| "Every negative event contains within it the seed | | | | but praise for their help. Sure, walking into the |
| of an equal or greater benefit." ~ Napoleon Hill, | | | | building was tough on my pride. (Who would see |
| Think and Grow Rich | | | | me?) What would my bank say when they |
| Perhaps you're familiar with present perfect as a | | | | recognized the source of the funds paid into my |
| grammatical term, but I would like to offer a | | | | account and realized I was on welfare? (As if |
| different perspective of these words - as in "the | | | | they had someone checking!) How would I answer |
| present is perfect." | | | | friends' inquiries about what I was doing these |
| Now, before you scream at me that your | | | | days? It was a very humbling experience to say |
| present is anything BUT perfect, please indulge | | | | the least. |
| me for a moment and consider an event from | | | | So what was perfect about it, you may ask. |
| your past that you judged to be 'bad or 'wrong' | | | | Nothing... at the time. Enduring pain, humiliation and |
| at the time. Now, think carefully about what | | | | guilt are not my idea of positive experiences. |
| transpired as a result of that experience. | | | | However, there was an up side to it all. As I was |
| What events unfolded because of it? What was | | | | unable to sit for extended periods of time and |
| the outcome? Is it possible that something 'good' | | | | therefore unable to work in traditional jobs, Social |
| came about? I would venture to say that it did... | | | | Services directed me to a self-employment |
| every time. | | | | program that taught participants how to set-up |
| At first, it may be difficult at accept that there | | | | their own business as well as the skills necessary |
| was any 'good,' but I guarantee that if you look | | | | to maintain it. |
| hard enough and long enough, you will ALWAYS | | | | In the months prior to my sciatica episode, I had |
| find it. Something ALWAYS happens as a result | | | | written my first book "Joy Makers" and had the |
| of an experience that makes it perfect. | | | | brilliant idea of creating a business around it. I |
| The first personal example that comes to my | | | | wrote up a proposal for my idea and was |
| mind happened a few years ago. One morning, I | | | | accepted into the self-employment program. As a |
| woke up with some discomfort in my lower back. | | | | result, I received impressive instruction from a |
| Within a couple of hours, the discomfort had | | | | wonderful business advisor/trainer who also |
| escalated to the point where I couldn't move | | | | became a personal friend. In addition to this |
| without excruciating pain. The only way I could | | | | friendship, I also benefited in other ways. Here are |
| get around was by dragging myself across the | | | | some of them: |
| floor. Raising my body to sit on the toilet was | | | | * My new business advisor/friend generously |
| almost unbearable, and sitting on a chair or couch | | | | invited me to participate in a private course she |
| was impossible. | | | | was teaching about creating your own life. This led |
| Walking was also out of the question, so I ate | | | | to some amazing personal revelations and was a |
| very little that day. It was far too painful to stand | | | | turning point in my life. |
| up and prepare food, and I could only manage a | | | | * The same person also introduced me to |
| few minutes at a time. I swallowed some | | | | another wonderful friend who I would probably |
| pain-killers, gathered some cushions around me, | | | | never have met otherwise. |
| and tried to make myself as comfortable as | | | | * My book was eventually published. |
| possible on the floor. With the TV remote on one | | | | * The experience I gained from publishing my |
| side of me and the telephone on the other, I | | | | own book, led to a meeting with another |
| managed to get through the day. | | | | self-published author who also became a very |
| Sleep that night was fitful to say the least, but I | | | | good friend. |
| managed to get in a couple of hours. The next | | | | * This friend became my business partner in two |
| day wasn't any better. The pain was still | | | | different ventures. |
| unbearable, so one of my daughters came over | | | | * I now co-own a self-publishing service where |
| to help. She took one look at me and carted me | | | | we assist writers to become published authors, |
| off to the Emergency Department of the local | | | | and another wellness business which provides |
| hospital where we waited for almost ten hours to | | | | healthier, safer products for families and the |
| see a doctor and for them to examine me. They | | | | environment at very reasonable prices. |
| took x-rays, they poked, and they prodded. Their | | | | * I still maintain contact with many of the people I |
| diagnosis was 'probably' sciatica so they gave me | | | | met on the business course and have been able |
| drugs for the pain and referred me to my family | | | | to share and network with many others. |
| doctor who later referred me to a specialist for | | | | * I learned a great deal about online marketing. |
| tests. | | | | * I taught myself website design to market my |
| At first blush, there doesn't appear to be anything | | | | book and my businesses. |
| positive about this experience, but let me | | | | These are just some of the results of that event. |
| elaborate a little about my circumstances at that | | | | In addition to the above, one of my daughters |
| time. I had returned from Thailand a few months | | | | who had been living in Pennsylvania, was |
| earlier and had made the decision not to work at | | | | prompted by my sciatica challenge to come back, |
| a traditional office job because my boredom with | | | | and we continue to share a home. Since I had |
| office work was what sent me to Thailand in the | | | | been missing her very much, I was overjoyed at |
| first place! But, we all have to eat and pay for a | | | | her return as we get along very well. This |
| roof over our head, so I had been working for a | | | | relationship has proved to be a godsend to us |
| couple of temp agencies to tide me over until I | | | | both and we continue to grow from it. |
| came across the "perfect" job. I hadn't the | | | | I hope this account of a 'bad' incident has provided |
| faintest idea what that would be, but I had faith in | | | | you with an example of the perfection of our |
| the Universe that it would materialize. | | | | experiences. Certainly I didn't look upon it as a |
| The only problem with temp work is that there | | | | 'good' thing at the time but, in retrospect, a great |
| are no benefits: No sick leave, no medical | | | | many good things came about because of it... |
| insurance, no drug plan. Plus, no work = no | | | | both the sciatica and my ensuing welfare episode. |
| income. How was I going to pay my rent? My | | | | There have been many other incidents where I |
| savings were nonexistent since my Thailand trip | | | | can look back on a 'bad' experience and recognize |
| and my family were in no position to help out so | | | | the blessing that transpired as a result. In |
| my financial outlook was pretty dismal. My only | | | | retrospect, I can't think of one single event in my |
| recourse was... dare I say it?... WELFARE. | | | | life that was not positive. So now, when |
| Just the word sent shivers down my spine! I had | | | | something "unwanted" takes place, I look at it |
| never received 'charity' in my life and even disliked | | | | with acceptance - the attitude that this too shall |
| unemployment insurance the couple of times I | | | | pass and I will eventually find the 'pearl within.' |
| had been laid off past jobs. How was I ever going | | | | For me, this is a much better way of looking at |
| to accept welfare? | | | | my life situation. For me, the present is ALWAYS |
| To cut a long story short, Social Services treated | | | | perfect! |
| me with dignity and respect and I have nothing | | | | |