Inspirational Books e-Interview - "The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me... Once"
Name: Teey
State: California
Year of Birth: 1964
1. What was your favorite part, story, poem or maxim from the book - and why?
I recently was a victim of identity theft and my prayer was not to let this experience change the core of who I was. I did not want this experience to break me. My prayer went something like this, “Please God don’t let me shy away from the unknown out of fear. Please don’t let me look at all new people as a potential thief. Allow my heart to remain open and not bitter. Please just keep negative individuals away from me and/or make them show me who they really are. Please give me the power of discernment”.
I never knew how powerful that prayer would be. Oh my goodness, people really started showing me who they were (good and bad). At first I was a bit hurt and maybe even a bit angry but after some time passed, I had to laugh and say “be careful what you ask for, you might just get it”.
In the Chapter “How’re You Looking”, I read a passage that really helped me to see this situation with a whole new perspective.
“What purpose is there for me, being in this situation, here and now? What lesson am I intended to learn? What meaningful knowledge and insight does this challenge offer to strengthen and ultimately propel me?”
I now realize how easy it is to remove negative situations and people from my life and not feel like I have to fix it. I was ultimately put in a situation that I felt I could not take one more negative thing on my plate without cracking up and you know what, that was what ultimately made me say no more madness. It took this extreme situation to teach me how to just say no.
The one thing I know now is that I am so much stronger than I thought I was and I am still standing!!!
2. What messages or perspectives from the book most inspired and/or motivated you?
How much a positive attitude can change your life…look at the glass half full instead of half empty. I thought I was always good at that but I do find myself sometimes getting negative. Now I say to myself, “don’t go there” and I consciously change the direction of my thoughts. I never knew I could do that. Before I would just let my emotions take control of my thoughts. I never knew I could take over the energy of my thoughts. I know it sounds like a simple thing but if you never knew this before, no matter how old you are, it is huge!!!
3. Has the book helped to foster any new priorities or behaviors - or perhaps rekindled any dreams or aspirations dormant from days gone by?
It has made me more conscious of making “me” a priority. I now do at least one thing a day for me!!! Wow, you wouldn’t believe the difference this has made in my life. It could be simple things like making a doctors appointment or putting my car in the shop. It could be reaching out to a friend I haven’t talked to in a while or just taking a walk. Every time I make “me” a priority, it makes me feel fantastic!
4. What is the most important lesson/insight introduced, or re-enforced in the book - which you will strive to more consistently incorporate in your life?
I am now trying daily to consistently prioritize my life base on what is important to me, not work, not society and not extended family. This is a challenge as I am one of those “people pleasers”. My goal is to one day not care about any outside influences…what others think or say…be able to brush that off. Every time I think I have this beat, someone else hurts my feelings or disappoints me. I want to get to the point where I can say “who cares” and move on. I am better because I don’t stay in the hurt stage as long as I use to but my goal is not to go to that stage at all…one day!
5. Are there any personal anecdotes, thoughts or perspectives related to "The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me... Once", that you would like to share?
I was recently reminded of a time I was sitting on the beach in Puerto Rico on vacation with my brother and his family (his wife, son and daughter which are my 2 God children) relaxing and reading “The Nurse in the Delivery Room Slapped Me…Once”. I starting reading the Chapter, “Meeting Time” and had to really stop a whole heartedly appreciate my time with family. My brother and his family did not have to invite me to join them on their family vacation, but they did. I think that everyone wants to feel loved, wanted and appreciated and I can’t even articulate how much reading the Chapter “Meeting Time” made me realize I have all this and more. There were weather issues that caused some events to be cancelled that were planned, however, all that did was allow for more quality family time without a schedule. Nature was our schedule and we truly were forced to have a “Moken” vacation. It was the best blessing we could have ever received.
“To quote the book “Whenever feasible, especially on weekends and vacation days, we must endeavor to simply enjoy ourselves, our life, nature, and the people around us.”
6. In your opinion, people in need of what would find the book the most beneficial?
Anything, anything at all!!! This book can be enjoyed by anyone, anytime. As a matter of fact, depending on what I am going though, I can read the same passage over and over again and get something totally different out of it each time.
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