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Courage to change...
I was forty six years old when my husband,Gordon, was diagnosed with Cancer.Without the hesitation, I took early retirement to be with him.Although his death eighteen months later was expected, my grief consumed me.My first Christmas without him I did not even decorate the house.I sorrowed over our dreams unfulfilled over the grandchildren he would never get to hold or touch.I would turn to speak only to be reminded that he wasn't there.Grief filled every corner of my soul.I was forty eight and had no reason to live.
My overaching question through my sorrow was "Why did God take Gordon and not me?".I felt Gordon had so much more to offer the world than I did.At this low point in my life, with my body,mind, and spirit fatigued beyond measure, I encountered the 7 habits. I was led to ask myself, "If I 'm here for some reason, What is it supposed to be ?". I was motivated to find new meaning in my life.
One of the habits "Begin with the end in mind" suggests breaking out the roles of your life.So,I drew a pie chart with my "used to be " roles as they were before Gordon's death. On a second pie chart I felt a huge blank where work and wife used to be. That large,blank piece of pie drove home to me that my life was irrevocably different. I drew a big question mark in the slice. It sat there looking at me,asking "What are your "going -to-be" roles?"
I grabbed ahold of the idea that all things are created twice- first mentally,and then physically. I had to write a new script.I had to ask myself,"What talents do I have?". So I took an aptitude test, which gave me some clarity on my top three abilities. To create a sense of balance in my life, I focused on the four dimensions :on an intellectual level, I realized that I love to teach;spiritually and socially, I wanted to continue the support the racial harmony we had endeavored to live through our biracial marriage ; emotionally, I knew I needed to give love. When my mother was alive she rocked critically ill babies in the hospital. I wanted to give comfort as she had, continuing her legacy of unconditional love.
I was afraid to fail.I had never done anything in my adult life except work for the Veterans association.But I told myself it would be okayto try different things like trying on hats.
My concentration was still somewhat impaired aftermath of Gordon; it was difficult to discipline myself to read what someone else wanted me to read. Turning off the TV and returning the cable box were acts of sheer will. But I knew that I needed to give those things up if I wanted to get where I planned to go.
I completed graduate school with a 4.0 GPA, and began teaching at historical black college at LittleRock. I was appointed by the governor to serve Martin Luther King commission to improve racial relations in Arkansas. I rock the crack babies and infants with AIDS who are hooked up to ventilator tubes. However short my time with them is ,I know that I am giving comfort, and I am getting their love in return.It gives me a sense of peace.
Now my life is very good .I can feel my man Gordon smiling at me.He told me time and time again before he died that he wanted me to have a life full of laughter,happy memories, and good things.
How could I waste my life, with his directive on my conscience? I don't think I could.I have an obligation to live my life the best I can for the people I love the most - Whether they are on this earth or on the other side.
From the Book "Living the 7 habits"
Author :Stephen R.Covey
Publishers Simon & Schuster
Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from
now and make a brand new ending.
- Carl Bard
(Thanks Nandita for sharing this Quote)
Celebrate Life .....Great Day....
I have found a good and authentic site that reaches out to poor people in third world countries . All the revenue of the site goes to the UN. It would be great if you can make their site as your homepage and help in feeding someone .
About the site :
The Hunger Site at the U.N.
This is a really neat website. All you do is click a button and somewhere
in the world some hungry person gets a meal to eat at no cost to you. The
food is paid for by corporate sponsors. All you do is go to the site and
click. But, you're only allowed one click per day so spread the word to others.
Visit the site and pass the word.
http://www.thehungersite.com
I have made it my homepage and everytime I satrt my surfing I start with a good job .... J helping somebody
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