A while back I got a call from my friend Sue and heard the news about Penny, one of Sue’s best friends and someone that I used to hang out with a lot when I lived in Chicago. She’s beautiful, sweet, totally real, and is very happily married with two loving children. Life was good.
The News
When the phone rang, and I heard Sue’s voice, I knew there was something really wrong. I’ve known her since I was 14, and she’s like my Spiritual Sister; we’ve been through everything together, so I could definitely tell something was up.
“What’s going on?” I said as I picked up on her energy.
“It’s Penny…something REALLY bad happened.”
“What is it?”
“She was on vacation with her family in California, and she felt sick, really sick, with a fever, so they took her to the emergency room; they told her she would be OK, and they sent her home. She was getting on the plane to go back to Chicago, but she felt worse, a lot worse, so bad that she had to be rushed back to the hospital. She ended up having a 104 fever…now she’s in a coma, and it doesn’t look good.”
“Oh my God…she’s only 45, well what’s wrong with her?”
“She has Toxic Shock Syndrome, and her organs are shutting down.”
My first thought was:
“Well how the hell could they have not known that, they could have caught it earlier and helped her, instead of just blindly sending her home.”
I remember at that moment that I was instantly blaming the doctors and the hospital, thinking how could they overlook something like that and “send her home”, she could have died, and now she’s in a frickin’ coma. But we just started praying and visualizing her being OK, and every time we talked, we would just see her coming out of this, because she’s such a positive, spiritual woman, and we knew something good could come out of it.
Time dragged on and on, still laying there in that hospital room in a coma, a step away from deaths door.
She was in the coma for 3 months, her body and life force slowly fading away, it didn’t look like she was going to make it, and she was starting to have complications with her fingers, legs, and feet.
So, like anyone that’s done the work, we were prepared for the worse, BUT we kept focused on her coming out of this, because deep down we KNEW that she was the type of woman, that would do something with this, and use it for good. That’s just who she is. And after you do as much work as we’ve all done, that’s how you live your life, there’s always going to be stuff, challenges, tragedies, and obstacles that come up, and it’s how we handle them that effects our lives, even the possibility of death, is just another part of the Human Condition that we have to embrace and learn to accept.
Which Brings Up The Idea Of “Perspective”
I just finished a great book called “The Noticer” by one of my favorite writers, storytellers, and former comedian, Andy Andrews, the subtitle of the book is, “Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.” A big lesson for us, especially in smaller, every day stuff that we rub up against in our lives or complain about, (and most of us have NOTHING to really complain about), it’s ALL how you perceive it, and my view is, if you’re still breathing, you have SOMETHING to be thankful for. If you get quiet and just notice and observe things, you can usually find a real good solution or a different way to look at what’s going on.
So What Happened To Penny?
After 3 months, she woke up, she finally came out of the coma, weighing somewhere around 90 pounds, she lost some part of all her fingers, all of her hair, several toes, and one of her legs had to be amputated from the knee down.
She went through hell, but she’s alive… she fought to live. She could have easily made the choice to crawl in a hole and die, or feel totally horrible and sorry for herself, rightly so, life thew her a serious curve ball, but she didn’t. She could have chosen to be embarrassed having lost her beautiful appearance, but she didn’t. She could have turned around and been incredibly angry, asking why me, and maybe even file a lawsuit against the hospital for malpractice, but she didn’t.
She chose a different perspective, she chose to embrace “what is” and to DO something with it. She chose to see it as something beautiful, however painful, to do something important with. She’s now writing a book to share her story, and to go out and give talks, to empower people, help people, and share her incredible spirit and gratitude for life which will have a major impact on people, I’m sure of it…(and intuitively I knew she was going to do this, Sue and I talked about it, and we just knew that she was going to wake up and do something incredible with her circumstances, it’s just flat out who she is.)
I created a slogan for this Blog that means something to me that puts it all in proper perspective:
“Living in a Human Suit…is for Spirits Living in Human Suits, who KNOW that we’re NOT really the Suits”
So anyone that REALLY gets the Spiritual path knows that the body is just a Human Suit, and nothing has really happened to the “real” Penny, or can happen to the “real” us. Yes, it’s still a big challenge, yes, it can be very painful and emotional, and yes, life can throw some wicked curves at you, but at some level, I believe that there’s always a higher reason, something Divine at work, bigger than us that may just have a reason for all the so called tragedies and pains that we go through, but she chose to live in total gratitude for her life, to be grateful for being here, grateful to be able to still love her beautiful children and husband, and grateful for her very breath of life…all despite her big challenge, AND she’s using it for good.
I totally respect and admire her for her strength, attitude, love, and courage to be fully alive no matter what. That’s why I wanted to tell her story, so keep an eye out for her, you go Penny!
Life is For Living…so how are you living?
The Big Question For You Is
What in your life, (small or major), is keeping you from feeling happy, something you’re struggling with? What can you change your perspective on RIGHT NOW, and use it for something good to serve other people? Something that would shine the spotlight on the power of the Human Heart and the Human Spirit like Penny has? What can you be happy about right now, despite thoughts or circumstances to the contrary?
I would love for you to share it below in the comments, and anything else that you care to share with the community.
One of the greatest things I’ve learned to grasp is that whenever you feel sad, hurt, angry, or experience any other emotion that comes up, you can always CHOOSE to see it from a different perspective, a different angle, and look for the good in it, no matter how much it hurts; there’s always something there that’s a gift you can use to share with others.
Now go shine your light in the world, we’re waiting…
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Heart warming story Scott. I admire & respect Penny’s inner strength & love energy. She is a total inspiration to all. I wish her all the best.
Warm regards, Toni.
