Thank you for sharing your personal story. The pain you endured brought tears in my eyes. May you lead a blissful life!
I have been a successful business owner and over the last 7 years, went through a heart attack and a lengthy divorce. 2 years ago, I abruptly - to the world only - I resigned from my prestigious Corp. honorary position, sold off one business, handed the other business to my ex to run and I became almost nobody by worldly standards. No job, no responsibilities. I surrendered many - not all - my worldly ambitions. I have been meditating for about 10 years, spend significant portion of my time in solitude to discover who I am. Hoping to be on a path to lead a peaceful, soulful life.
Where to begin??? At the beginning… my first reset was the traffic death of my Mom when I was 19. I was promoted from kid to family mom and shared provider to a grieving and traumatized family in 5 hours. It was OK , I learned I could do it.
At 23, my husband got very sick, again I stepped in.
At 27, I almost died and was left with a lifelong condition that compromised my health and ability to keep my family secure. Again I pushed through it.
We survived for 20 more struggling years. Somehow we always survived! I kept my health just barely contained. Then one day a taxi driver told me he was a Messenger with a message for me!
He said, within the year, I would lose all success, all money, my marriage, business. Every door would close!
Until I gave up the struggle, gave it all up, no help would come. Arrogantly I told him I made my own future. And I was arrogant in my pride of having survived so much! He was right.
His message was blindly accurate. Even though I’d survived the recessions, I couldn’t survive his prediction. Within the year my business failed very fast, my marriage ended. Every possible door slammed shut! I’d worked so hard, that beyond family I had no friends to lean on. And half that family went with the divorce.
One day, riding on a bus, my mind was consumed with giving up hope! As we passed a church, I’m not Christian, there was a message board outside… facing my bus window… only 5 words… “Do Not Give Up Hope”. I laughed, cried, yelled for the driver to stop the bus. Went to the sign still laughing and crying. Leaned against it for strength. Looked up and said, “Tell me what to do. Take me wherever I supposed to go! I’ll take anything you put in front of me without hesitation or argument. I’ll say YES to everything!
In that moment, I gave up striving. I gave up just surviving. I trusted! I felt Joy and protected.
I Crossed the street to catch the bus going in the opposite direction. The OPPOSITE direction. An hour later, opening the door to my home, the phone was ringing with an insane opportunity, no hesitation, I said YES! In the past 30 years my life has been a series of insane opportunities! I said YES to everything!
I’ve had some modest success. My illnesses come and go but are always there. Money? Well, I’m OK but not rich. Then at age 60, I was told to become a Messenger, I didn’t say NO, but felt inadequate to do the job! I am a messenger, not of impending doom and rebirth, but of healing messages for mankind. I laugh when I think of this journey. So improbable! And yet here I am!
What touched me most was the moment on the bus. After surviving so much pain, struggle, loss, and responsibility, the words “Do Not Give Up Hope” became the turning point where you stopped striving and started trusting life.
And now, after everything, becoming a Messenger yourself, not of fear, but of healing, feels like such a profound full-circle moment.
Your story carries resilience, surrender, faith, and grace all at once. Thank you for sharing it.
What a life you have lived my friend. I too have had great success, followed by a period of great personal tragedy and trauma. It was during this period that I started writing my book. Just to get me through each day.
People who have endured life's highs and lows know much about the human condition. They are invariably more humble, compassionate, and kind. I recognise this light in your words 🙏
My mornings start with prayer, meditation, breathing and gratitude. This morning I could not do it. I tried to center myself in the silence but I couldn’t get there. All I could feel/hear was, read Substack.
I felt guilty. Why can’t I center?
I quit trying and opened up Substack and your article was the first thing I saw. It was exactly what I needed this morning. (Devine guidance.)Then I knew why the urge to read was so insistent.
Aby,
Thank you for sharing your personal story. The pain you endured brought tears in my eyes. May you lead a blissful life!
