Wanted: Your cloud silver lining story

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2005
Wanted: Your cloud silver lining story
9
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 9:13am
Psychosemantic's roll call story prompted me to start this thread. We have all had hardships and inconveniences in our lives that seem really hard at first but then end up being part of a better cause or happy ending. For example, the toilet overflows, but then the plumber is a hot dude who asks us out. Okay - that is a reach - but hopefully it illustrates my point for discussion. I thought this would be a positive thread to share our stories and to realize that what may seem hard now might actually lend itself to something very good in our future.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2006
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 5:43pm

I can think of a lot of stories that ended happily, but the one that's the most prominent right now is:

I was working for very little pay for a small aggregate company about 4 years ago. Literally 2/3 of my pay went to my sitter- and I had a cheap sitter! Looking back, I honestly do not know how I managed to keep everyone fed, much less a roof over our heads!

After about 2 years of this, I was laid off. It was supposed to be a seasonal layoff. Living on unemployment worked for the heavy laborers who worked there, but they made a lot more than I did, typically had two income families, and knew this was coming throughout the year. I was barely making it with all of my check- and only my check, and suddenly it was cut in half with no warning.

I got very depressed during this time. I started pounding the pavement looking for a job, and my father fell ill all at the same time. Hiring a sitter to look for a job cost more than it was worth since nothing seemed to pan out. After about five months of unemployment, I was informed it would be a permanent layoff, not seasonal.

Obviously, I looked harder for a job, and finally found the one I had with my current employer before being promoted.

The silver lining is that somehow I made it through what I hope will be the bleakest time of my life financially and emotionally without too many scars. I learned to get blood from a stone and that I can get through anything.

If I hadn't been laid off, I'd probably still be there, making peanuts and feeling undervalued and overworked. The career I have now has led me to meet so many wonderful people, I believe in what we do, and as an added bonus, not only was the pay better to begin with, but it's even better now.

There's more room for advancement down the road, I fit in well here, not only with my coworkers, but also with the people we deal with and our bosses. I've finally got a really reliable, decent car, a nice place to live in a great neighborhood in an awesome school district, my children aren't wearing hand-me-downs to school, and best of all, I feel at peace.

It's not only about the money. I still don't have a lot of it, but my bills are paid and there's a little left over. I'm tucking some away and investing some in my future. I don't need anything, which is a far cry from where I was just five years ago.

The biggest thing is how getting through all of that made me realize that I can survive being divorced, on my own with two little kids, and basically penniless. If I can survive that, I can survive anything life throws my way. This knowledge gave me a confidence I wouldn't have had I not had to endure all of this. That confidence was attractive, and I started dating again. I didn't feel bad about myself anymore so people didn't feel bad for me.

All of this is amazingly connected. It didn't take long for me to see the results. Get through something tough, feel better. Feel better, attract others. Attract others, find good match. Find good match, live happily ever after.

I wouldn't be ready to meet anyone were I not happy. I am convinced I couldn't have been truly happy without coming into my own by going through what I did- it was the only way for me to really see what I was made of.

Moody, who can't stop thinking of the Care Bears and their cloud village


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2005
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 10:29pm

YEAH Moody.

When I left my Devil-Wears-Prada type job to stay home with Ds, boy was I in for a shocker. First of all we lost over half our income. But mostly it was about how to keep a colicky baby comfortable and manage on little sleep. The budget was tight - for sure.

But when it was time to throw in the towel on my marriage, I figured if I did that once I could do it again and the budget lessons paid off. I still use them to stay conservative.

AND today for carpool, I was late. Like so late they were about to go to aftercare. But the dear boys hopped into the car all happy and said - GREAT - you were late - now we get to go to McDonalds. Because although I am not usually late very often, I do repent and take them to McD's when I am. It was all fun because I got to hear about the older boy's girlfriend.

I asked him, why do you like her? And he giggles and says, "because she is funny and she makes me laugh." I said why do you have a girlfriend? And he says because he likes her and likes sending her text messages and he likes having her over and going to visit her. And he gets to take her to the school carnival. Awesome! He is a year older than my son, who proclaims that all of the girls in his class are not gf material YET. LOL!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 10:38pm

Well, i dont know that they were just "clouds", but some of the worst things in my life happened, but i still, somehow, found something to be grateful about in them.


The worst of which was my moms death. It was a horrible, suffering death from Scleroderma/ & respiratory failure. She died Jan 7, 2004, at age 60. So so young.


Being the only girl (of 2 of us), the oldest, & a nurse, much of the decision making fell to me. Whether TO put her on life support, even though she didnt want it (& we did, b/c we thought there was a chance to save her), when to with hold some treatments, & which treatments as she got worse

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 10:48pm

You are an inspiration my Dear!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2006
Wed, 09-12-2007 - 7:52am

I work for a public transportation company. I used to be admin support and customer service, but the new promotion put me into operations doing dispatching. Basically, it's internal customer support now since the drivers are typically the only ones I see and speak to.

We aren't saving the world millions at a time, but we're providing a neccessity to people who'd be stuck without us.

And hauling rich college brats back and forth from the mall, but I like to think they're learning something too- like how to be pleasant when they leave their iPod/cell phone/laptop/dorm key.... on the bus.

Moody, who ought to be headed for the shower


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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2003
Wed, 09-12-2007 - 9:10am

I have a lot of silver lining stories. I have been lucky so far to have the Murphy curse, but also the Irish luck.


My silver lining is the future I see ahead of me now. After two years of major financial struggles and being in a job I hate, it is all finally

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-11-2007
Wed, 09-12-2007 - 2:17pm

My mother is a hoarder.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 09-12-2007 - 3:29pm

The loss of a loved one especially family strikes home to me Rebecca.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Wed, 09-12-2007 - 10:10pm

((hugs)) to you too Mark. There is just nothing like losing your mother.


I forgot that part. I too had Averey talk to her. That morning, b4 we took her off life support, I stayed in the lobby of the hospital with Averey, while family put the phone to moms ear. Averey had no idea she was saying "good-bye" to Gramma, she was only 4. But she babbled on & on "Hi Gramma! I love you -youre the bestestest Gramma ever". We KNOW she heard Averey b/c her monitors started going haywire for the ony time in 7 days. So sad, but so wonderful as well.

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