I was invited to speak about a new project that I am involved in called the Optimum Health Club. I was all prepared and set to call in using Skype, then suddenly my internet connection dropped! I no longer had access to Skype or the phone number to the radio show should I decide to make the extremely expensive long distance call.

I rebooted my computer, began frantically plugging and unplugging cables, clicking buttons here and there hoping that somehow I clicked something incorrectly. Then I prayed, cursed and cried!

With about 20 minutes before the call, I sat there staring hatefully at my computer, overcome and paralyzed with anger and defeat.

I thought about my options and knew I could use the lawyer’s office downstairs and it would likely turn out fine. Even if I didn’t make the call, the world would not end. My connection has been dropped before, and this is usually how I handled it. This time though I was angry because I had to deal with this problem yet again. It felt like I was being tested!

While most of the county has been without power and running water for the last month, I sat there incapacitated about my lost internet connection!

But really when was the last time you were without an internet connection? Yes I know, likely never. In Canada and the United States we rarely face inconveniences such as the loss of energy or running water or heaven forbid lost internet connections! 🙂

I know of families here in the city, who are currently without power and running water now for the last three to four days! Can you imagine your family trying to get ready for school, do their homework, clean dishes or cook dinner without energy or running water?

After I finished my radio debut from the office downstairs, I thought about those families and what they would say about my situation, then I broke out in laughter at my ridiculous response. My anger melted as I reflected on the experience and gained perspective. What felt so important and intense in that moment passed. I was fine. My world was fine.

We all have reasons to stay where we are and continue to do what we always do, even if we aren’t happy. But how is this effecting you and those around you? I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the past but I have been thinking about how sad I once was and how it came to be that I am now happy and living in the Dominican Republic.

In January of 2005, I had a miscarriage and while I frantically tried to recover from this loss, it seemed like everyone around me was pregnant and reminding me of what I didn’t have. I was drowning. It was also during this time, that the long-time issues in my relationship surfaced. I struggled with a choice that I wasn’t ready to make.

It was also during this time, that I was my heaviest and least healthy. I regularly consumed large amounts of food and red wine. And speaking of consumption, my big 4 bedroom house was full of stuff! Athough I had “everything” materially that I could ever want, I was empty inside. I was desperately searching for answers, change and meaning.

Wishing you the best today!

With love, Kelly