ROOSEVELTJEANFRANCOIS

Leadership • Language • Justice • Purpose

Haitian Creole Legal Language Specialist, storyteller, and community builder helping you communicate clearly, lead confidently, and create meaningful impact.

Author: Roosevelt

  • Going to the dentist

    I went to the dentist this morning. A so called “wisdom tooth” has been bothering me for the last two months. I was told to extract it would be a solution.

    I have been putting off this visit for a couple of weeks. Not able to sustain this pain any longer, I finally decided to have this procedure done.

    Marijo, my wife searched online and found a walk-in clinic, led by Haitian dentist David Eugene, DDS, 10 minutes from my home.

    I woke up, ate breakfast, and drove to the location situated on a commercial plaza in Lauderhill, FL.

    I felt anxious and nervous entering the waiting room where two young ladies were scrolling their phones.

    A soft spoken young man welcomed me and asked me to write my name on the waiting list and to present my insurance card and driver’s license. He handed me some forms to fill out.

    I sat down, filled out the forms, and opened my book. I was reading Walter Cronkite’s autobiography: A reporter’s Life.”

    They called my name. I got in.

    David, the dentist, welcomed me cordially with a handshake, showing me the dental chair.

    I laid down on my back, opened my mouth while he was hovering a bright light over my face to see the inside of my mouth..

    David asked me a couple of questions and confirmed that I was there to extract my lower right wisdom tooth.

    David told me he has been in this location since 2009 when he bought this clinic from a fellow dentist.

    He examined my tooth and took an X-ray. He informed me that my wisdom tooth was impacted and needed to be extracted.

    I was nervous about the procedure, but the dentist assured me that it was a routine procedure and that I would be given anesthesia to numb the area.

    I nodded, but my mind was still racing with fear and uncertainty. David and his assistant made me comfortable and started the procedure.

    As he prepared the tools, my anxiety intensified. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and my breathing became shallow and rapid, my hands were shaking while I was signing the consent and payment forms.

    The dentist administered me local anesthesia in the back of my gum. I could still feel a slight twinge of pain.

    The fear of the unknown and the anticipation of the extraction made me feel like I was about to jump out of my skin.

    Finally, David began the extraction. I felt a sharp tug and pressure in my mouth. The sound of the tools and the sensation of the tooth being pulled out made me feel nauseous and dizzy.

    I closed my eyes and tried to focus on my breathing, listening to a podcast from Orrin Woodward and Chris Brady entitled from “Thought to Destiny.”

    After what felt like an eternity, the extraction was complete.

    The dentist gave me gauze to bite down on to stop the bleeding, prescribed painkillers and antibiotics and instructed me to avoid solid foods for a few days. He also had warned me that I might experience some pain and swelling.

    I was feeling a bit groggy from the anesthesia, but relieved that the procedure was over.

    ____________________________________

    Questions for you. Please, share.

    Have you been to the dentist lately?

    How was your experience?

    How is tooth extraction, and teeth pulling , (rache dan) in places or in times there was no anesthesia?

    The dentist chair is one of those places I do not feel comfortable. what about you?

  • The Elephant and the blind men

    For centuries, Sufi Masters have been using short stories to teach their spiritual disciples important life lessons.

    Below you’ll read one of my favorite Sufi stories: “The Elephant and the blind men,” and I invite you to share your perspective on what point you make out of it.

    Once there was a city, the inhabitants of which were all blind. They had heard of elephants and were curious to see [sic] one face to face. They were still full of this desire when one day a caravan arrived and camped outside the city. There was an elephant in the caravan.

    When the inhabitants of the city heard there was an elephant in the caravan, the wisest and most intelligent men of the city decided to go out and see the elephant. A number of them left the city and went to the place where the elephant was.

    One stretched out his hands, grasped the elephant’s ear, and perceived something resembling a shield. This man decided that the elephant looked like a shield.

    Another stretched out his hands, grasped the elephant’s trunk, and perceived something resembling a club. This man decided that the elephant looked like a club.

    A third stretched out his hands, grasped the elephant’s leg, and perceived something like a pillar.  He decided that the elephant looked like a pillar.

