April 28th, 2018

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…It’s about learning to dance in the rain”.
                                                                                                                     Vivian Green
 
If I do not practice what I teach during the storms of life my message has no value to others. In the last few months I have not posted anything on my blog. I keep telling myself if I am not experiencing anything but challenges who would want to read about that?
 
Despite what has been happening I have practiced daily meditation and journaling. I have written down positive affirmations even though they were contrary to my feelings and what I was experiencing.
 
I have also continued to read the many positive blog postings to which I subscribe to and have reduced my TV news watching to one 30-minute broadcast. I replied to one of the blogs by saying I am embarrassed to say who I am because I am working so hard to remain positive during these difficult times. The reply I received really touched me and encouraged me to write a posting today. That remark, “Part of being authentically positive is acknowledging our other emotions and dips in energy too,” motivated me.
 
Now let me back track to the series of events of the last few months.

• In January our washer and dryer had to be replaced. Then the floodgates opened.

 
·        A visit to the dentist for my semiannual cleaning revealed a major filling was loose and the tooth would require a crown.
 
·        My battery went out on our car.
 
·        My piriformis muscle went into severe spasms requiring multiple Chiropractic and physical therapy treatments.
 
·        My wife developed severe cellulitis from a scrape on her elbow and had to be hospitalized for three days.
 
·        Several months ago, the airline had a one-day sale on airline tickets. I purchased tickets to travel to visit our friends in Tampa. Because of my wife’s situation and my back pain the flight had to be cancelled. (Hopefully we can reschedule the trip later.)
 
·        While at the shopping center the band broke on my gold watch that I
received at retirement.  It fell on the floor and broke in several pieces.
 
·        Less significant but still inconvenient, our toaster started toasting the bread only on one side. It needed to be replaced.
 
·        Then came the “biggies.” Within three weeks my iPhone, iPad and home computer stopped working and needed to be replaced.
 
Though it may be minor this next event was the last straw. The weather was beautiful this week, so I decided to cook our lunch on the grill. I lit the grill and proceeded to prepare our meal. Twenty minutes later I went back to check the meat on the grill and discovered there was no flame and no heat. The burners would not light. This triggered my breaking point. I told my wife “I just do not know how much the human spirit can take.”
 
My wife quietly brought the food inside and started cooking it on the range top and oven. She looked at me and burst out laughing! We both just laughed hysterically! That was the beginning of letting it all go. It was within a few days that I received that reply and I could write again!
 
One of the tools I have shared with many people over the years is the value of having a Prosperity Budget. After personally working through these trying events, I can assure you it is an invaluable tool that eases resolving unexpected expenses.