There are times in life when everything is going well, we feel like we are traveling on an open highway with nothing standing in our way when all of a sudden something happens which completely disrupts our direction of travel and all of a sudden we hit a fork in the road. Do we go left? Do we go right? We are forced into making a choice when we have no way of knowing if the choice we make will be the right one. Sometimes life deals us a hand of cards that doesn’t seem fair and we just have to deal with it.
For me it was when my brother Sean was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. I loved my brother and I was so angry and bitter when I heard about his diagnoses but my choice was, do I give into that anger or do I learn how best to help him in his terrible situation. I chose the latter and as a result learnt how to listen to another human being in a way I never had before.
Because of the complexities of his mind I had to tip toe through every conversation, read his non-verbal signals to develop his trust, decide whether or not to take on board what he was saying or to discard it as a manifestation of his schizophrenia. Ultimately his illness shortened his life but looking back I know I became a better person because of him and now a better person for others. Sean lives on through me in the work I do every day and the way in which I work with each and every client I listen to. Because I chose to go down the road that would enrich me instead of corrupt me Sean has left a legacy that improves peoples lives every day. I hated his illness but I loved Sean and I thank him for making me a better person.
The next time you hit a fork in the road will you go left or will you go right?