    A fourth stretched his hands, grasped the elephant’s back, and perceived something like a seat. He decided that the elephant looked like a seat.

    Delighted, they all returned to the city.

    After one had gone back to his quarters, the people asked: “Did see the elephant?” Each one answered yes.

    They asked: “What does he look like? What kind of shape has he?” Then one in his quarters replied: “The elephant looks like a shield. 

    And the second man in the second quarter: “The elephant looks like a club.” +

    The third man in the third quarter: “The elephant looks like a pillar.”

    And the fourth man in the fourth quarter: “The elephant looks like a seat.”

    And inhabitants of each quarter formed their opinion in accord; with what they had heard.

    Now when the different conceptions came into contact with one another, it became evident that they were contradictory. Each blind man found fault with the next and began to advance proofs in support of his own view and in confutation of the views of the others.

    They called these proofs rational and scriptural proofs.

    One said: “It is written in war the elephant is sent out ahead of the army. Consequently, the elephant must be a kind of shield.”

    The second said: “It is written that in war the elephant hurls himself at the hostile army and that the hostile army is thereby shattered.  Consequently, the elephant must be a kind of club.”

    The third said: “It is written that the elephant carries a weight thousand men and more without effort. Consequently, the elephant must be a kind of pillar.”

    The fourth said: “It is written that so and so many people can sit in comfort on an elephant. Consequently, the elephant must be a kind of seat.”

    What’s the moral/point of that story?

  • THE ART OF ANTICIPATION & HAPPINESS

    Travel, or Just thinking about a getaway can yield surprising benefits, pleasure, and happiness.

    This is what Elizabeth Dunn, a psychology University professor, called “Anticipation” which is a valuable source of pleasure.”

    “You can do something pretty simple and feel fantastic,” she told Stephanie Rosenbloom in an interview for The New York times.

    Now may be an excellent time to plan your future adventures. This conversation can even help others who are feeling isolated.

    Dun referred to this as a “happiness reset.” No need for extravagant trips. Just plan some local staycations: It might be a beach getaway close to home, a visit to the park with friends.

    In fact, this moment we’re in may offer the perfect amount of runway to cultivate anticipation.

    “The pandemic is forcing us to prioritize our future selves,” Dr. Dunn said.

    Reminisce with others and make them happy

    The most unexpected benefit of planning your own trip nowadays is that it can give great joy to someone else.

    Having conversations with loved ones and friends about where you wish to go  provides  them with an opportunity to reminisce about their own travels.

    Reminiscing, after all, has been shown to give us a happiness boost. We can do this for ourselves by looking at our old travel diaries or photographs.

    We can also give the pleasure of reminiscing to others by inviting them to share their memories — something that may be particularly welcome amid the isolation of the pandemic.

    Let’s grab a cup of coffee and talk about our future go away plans to replenish our wonder of exploring and being.

  • Thanks to Give Happy!

    I spent part of this Thursday morning reading the Times on my cellphone.

    Last week, David Leonhardt, editor of the New York Times Morning Newsletter, invited his readers to send him six words describing what made them thankful in 2020.

    He was inspired by this form of writing –the six-word memoir– popularized by the author Larry Smith.

    Numerous people have responded. Here’s a selection of five out of the more 10000 responses.

    I am thankful to be thankful.

    I have someone I can hug.

    Think twice, decide once: Regret zero.

    Saved a lot of lipstick money.

    This last one is my own.

    To be happy, give happy. Thanks.

  • Revising Tim Ferris’ book : The 4 Hour-Workweek in this special moment

    I always enjoy re-reading a good book. I can go over the dates I read it the first time, and the context of the moment of my revisiting of the text.

    That’s what I did last night with Tim Ferris’ book: “The 4 hour workweek
    Escape 9-5, live anywhere, and join the new rich.”

    When the expanded and updated version of the book was released in 2009, the author was asking this question:

    “Can the principles and techniques in the book still work in an economic recession or depression?”

    At that moment, Tim was sharing with us his “manifesto of the mobile lifestyle” and the “secrets of the New Rich, a fast-growing sub-culture that has abandoned the “deferred-life plan” (slave-save-retire)” to live the life they’ve always wanted.

