A few years ago I was “accused” by an audience member of being unrealistic. In the Q&A session following my program on Positivity and Leadership, he said, “It’s easy for you, Jim; your life is great. It’s not that way for most
people.”
I remember the surge of emotions I felt as my personal story erupted from me. “What?! You think I’m happy only because my life’s been ideal?”
I’ve suffered from depression. I had a heart attack at 28. I buried my baby brother
at 24 from leukemia, and my daughter at age 22 from a brain hemorrhage. I worked for a boss so horrible I would vomit on Sunday evenings, I’ve been laid-off four times, and I nursed my wife through brain cancer.
I could go on, but it’s not a contest, right?
While raising four kids, we practiced the skills I now teach others. I stood in the receiving line at my daughter’s funeral, heard the wonderful things people said about her and watched how my other kids reacted to this tragedy, and I realized something powerful:
This Happiness Stuff
Works!
