Layng Martine Jr.'s piece, In a Charmed Life, a Road Less Traveled, offers testimony to Healthy Survivorship and the notion of Happiness in a Storm. Layng explains, "Anyone who is in love is living a charmed life, especially if you've been in love for many years, through good times and bad."
Layng and his wife, Linda, were enjoying their charmed life when Linda was in an accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down. As the reality of their foreverafter losses and challenges began to sink in, Linda cried, "I don't know if I can do this for the rest of my life..."
(If you have time, please read the story before reading the rest of this post.)
Layng then describes seminal moments in their pursuit of happiness, which has entailed
- broadening their definition of "beautiful" and "good"
- appreciating what they have not lost
- finding new ways to enjoy old pleasures
- asking for help
- accepting help
- a willingness to put forth the effort required to enjoy something that used to be effortless
These six principles have depended on Layng and Linda's
- obtaining knowledge about what is -- and is not -- possible, as well as how to reach their goals.
- nourishing hope that they could learn what they've needed to learn and do what they've had to do.
- taking effective action
Life is good, even when it's not what you expected or planned for or hoped for or wanted.
Beautiful story, thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the new book.
Posted by: Susan Allen | March 23, 2009 at 12:33 PM