    It was at that moment when people were losing their jobs, houses, retirement plans.

    Here we go again with the same pattern. This time, now, 2020, not only jobs are lost, but also lives, sense of being.

    Even the normal is new. And the new is normal. The whole to form the new normal which is still lost in definition.

    What was once “safe” have failed. What used to be a failure now is safe.

    This is the moment to have your own experimentation outside the norm.

    This is the time for testing the uncommon.

    Stop postponing your dreams for some days, start living the infinite possibilities outside of your current comfort zone.

    This period of collective panic is your big chance to dabble.

    Thank you Tim Ferris.

  • SUCCEED WITHOUT TALENT

    My friend, Barbara, who has just been elected to lead an organization of 4000 people, introduced me to the leadership work of Jon Gordon.

    Jon is a best selling author of more than 20 books. My favorite ones so far are The Energy Bus and The Power of Positive leadership.

    Jon is a sought out keynote speaker who has put to the test his leadership principles in different business settings, sports teams, and non for profit organizations.

    She forwarded me this email that I want to share with you.

    10 WAYS TO SUCCEED WITH ZERO TALENT
    You don’t need to be the smartest or most talented person to achieve success in life. Often it’s the seemingly simple things that can make a significant difference. These 10 things are things anyone can do. They don’t cost money but they do require intentionality and effort. 

    1. Be On Time – Honor others by respecting their time. Earning respect starts by giving it.  
    2. Show Up and Do the Work – If they praise you, show up and do the work. If they criticize you, show up and do the work. If no one even notices you, just show up and do the work. Just keep showing up, doing the work, and leading the way. 
    3. Give Your Best In All That You Do – It doesn’t matter what everyone else is or isn’t doing. Focus on your contribution every day. When you give your best, you’ll inspire others to give their best too.  
    4. Be Positively Contagious – Your attitude is contagious. Choose to be Vitamin C today. Look for opportunities to encourage and uplift those around you. 
    5. Have an Attitude of Gratitude – Every day we have a choice. We can choose to be grateful and see the good in all that we have or we can let anger, fear, doubt, and insecurities rob us of our joy and the life we’re meant to live. The choice is yours today.  
    6. Seek Solutions vs. Dwelling on Problems – How you see the world determines the world you see. When you seek solutions you see a world of possibilities and are able to overcome challenges.  
    7. Have Passion – Passion fuels your purpose. The strongest may survive but it is the passionate that will thrive. Get excited today! 
    8. Be Coachable – Stay humble and hungry and be a lifelong learner. The best of the best are always striving to get better and so should you. 
    9. Do More Than What’s Required – Average effort generates average results. If you want more, do more. Even a little extra each day can create big results over time.  
    10. Believe in Yourself – Stop listening to the self-sabotaging voices in your mind. Talk to yourself and feed the positive instead of listening to negative. You matter. You are capable. You can do great things. You are here for a reason.  
    What would you add to this list?

  • JUNETEENTH: A CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM AND LIBERATION

    Juneteenth  is an unofficial American holiday and an official Texas state holiday, celebrated annually on the 19th of June in the United States to commemorate the announcing of federal orders in Texas, on June 19, 1865, that all slaves in Texas were now free.

    June 19 is celebrated as Juneteenth, the anniversary of the day in 1865 that Union forces announced in Texas that slaves were free, more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

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    The holiday comes as companies are promising investors and employees they are working on tangible change to tackle systemic racism. 

    Although the Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed them almost two and a half years earlier and the American Civil War had largely ended with the defeat of the Confederate States in April, Texas was the most remote of the slave states, with a low presence of Union troops, so enforcement of the proclamation had been slow and inconsistent.

    Although this day marks the emancipation of all slaves in the Confederacy, the institution of slavery was still legal and existed in the Union border states after June 19, 1865.

     Slavery in the United States did not officially end until the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States on December 6, 1865, which abolished slavery entirely in all of the U.S. states and territories.

    Modern observance is primarily in local celebrations. Traditions include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs, and reading of works by noted African-American writers such as Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou.

    Many companies are giving their employees a day off or a day of reflection.

