blog entry

The Water Behavior

Soon after my husband, Daniel, and I were married, we found ourselves suddenly short a car. Daniel's company at the time, ran into some financial difficulties and one of the many unfortunate consequences was the repossession of the company car. Financially strained ourselves, we could not afford to buy a new car right away, so we did the best we could, sharing one car despite two very busy schedules. Then, out of nowhere, a friend called us and said, "Seeing how much you have done for me, I hear that you are in need of a car and I have an extra. Do you want it?" Just like that, our predicament was miraculously resolved! Several years and two children later, Daniel and I, after a recent move from Houston to San Antonio, needed a larger home to accommodate our growing family. Although we didn’t have financial means for the down payment, we forged right ahead shopping and even negotiating without the slightest doubt that the money would arrive. Then, one day, a man from the local Jewish Community Center appeared in our office, selling tickets for an upcoming raffle. My husband, not interested in spending $20 dollars on such a pursuit, politely encouraged the man on his way with little more than an afterthought. Yet, I insisted that we participate, even if just for fun. So, without knowing the cause benefiting from our contribution, Daniel hurriedly handed over the money and the man left. Quickly leaving our minds, the man faded away while our housing dilemma had not. As if off the pages of a children's fairytale storybook, a couple days later, the raffle man called our office with joyous news. We had won! With a prize of $15,000 dollars, in an instant we had the down payment for our family's new home. Filled thus far with great happiness and good fortune, the stories of my life are more than pure luck. An inspiration for my upcoming book, there is a phenomenon I call "water behavior," a metaphoric guide for life in many forms. Naturally, water breaks through earth and stone to create its own path when trapped and subject to building pressure. And, like water, I try to create my own route when I feel like my life is at a standstill with tension building. Through experiences, like the raffle ticket and the gifted car, I've learned that there are unexpected and limitless ways to realize your ambitions, if you are simply open to them. It is for that reason, I believe the most important aspect of forging your path is to have a clear image of your highest goal. Really, the specifics don't matter. Actually, in my opinion people are less limited by their circumstances and more so on their obsession with the "how." Focusing on the process is restricting, stressful and ultimately counter-productive. I never consider how I’m going to get something, I just know it can be done as long as I am focused on my mission. Call me an optimist, but if you know who you are and what you want, the sky is the limit! Even skeptics may be pleasantly surprised by the way things work out. :)