Part 11 (1/2)
CHAPTER 7 - Nothing can kill.
CHAPTER 8 - The Turnaround.
CHAPTER 9 - Actionless Action - Act Without Acting.
CHAPTER 10 - Mother's Special Recipe for Success (Reader's Favorite)
CHAPTER 11 - The Power behind a Choice or Decision.
CHAPTER 12 - Why do some people never get what they want?.
CHAPTER 13 - Be Very Selfish & Don't Forget the F Word.
CHAPTER 14 - Reverse Engineering your Deepest Fear.
CHAPTER 15 - Living in the Now & The Secret of a Billion Bits
CHAPTER 16 - The Essence.
CHAPTER 1.
A New Beginning It was the first week of March and Spring was just around the corner, eager to burst forth and bless everyone with life and warmth once more. A beaming sun and blue skies dotted with white fluffy clouds greeted all those who had a.s.sembled. Smiles abounded, and even those who were grouchy couldn't help flas.h.i.+ng their pearly or not so pearly whites.
The organization catered to those who needed someone ”to listen” to them in their moment of crises, and in the long run steer them away, tactfully, from committing suicide. It had been in existence f or decades, tucked away in a quaint house in a leafy neighborhood in the suburbs. What these callers didn't realize was that loneliness was killing them, slowly and softly.
Those who called the helpline came from all walks of life and over the decades the clientele included shop owners, taxi-drivers, cas.h.i.+ers, celebrities, office clerks, fast food workers, engineers, nurses, waiters, waitresses, CEO's, customer service reps, truckers, actors, actresses, loaders, baggage handlers, authors, directors, producers, janitors, warehouse workers, journalists, secretaries, bookkeepers, teachers, maids, pilots, maintenance people, lawyers, hoteliers, government officials, pimps, hookers, bankers, ex-convicts etc.
Twice a year the organization would hold a get-together where the Chairman would host a feast for the volunteers who were educated, compa.s.sionate, eclectic, enthusiastic and inspiring. The Chairman was a wise and generous man revered for his wisdom, both, from a monetary and spiritual angle. He wanted to share his secrets, ”real secrets of life”, with them.
There are principles and then there are tactics or techniques. Principles are few and far in-between whereas tactics range in the hundreds or thousands. He wanted to share his life-transforming principles (and a few techniques), the best of the best, with these good Samaritans; they deserved it. The possibilities were limitless once the foundation was laid.
The chairman had a handsome forehead, deep-set eyes, lush eyebrows, an aquiline nose and a head covered with silvery-white hair. The volunteers could invite their family and friends, and the event was always a memorable one.
The post lunch session was the most precious part of the day. By then all barriers had been broken and the gathering resembled one big, happy family. The Q&A session would begin where they could ask the Chairman absolutely anything. No topic was deemed inappropriate or juvenile, and they were free to go in any direction. The volunteers came from all walks of life and despite vast differences, both economic and social, they all shared a common thirst for love, money and happiness. Yet, at times, the intensity of that thirst seemed to get in the way of everything they yearned for.
CHAPTER 2.
What do you want?
”So what's the first question going to be?” asked the chairman, as he smiled magnanimously.
”How do we make money? Lots of it?” asked one man.
”Yeah, that's a good one. We're not happy living like this,” said an older man. ”A fat bank balance is always welcome.”
”Anything else other than money?” asked the chairman, with a twinkle in his eye.
”Ooh, ooh, and happiness at all times,” said a young woman.
”Yeah, and a stress free life,” said an elderly lady.
”All three if possible,” said one girl.
”That would be asking for too much, I guess,” said a young guy.
”So money, happiness and a stress free life are your top three wishes for the year. That's doable, although there are far more interesting challenges in life,” said the chairman.
”We've had enough challenges. There's so much pain and suffering even amongst the educated. A few on top s.h.i.+ttin' on the rest of us,” said one man, in a slightly frustrated tone.
”That's understandable, so let's start with money,” said the chairman. ”Before we start, wouldn't it be nice to know the personality traits that the rich possess?”
”We already know that. They're smart and intelligent and come from rich backgrounds...,” an impetuous young man retorted before he was cut off by an older man.
”We're here to listen and learn from him. I think there's more to it than meets the eye. Yes, we'd like to know the personality traits the rich possess,” said the old man, sounding a little irritated.
”They're not smart, not intelligent, not rich, not lucky, not talented, not beautiful, not privileged, not confident, not achievers, not the most popular, not likely to succeed, been laughed at the most and have failed more than most,” said the chairman, much to the astonishment of all those gathered.