The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me

I am not sure if you ever watch the Food Network. I sometimes do, even though I don’t really cook. For some odd reason… I just like it. They have a show called: “The Best Thing I Ever Ate…” And well… I am doing my little version of that: with my life events. The Best Thing(s) That Ever Happened to Me:

1. I was born. Thank you Jerry and Janelle Kalmin for falling in love and having and loving me. A lot.
2. I was an only child. I got most of what I wanted and well, tons of attention. And an over protective mom.
3. I did well in school. Well, that just seemed to work out for me.
4. I was very small as a kid. I weighed 35lbs for a long time. People underestimated me.
5. My mom had mental issues. Although this one has taken a while to get, I got compassion and understanding around this disease. It’s not their fault.
6. My parents screamed and yelled a lot. It doesn’t rock me and I became a Breakthrough/Experience trainer.
7. I had an amazing 6th grade teacher. She loved me and I felt valued. And David gave me his ID bracelet. I felt like I was on the “Stairway to Heaven”.
8. I felt incredibly lonely in Middle School (Junior High for us oldies.) I joined B’nai B’rith which was one of the best experiences of my life.
9. High School…mostly great! Except for the occasional drunken mess…
10. College…tough (went through a bout of anorexia), awesome (transferred to a school I loved), confusing (where was true love already?).
11. My parents divorced. Ouch. Ultimately, I gained an awesome step-mom, and have a brother, sister and nephew. And I got to take care of my mom.
12. I did transformational trainings. #1 best thing until I got married and had the boys.
13. I failed at my Transformational business in Houston and Washington D.C. I ended up in California which has been the greatest joy of my life.
14. I met my best friend Lynne. Loyalty is the most valuable currency in the world.
15. I married Maureen. I am blessed and grateful and challenged and loved. And safe.
16. We had the boys. I get to love more deeply than I knew possible and see my ego and smallness play out in stereo.
17. I let go of my business. I got to let go, grieve, surrender and start again. The next ride will be the best yet!

So during this week of Thanksgiving (for my American friends), I am incredibly grateful for all of it. What seemed like devastating events or moments (I didn’t list the boyfriends and girlfriends I cried over so many times) have all turned out to be blessings and breakthroughs I could have never imagined. Some of the events I listed still hurt a little. They probably always will. That is not the point or the opportunity. The opportunity is to know, really “know”, that there is nothing that I bring into my life or happens that is not a gift for me to be the greatest version of myself. The best me I can be. Sometimes I am, sometimes I fail miserably. If I can simply step out of my hurt or disappointment or frustration and see the gift, and shift my perception or interpretation to being 1) personally responsible and 2) grateful…well that’s good stuff. Wishing you all a grateful, beautiful and loving Thanksgiving! Lisa