Thanks for a truly inspirational post here Scott. It’s so easy to get mired down in our day to day routines, especially in a world that seems to focus and thrive on negativity, that we lose perspective on what’s real, important, and especially what we have now, today, that we can be thankful and grateful for, in spite of things such as what happened to your friend Penny. Thank you for the story and inspiration that we can take into our own lives.
Scott Phares´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at
What an inspiration. This story is a great reminder…..We all have a choice as to how we think, be and do life.
Scott: You are so Right On, when you talk about our Spirit using the Human Suit in order to manifest our Purpose on this Earth!
Penny is a very beautiful Spirit with great focus on Her Purpose on this Earth.
Thanks for Your sharing of Your Purpose!
Blessings to You & Penny!
Linda.
Thank you – you write beautifully. Today… I will focus on keeping my perspective enlightened, grateful and wonderous.
E
Elaine Bylos´s last blog ..May The Yarn Be With You
This was an inspiring story to read and I would love to see/hear Penny speak some day. Please let us know when her book is published.
What struck me the most was when you said that the essential YOU can never be harmed or diminished. It got me thinking about how I would react to a similar situation. I hope that I would live every day in a state of gratitude. Then I thought why am I not living every day in a state of gratitude right here and right now? Every day is an opportunity to enjoy and contribute to the wonderful relationships in my life. That’s what I would fight to stay here for – to see my daughter growing and changing every day and to be there loving her.
This story helped me become more aware of what’s truly important, now much time and energy I waste fretting over the unimportant and how grateful I am to have the opportunity to try again in the present moment to pay attention to what matters. How many years can we waste worrying about a few extra pounds or being irritated with people who don’t know how to behave at a 4-way stop? It’s really silly to waste time on these things when the people I love are in the same room with me and I could be reveling in the joy their company brings to me.
Wonderfully moving story. Thank you.
Kirsten´s last blog ..The Friday Post: Creativity & Humanity
I am just amazed at how some people can go through so much, and still maintain such a positive attitude. I have such admiration for them. Is this a trait that is learned, passed through genes, or just plain and simply an inner decision of the soul to be positive no matter what. I wish I could say that I would handle such circumstances as well, but I’d be lying. My cousin is in a similar plight. He was living a normal life and BAM, out of the blue ended up in the hospital. He has no feeling in his legs and feet after mos. of treatment, even though he is now in remission. And yet he never falters to have a positive outlook, and seems even thankful for what he has gone through! BRAVO I say, BRAVO! How DO YOU DO IT? God bless your friend!
Scott, Thank you for delivering the message that we all need to hear. It is never about the situation, but rather how we choose to react to it. You deliver a compelling and what some may perceive as a tragic situation, but weave it into a story that provides the greatest gift we all have: the power of choice.
My blessings to you and your friend, Penny.
What an amazing story of Penny. Like Kirsten who commented above, it serves as a HUGE reminder about letting go of the trivial annoyances, difficulties and setbacks we all have and focus on gratitude for our amazing existences.
I had some amazing people come and stay with me this w/e and we had a challenging conversation about ‘just being’. I guess Penny now has to just BE in her moment everyday and that is a huge example to us all.
Thanks Scott. Inspiring post again my friend:)
Love to read Penny’s book!
Scott my man! Im sorry I have been absent from your wonderful project LHS! But, here I am and I just wanted to tell you man that first off, Im so glad to have met you. I am a firm believer in things happen for a reason or in this case meeting certain people happen for a reason. Its rather interesting (not the teradactyls that fly by your windows) that we have this similar energy right now aimed at THE REALNESS of the world.
The perspective of one to another is a great topic here and I’d like to share with you guys a very great story and speaker I saw at a business conference in St. Louis. The speakers name is Mike Schlappi and if you have never heard his story, you do need to read it, hear it and see it. It is very moving to say the least. http://bit.ly/X7fih (youtube video).
I’m sure Penny will help change the world as Mike has by inspiring millions of people across the globe. This my friend is what #KICKTHECANT is all about. Scott, we need to talk, I believe you would like what I got cookin!
Prayers and thoughts to Penny and everybody else trying to make a change out there, thanks for sharing this man!
If that link is not working for the youtube video, use this one: http://bit.ly/1G4IFj (I dont know what happened if the other one doesnt work, it was acting all screwy!)
All I got to say is Amen Sister! To both her and you for your choice to share it. True art on both fronts! I for one am grateful that you found me on Twitter because I have spent the last 20 minutes reading your website (and laughing out loud) and blog here (feeling lots of hope for the world). A true joy to experience your contribution.
Rock on!
Sometimes I think that is the true purpose of people’s disabilities – to constantly remind us of what true beauty, grace and love is, far beyond what we can see and comprehend on the surface.
I am so glad you found me on Twitter and so showed my way here. I think the comedy you add to our awakenings is exactly what we need to keep our perspective intact.
Thank you!
/Alexandra in Sweden
Thanks for sharing and thank you for choosing to follow me on Twitter Scott… which in turn led me to your FANTASTIC site. A very real and creative way to express “purpose” and “consciousness”. Penny is an amazing spirit, leading by example for all those that will need her… The amazing part about accepting everything that happens in our lives and taking 100% responsibility for what we create is that we open the floodgates for Spirit to work through us and by doing so we can surrender our need to know why things happen as they do. I look forward to following you on Twitter. Have a blessed day! -Debbie Naone
I’m Wishing I could do that again! Penny is fabulous! I hope and pray I can be as wonderful! I am amazed that I can relate so well to Penny’s story! Everyone has challenges, divine allowed trials – Personal Growth Opportuntities (PGO’s) – My new acronym is COS – Combinations of Squares – check it out! http://lindagraceonline.com/?p=392
Linda Grace Cox´s last blog ..29 Ways to Combat Depression