  • EDNA LAROCHE: THE BANANA LADY

    EDNA LAROCHE, is an Haitian descent media personality, a TV anchor, an executive professional, turning to baking banana breads to change the world one palate at a time.

    The story began with her love of bananas. One day in her home, in Sunrise, FL, with Joseph, her fiance, she had a few ripened bananas that they wanted to use in some way and thought of their affection for banana breads.

    “The goal initially was to make something that could be shared with close friends and family,” Edna said.

    Then, “acquaintances began asking for our baking schedule so we developed one and we have been baking and expanding our selections ever since.”

    Edna would love for you to try her artisan Banana Breads and judge for yourself. 

    I did taste it myself and enjoyed it.  

    Edna Laroche was my guest on my poadcast ouR-Conversation.

    If you want to have fun now, just click here, and listen to Edna Laroche’s story of taste, passion, and community fulfillment.

    Roosevelt

  • SELF: Single Element Leadership Failure

    I had the pleasure to listen to an audio from Terry Brady on Rascal Radio this morning entitled SELF: Single Element Leadership Failure.

    It comes to my mind to share with you some questions she raised that might get you thinking about your own “SELF.”

    “SELF,” she said, “is most of the time associated with a negative context.”

    The list can be as long as the following:

    Self-image

    Self-confidence

    Self-deception

    Selfishness (even if there’s no real fish in this one…)

    Self-centered

    Self-pity

    Self-etc…

    When we focus too much on SELF, we live with anxiety, fear, and uncertainty.

    Instead of SELF, put your focus on others, and on SERVICE.

    And, that can make a lot of difference.

    @rooseveltj

    You can listen to this audio and other leadership & self-development content on Rascal Radio through a paid subscription on the superapp.

  • Danielle Gilchrist, a realtor in Florida, is about self-actualization, wealth, and being a “good person.”

    It was a Saturday morning, I was home attending a conference’s call, when I heard a knock on my door.

    I looked through the windows and saw a young lady waiting outside, holding a clipboard and a pen.

    I opened and she greeted me with a “Good Morning, sorry to bother you,” before she added “I am a realtor. I just sold a house in this block , and I wanted to extend my services to you and your family.”

    She told me her name showing me her Keller Williams badge with Danielle Gilchrist written on it. She handed me a flyer with her contact information “in case you need it,” she said with a smile and good eye contact.

    I took the paper congratulating her to have the courage to be out there knocking doors for her business.

    She thanked me and asked me for my contact information with my email and a phone number.

    She left. I followed her @daniyourrealtor on Instagram. She did the same on my @rooseveltjf shorly after.

    A couple of days went by. We kept the connection on line.

    She called me yesterday. I missed her called and she texted asking me to connect. I replied to her text. Then called her back.

    We spoke for a couple of minutes, found common ground, and convened to meet, greet, and talk.

    That’s what we did earlier today at a coffee shop in Coral Springs, Florida.

    Talking to Danielle was fun. She used words and expressed thoughts and feelings with fluent agility, amazing capability, vibrant smiles and gestures.

    She exhibits self-confidence, passion, and dedication for what she does, who she is, and where she’s heading in life.

    She told me about her journey as a realtor, her mindset to be out there seeing the people, her decisiveness to take the road less traveled of entrepreneurship.

    We also spoke about books. She is reading Joseph Murphy’s “The power of the Subconscious Mind.” I told her about Garry Keller’s book “The One Thing.”

    We also chatted about our Caribbean roots. Danielle is from Jamaica. I am from Haiti. I told her about places I visited in Kingston and the pleasure I had discovering places like Spanish Town, Trench Town, and Coronation Market.

    She told me about her boyfriend being from Haiti and the war they entertain at each other on the question of “who does cook the best food, the best kalalou.”

    I made sure not to take side keeping my white meutral flag high and avoiding to be a collateral damage in this war of palates and taste at that level of our relationship’s building.

    I laughed out loud telling her “besides my mom, my wife, Marijo, is the best cook I know.”

    We talked about business. She dowloaded my super app to take advantage of our cash back and other benefits. I download her app to be linked with her for our real estates’ needs.

    We will get together next week and follow up on our conversations and promises.

    What a difference a knocking at a door can make!