Love and Success Will Follow!
“You were finally present in your story. Congratulations!” A director, who has observed my work for a little over a year, gave me a big hug for the first time after my performance. It will soon be five years since I joined StoryMasters. I haven’t looked back since...
Make the Most of Every Opportunity!
One night, Eric went to see a standup show in Hollywood. After a couple of enjoyable comedians, another comedian appeared to the stage and started telling jokes, which ruined Eric’s supposed-to-be-a-fun night completely. This comedian’s jokes were dreadful. Eric hated...