There is good even after a series of bad

I was sitting and waiting at the airport, waiting to board. I sat next to a lady in her 60's. We got to talking - what's your name, what do you do, etc. I found out that on her spare time, she does what she calls "chant". She explained that sometime during her lifetime, she divorced her husband because he was an alchoholic who hit her and after her divorce, she was diagnosed with depression - she explained that she was angry and miserable. She then found "chanting" and through this and of course after some time, she found a perspective in life - a positive perspective that life does not have to miserable - the good in life can co-exist with the bad. After being enlightened with this new positive perspective in life, she threw out the miserable person and came the happy cheery person I saw before me.

Another example that there is good even after a series of bad experiences in life.

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Today is the first day of Summer 2009! Sunny bright days ahead of us! Yay!

180 degrees

I have a pretty good friend. I met her when she was already a graduate. But before that, when she was in high school, she had really bad grades and got into trouble a lot in school. Sometime after high school somewhere somehow she changed her ways - she attended a community college, transferred to a 4-year university and eventually obtained her bachelors degree. She mentioned to me that all her friends from high school are doing exactly the same thing - they are ruining their lives by running up their criminal records while some are even taking drugs to the point where their physical health is at stake. [She says that she tries to get them out - but as much as she tries to help, she says that she can only help to a certain point and the rest is up to the individual.] I asked her how she got out of that lifestyle and she said: choices.

You don't have to get sucked in; you can choose.

Two conflicting items in one

I used to work with a particular reviewer. He was known to be extremely critical over a staff member's work - he really tells you everything that you do wrong and where you can improve. With all this, he was very likeable - he was everyone's favorite! He was a constructive critic and delivered in the best way! He is well-intentioned and had growth in mind. Who said you couldn't be critical and likeable in the same time? He has the perfect balance. Pure talent.

It's been years since I worked with him and until today, I carry valuable tools I got from him. In fact, a lot of my professional strengths today stem from him.

I highly respect him.