Making your worst moments your best

I have a theory — Your worst moments are the seeds for your best ones. It’s the golden thread that holds things together when the world is falling apart around you. Yet it’s more than just wishful thinking. It’s a philosophy that keeps you going when you feel like curling up in the fetal position. As Sir Winston Churchill wisely said, “If you’re going through Hell, keep going.” My theory is what provides the motivation to keep going.

And I know on the surface it sounds horribly naive. I understand that when things suck, they, well, suck. When I had cancer, that sucked. When I was fired, that wasn’t much fun either. When my job status was changed, it caused some tears. When I was cleaning poop off of textbooks in a toilet, I wasn’t living my dream. Now I have a loved one who is very ill — there is nothing good about it, trust me. Life will punch you in the mouth and leave you dazed — and it hurts.

So I know — I can’t control what happens to me. I can, however, control how I react to it. When I had cancer, I helped others avoid getting the kind of cancer I had. When I was fired, I learned from my experience and got a better job. When my job status changed, I seized the opportunities that it brought. When I was a janitor, I met a lady who set me up with her daughter who is now my wife and mother of my children. Those bad moments gave me opportunities to have a better life. I just had to train myself to look for them and not dwell on the negative.

And that my friend, is easier said than done. It’s so easy to fall victim to doom and gloom. Fear is seductive. It’s easy. It’s also a dead end.

As I sit this morning, I am sad about my loved one. But I know this is out of my control. What is in my control is how react to it. I can choose to be a good brother, son, husband and father. I can look for opportunities to grow and become stronger for my family. And I will. A ship can hit a rock and sink. Or it can be pushed off in a better direction. It’s my choice. I’m choosing a better direction.

So as things get tough, I’ll keep reminding myself, “The worst moments become the seeds for the best.” And as Churchill said, I’ll keep going.