The IM that has made the biggest impact on me is this...
About seven years ago I returned to Dublin from San Francisco were I had been living. It had been a tumultuous time which concluded with the parting of ways with a girl whom I was deeply in love with. I returned to Dublin to try mend my broken heart.
Just before the break-up a friend of my lover handed me a book called There are no Accidents - The Stories of Our Lives. She told me that everything was as it should be and to read the book. I did read the book but little did I know that my model of reality would change so drastically shortly afterwards.
For months I hid indoors listening to phone messages over and over from my lover...staring at her picture. I really hit rock bottom. One night my brother asked me to go out with him. Normally I would have declined his offer but I felt as though I had finally gotten over the relationship.
At the end of the night my brother indicated he would get a taxi straight back home but I insisted that he stay over; which is a very rare occurrence in itself. The next morning he had to be up and off very early but again I insisted he go for breakfast with me.
So we set off and along the way I met an Australian friend. She hadn't seen me in months and asked me what I was up to. Rather that replay the worn out love song I blurted out that I was thinking of going to Australia. She seem surprised and suggested going to her favorite cafe where she would shout breakfast.
Whilst we had breakfast I was instantly attracted to a girl who worked there. Admittedly she is a mirror image of my previous love - but that is neither here nor there ;-) My Australian friend told me that she had been asking about me and it was eventually arranged that we go out on date.
I remember the feeling walking home (alone) that day. It was as though a voice inside me had said there Declan, see I would never let you down. Since then I have moved to Australia like I intended, married the girl of my dreams and am father to two amazing girls. When I look back over the time before I met my Australian wife I am amazed by the fact that if so many things hadn't been in the right place at the right time I would not be where I am right now.
Thats my tale... |