In February 2009 I was already unemployed for 6 months and moved out of my girlfriend’s house in Colorado after a 6-year off-and-on relationship. Not exactly a great start for the year. And yet, it turned out that I’ve never been happier in my life than during the ensuing months.
SHORTAGE VERSUS ABUNDANCE
This was the third time in my software engineering career that I was unemployed; the longest time being 2.5 years. Based on my previous experience, this time I knew that rather than concentrate on the seeming shortages in my life (income, job, relationship); I would concentrate on the abundance. And what I had an abundance of is my time and my love. And what I decided to do with them is to support as much as possible the More To Life program while I was unemployed.
LOVE OFFERINGS
Right around then, the Minnesota MTL community held the first Pay It Forward More To Life weekend seminar. Having been part of the resurrection of the region a few years prior, I already knew quite a few people, and volunteered to be on team, provided that the community could support me financially to attend. I offered to give hour long professional massages on a love offering basis.
SUCCESS ALL AROUND
Aside from that weekend itself being a giant success (100 students enrolled and 88 completed), and spurring the later creation of a steering committee, it was also a personal success in that the Minnesota community’s love offerings actually exceeded my travel expenses! It was an eye opening experience for me to get that I could ask for what I wanted and not only get it, but also get tons of love and support, a quite unexpected additional gift!
MASTERY
In May 2009 Houston held its first PIF weekend and I was stoked to participate there too. Again, this time the Houston community supported me financially with love offerings for massages. The experience was not only fun, but also highly connecting, and energizing. “I can be happy regardless of circumstances.” It matters not if I have a job, lots of money, a partner. None of these things keep me from happiness. “Mastery is the ability to be happy regardless of circumstance” was my lesson.
“PROBLEMS” ?
Since then, I’ve committed to play on team for as many PIF MTL weekends as I possible. I’ve been on team in California (unfortunately that one was cancelled), and two more in Minnesota and Houston in 2010. There are only two new “problems” now:
- Being re-employed, I now have far less time (do I detect a shortage thought?)
- There are more and more PIF weekends being held!
I love having these “problems”; I now have an abundance of employment, Pay It Forward weekends, and connection with MTL students the world over.
And that significant other relationship? It will come when it comes, or not. I’ve learned that my happiness does not depend on my circumstances, only on keeping my mind clear. 
Subscribe