"YOU CHANGED MY LIFE!" I received this comment from an
employee of an International Airline company at a trade show. She was an attendee at one of my
Corporate Speaking Engagements. I was at a hotel and she spotted me
and was ecstatic to share that comment as I parted one of the rooms. I smiled
and said, "Thank You. Keep going forward on your newfound journey." One of the greatest feelings on earth is having your name appear in
someone's life story/testimonial as the person who helped someone get on a better life
track. A powerful "feeling" came over me as I sauntered down the hall and out of
the hotel.
I pondered this as I walked away. She gave me the credit when in
fact I did not do most of the work! She did. It also brought back memories of a
young man who was suicidal and he came to see me in counseling as his plan to end his life was
in place. This was one of those unique times when a helper was in the right place at the right time. Rope in a tree; bricks on the wharf in the harbour; J in the fetal position that day with two plans to end all the mental anguish and psychological pain (two plans in case the first did not work). He could barely speak. The suicidal thoughts were coming fast and furious by the minute. I did a professional intervention and kept him in my office for two hours. We talked and he cried the whole time. "The tears the eyes don't shed, the organs feel" as the saying goes. He let it all flow out. I also called his family so they knew and could come and pick him up. He promised me that he would not harm himself and that he would come and see me the next day. This spark of hope sunk in. Sure enough he came to see me the next morning. It was a rough night. The years of abuse, neglect and knockdowns had finally come to a halt that evening. He went to the woods where he had tied on the rope, but he fell to his knees as he knew he could not end his life after promising me that he would come and see me the next morning. It was so close, yet the right chance meeting at the right time can change everything for a person. In my office, he told me how he just fell to his knees in tears as I had given him hope, something to live for. It was then I introduced him to the field of Personal Development.
This was tough work for him, being down and out, wanting to end it all. Yet he
pulled through. He went to work on himself. Daily. Searching, reading books and
getting involved in the community (bit by bit and little by little) gave him a purpose to get out of bed in the
morning. When he was strong enough, a few months later, I gave him the message
he needed for further reinforcement. I told him "You did most of the work!" I
was just the spark to help start his fire. He agreed and his self-esteem soared
once again. Today J is gainfully employed, in a relationship, has completed several speaking programs including Toastmasters and has started to write a book. An amazing story of resilience and an amazing story of the mystery of life unfolding as it does. We never know the impact we can have in helping others get back on their feet. And we never know what people we may meet who need a life spark in order for them to bouce back to a better reality. My grandfather, Skipper Michael Joseph Bruce was right: "Helping people out is what life is really all about." Be a spark today, and always. Help someone light their fire and help another to burn even brighter. PMW
