When disaster strikes: fight back!

When disaster strikes are you in a position to role with the punches or do you check out, defeated by a TKO? Recently my patience and strength was tested, however, in the midst of my storm a lesson was taught. Leaving in 6 days to return to school, my car broke down on the side of the highway. Does this classify as a disaster? Well for some it’s just a bump in the road, as for me, a student with maybe 300 in savings, it was a disaster! My mind began to factor every possible domino effect into this horrible equation, leaving me frustrated, distraught and just angry. My first response was to throw my keys into the ongoing traffic, kick my tires, beat on the window and leave the car sitting there to think about what it had done to me. Unfortunately, as much as I may personify my vehicle, it doesn’t have feeling and ultimately its performance is contingent upon my care. So in essence, cars do what cars do, people do what people do and in the end, the only thing I control is me! This reality confirms the notion that we never know what will happen in life and when it will happen, the only thing we can do is anticipate and prepare. Many young adults, desensitized by their parent’s safety net, have a hard time grasping this concept before it’s too late. Let’s face it, if there was a problem, mom, dad, uncle, teacher or some other authority handled the situation for us. Boy how time flies. The days of Saturday morning cartoons and stressing over nothing more than your next outfit, are gone. A new mentality must be adopted if we are ever to survive in a world where uncertainty is served with coffee and donuts for breakfast. We are told to prepare for our future, but do we ever prepare for disaster? What use is saving money for an apartment or product that contributes to our future if the unexpected pit falls wipe out our savings? Multitasking and multi-thinking is the key to success. Focus on your future but save and prepare for those circumstances in life we can’t predict. Preparation is the root of perseverance. I encourage you to live life being pro-active instead of reactive, and when you can, give your car a hug, it didn’t mean to hurt you!

YOU’VE JUST BEEN CARESSED