Is Your Set Back a Set Up?

Do you believe “everything happen for a reason”?  If we believe everything happens for a reason, why are the positives so hard to comprehend when faced with a difficult situation?

I didn’t focus on setbacks until I was older. I was adopted as a newborn and had a normal Midwest life. When I was 32, my mother passed away. She had been suffering from Alzheimer’s for years. She was still functioning at a high level when breast cancer returned after 30 years, which progressed rapidly. I was very angry. I hated God for taking her away. I hated that she would never see my children. I hated that she just wasn’t here. Friends and family telling me “She’s in a better place” practically had me throwing upper cuts at the funeral. Had someone told me that “everything happens for a reason” I just might have thrown a punch! I wasn’t able to see the “setup” in my setback.

Two years later, I was blessed with a child having special needs. The setback of caring for my mother and the pain of losing her prepared me for caring for my daughter. While other parents were trying to adjust to life having a child with special needs, we were adjusted and moving forward. Priorities were thrown into perspective and our lives were made better.

Four years later, I became the caregiver to my in-laws. Both in their 90’s, and one battling Alzheimer’s. Again, my mother prepared me to help my mother-in-law. It was very difficult to put aside the deep hurting feelings of reliving the situation I did with my own mother.   I was able to take care of her, understand her and know that she may not remember but for the moment she was really happy.

Figuring out the positive side to your setback can be hard to do. I didn’t see that my mom was preparing me to be the mom I would need to be for my little girl. She wasn’t going to be around for that day, so she made sure that I could handle it alone.

You can change the setback by approaching it as a set up.

Choice, Chance, Change

You have to make the choice to take the chance or your life with never change.

Julie

Accepting the Challenge

My little girl is having her 5th surgery in 5 years. She's tough. She takes life as it comes. She doesn't let anything stop her. She does it with a smile. She has changed my life and taught me what are the real challenges in life.

People seem to always be complaining about their present situation. How their life is full of challenges and they would have been more happier if "______". Try finding one person who has never had challenges in his/her life. "There's a story there." ~ Steel Magnolias.

Life will always have challenges.  Life will always be full of challenges for every person in whatever section of society he belongs to. Rich, poor, happy, sad, chunky, skinny, challenged, addiction, marriage, single, divorced, widowed, infertility, hearing, non-verbal, smart, average, late, irresponsible, ..... everyone has something that they need to overcome.  My little girl continues to overcome her challenges because of a TEAM of people that encourage her progress. We all have an issue, so why aren't we honest, open and surround ourselves with people that are supportive to our success? Accept the challenge.

More challenges you encounter more successful you become. For a person overcoming one challenge, he becomes mentally ready for other one in course of which life gives him greater rewards for solving those challenges. You go to another level by stretching your comfort zone a little further. My little one has proven this to us over and over.

Every challenge gets an opportunity.  Every challenge a person acquires in life presents him/her with two kinds of opportunities. . . one is personal growth and other one financial growth. It can be a challenge to spot these opportunities leading to personal and material development. You have to be open and willing to accept the challenge. Overcome the challenge.

Recognizing opportunity.  The best way to recognize an opportunity is to get guidance and learn from the same people who have been through your path. They are your best teachers. My little one opened my eyes to needing experts in my life. I couldn't take on her challenges without them. I needed to follow their path, let them set the path so that she could be successful. When I came across a home business opportunity, my eyes were already open so I was able to accept the challenge, accept the guidance and be successful.

Putting what you learn into action.  The important part of learning in life is to put whatever one has learned into action. Without action all the strategies of life have no meaning. So if you want to profit in your life, mentally as well as financially start from today to put into action whatever good things learned from life!!

Julie Webster
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McKenzie's 5

5 years ago, I was given the most precious gift ~ McKenzie Raye.  I had waited my whole life for this baby but had no idea just how much this little one would change my life.  Her entrance into the world was a rocky one.  She was whisked off to the NICU with daddy hot on their heels.  She was 7lbs and 7oz ~ 100% fighter.  McKenzie was born with an unnamed chromosome disorder.  She has challenges but almost always has a smile on her face.  There are some really tough days when you are the parent of a child with special needs.  More doctors than you care to juggle.  More therapy appointments than can possibly be scheduled in a week.  Sleepless nights either because they are awake or you are awake waiting to hear a noise.  You have to learn how to navigate questions, comments and looks, and accept a completely different way of life than the stuff you imagined.

The great thing about having a child with special needs is that you find the best doctors.  You are taught physical, occupational, speech, and other types of therapy.  You become very organized ~ because your priorities change. You are able to navigate questions, comments and looks ~ sometimes with grace ~ sometimes with sarcasm!  You welcome a completely different way of life.

The best part... you find people that love their children for everything they are and are not.  Parents that truly celebrate each and every milestone. People with huge hearts that would do absolutely anything for your child.  It's never about where you live, the car you drive, your job title, how many vacations you take... it's about waiting for that first step, that first word, sorting colors, coloring for more than 10 seconds, grabbing your hand to communicate their wants, signing "more" when swinging and listening to the most awesome giggle in the world. 

I love you

Happy Birthday McKenzie!!!