A friend of mine shared with me a story about his mother and it made me think.
When he was 23, he wanted to start a business. His mother, who was his only surviving parent and a Government wage earner, and therefore not very wealthy, dissuaded him, for she told him it would stretch their finances. My friend apparently was unconvinced, and in spite of her advice took some money from her and invested it in a business.
The business flourished and vindicated my friend’s decision.
However, within a few years, a terrible downturn virtually brought my friend to the streets. He was distraught, guilty and ashamed. He did not know what to do. He did not share his plight with anyone and nursed his wounds alone.
Somehow, his mother got wind of this and one day called her son, my friend, and told him that she would pawn all her jewellery and give him the money, which she did.
The people who we meet as we climb the ladder of success, some of whom we even trample over, strangely are the same people we meet when we begin to fall from our pedestal of success.
The lesson therefore is to be mindful, thankful and grateful to those who we encounter on our way up, for as we may sometimes spiral down, we will encounter them again, and actually need them to cradle us and prevent a further fall, and not aid in pushing us further down.
When he was 23, he wanted to start a business. His mother, who was his only surviving parent and a Government wage earner, and therefore not very wealthy, dissuaded him, for she told him it would stretch their finances. My friend apparently was unconvinced, and in spite of her advice took some money from her and invested it in a business.
The business flourished and vindicated my friend’s decision.
However, within a few years, a terrible downturn virtually brought my friend to the streets. He was distraught, guilty and ashamed. He did not know what to do. He did not share his plight with anyone and nursed his wounds alone.
Somehow, his mother got wind of this and one day called her son, my friend, and told him that she would pawn all her jewellery and give him the money, which she did.
The people who we meet as we climb the ladder of success, some of whom we even trample over, strangely are the same people we meet when we begin to fall from our pedestal of success.
The lesson therefore is to be mindful, thankful and grateful to those who we encounter on our way up, for as we may sometimes spiral down, we will encounter them again, and actually need them to cradle us and prevent a further fall, and not aid in pushing us further down.