I have been a successful business owner and over the last 7 years, went through a heart attack and a lengthy divorce. 2 years ago, I abruptly - to the world only - I resigned from my prestigious Corp. honorary position, sold off one business, handed the other business to my ex to run and I became almost nobody by worldly standards. No job, no responsibilities. I surrendered many - not all - my worldly ambitions. I have been meditating for about 10 years, spend significant portion of my time in solitude to discover who I am. Hoping to be on a path to lead a peaceful, soulful life.
Thank you Dev for sharing your struggles and awakening. May God bless you abundantly in all aspects of life!
Lovely. Thank you very much for sharing,…just in time
Thank you Nonso
This is excellent. Exactly what I need
Those words are burned into me with so much love. Thank you for recognizing my life’s pivot. So appreciated
Where to begin??? At the beginning… my first reset was the traffic death of my Mom when I was 19. I was promoted from kid to family mom and shared provider to a grieving and traumatized family in 5 hours. It was OK , I learned I could do it.
At 23, my husband got very sick, again I stepped in.
At 27, I almost died and was left with a lifelong condition that compromised my health and ability to keep my family secure. Again I pushed through it.
We survived for 20 more struggling years. Somehow we always survived! I kept my health just barely contained. Then one day a taxi driver told me he was a Messenger with a message for me!
He said, within the year, I would lose all success, all money, my marriage, business. Every door would close!
Until I gave up the struggle, gave it all up, no help would come. Arrogantly I told him I made my own future. And I was arrogant in my pride of having survived so much! He was right.
His message was blindly accurate. Even though I’d survived the recessions, I couldn’t survive his prediction. Within the year my business failed very fast, my marriage ended. Every possible door slammed shut! I’d worked so hard, that beyond family I had no friends to lean on. And half that family went with the divorce.
One day, riding on a bus, my mind was consumed with giving up hope! As we passed a church, I’m not Christian, there was a message board outside… facing my bus window… only 5 words… “Do Not Give Up Hope”. I laughed, cried, yelled for the driver to stop the bus. Went to the sign still laughing and crying. Leaned against it for strength. Looked up and said, “Tell me what to do. Take me wherever I supposed to go! I’ll take anything you put in front of me without hesitation or argument. I’ll say YES to everything!
In that moment, I gave up striving. I gave up just surviving. I trusted! I felt Joy and protected.
I Crossed the street to catch the bus going in the opposite direction. The OPPOSITE direction. An hour later, opening the door to my home, the phone was ringing with an insane opportunity, no hesitation, I said YES! In the past 30 years my life has been a series of insane opportunities! I said YES to everything!
I’ve had some modest success. My illnesses come and go but are always there. Money? Well, I’m OK but not rich. Then at age 60, I was told to become a Messenger, I didn’t say NO, but felt inadequate to do the job! I am a messenger, not of impending doom and rebirth, but of healing messages for mankind. I laugh when I think of this journey. So improbable! And yet here I am!
Sue, what a beautiful and powerful journey.
What touched me most was the moment on the bus. After surviving so much pain, struggle, loss, and responsibility, the words “Do Not Give Up Hope” became the turning point where you stopped striving and started trusting life.
And now, after everything, becoming a Messenger yourself, not of fear, but of healing, feels like such a profound full-circle moment.
Your story carries resilience, surrender, faith, and grace all at once. Thank you for sharing it.
Wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing and doing this work
Thank you Kevin
What a life you have lived my friend. I too have had great success, followed by a period of great personal tragedy and trauma. It was during this period that I started writing my book. Just to get me through each day.
People who have endured life's highs and lows know much about the human condition. They are invariably more humble, compassionate, and kind. I recognise this light in your words 🙏
Thank you Chris.
Thank you so much.
My mornings start with prayer, meditation, breathing and gratitude. This morning I could not do it. I tried to center myself in the silence but I couldn’t get there. All I could feel/hear was, read Substack.
I felt guilty. Why can’t I center?
I quit trying and opened up Substack and your article was the first thing I saw. It was exactly what I needed this morning. (Devine guidance.)Then I knew why the urge to read was so insistent.
Thank you from the “in between.”