The Secret- Testimonial 1 - The Treadmill

Okay, here's a story that is a definite testament to the Universe taking a hand in things so to speak. I had been wanting a treadmill for awhile, but they aren't cheap, so I was waiting for a cash windfall of sorts (my work FINALLY paid me my back pay). Given what I had learned from The Secret, I basically just put it out there...I want a treadmill. So I started researching different brands, and trying to decide where to get one. I zeroed in on a particular department store and researched models online reading reviews, etc. So I chose one. Now, next I had another challenge. My husband is deployed! How was I going to get a treadmill home? I had a friend who had a truck and he's pretty strong, so I called him up and said, hey, can you help me to go this particular department store nearby and get this treadmill. The cost at that store was almost $400. My friend said, well, I can take you to one of those department stores, but not that particular one, because my ex is a manager there! haha...so I called up the other branch of the store he suggested, the manager came on the line, and he informed me that not only did they have that model in stock, but they had one from the previous year left in the back, and that I could have it for $300! WOW...so this was working for me, I had the treadmill in my sites, a friend to help me pick it up, and now a kind worker giving me the best deal...couldn't do better than that. But it doesn't end there...

So my friend and I go to the store, pick up the treadmill and bring it back to my house. We only had about 45 minutes to set it up before we both had to be somewhere. So we frantically started putting it together. About 45 minutes later, we had it done, so I get on it, and turn it on....everything starts...except the actual running belt!!! Oh no!! Neither of us had time to trouble shoot it, so we were both bummed. So I came home later and phoned up the department store's service department, and they were cool to send someone out. I would have to take off work, which was a pain, but I just didn't want to wait 2 weeks for a Saturday fix date. Good thing I didn't...read on...

So, you know how repair people are....they give you this 4 hour window, and usually hardly ever show up. Well my window was from 12-5. I had a lunch meeting that would take me almost to 12, so I was nervous. I began imagining in my mind...this repair guy is going to come at 2pm, the fix is going to be easy, and I'm going to be free to do whatever I want the rest of the afternoon, or work...hehe. I rush home after my lunch meeting and am happy to discover the repair guy hasn't called or anything yet, so I login to my laptop and work for awhile. At 1:50pm the phone rings and it's "Pete" the repair guy...he's about 10 minutes away from my house. So promptly at 2pm I hear a knock at the door next to my apartment...I'm thinking, could that be him? I open the door, and sure enough the repair service had written down the wront apartment number...shewww near miss!

He comes in, and he's very friendly, chatting with me, talking about what usually causes the problem with the treadmill. He says it's usually just the panel being screwed on too tight or something. So he undoes the control panel, and then tests it with the panel loose. Sure enough, the treadmill runs fine. Thinking he's got it fixed, he puts the panel back on, hits the button...nothing...my hopes plummet. He's like, don't worry, I know some other things....so he pulls off another panel that we had assembled that covers the computer cord thing that connects the motor to the control panel. He opens it, and I'm totally devastated, because the true cause of the problem is that in our hurry to assemble things, a screw had gone right through the computer cord. Pete is very soothing...he calms my worries, as he patiently strips each tiny wire to make sure nothing's been totally cut, then gingerly wraps the wires with electrical tape. He wraps each tiny wire, then rebundles them together with more tape, and hits the button...BOOM! We have a winner, it totally worked! I was very happy he'd fixed it, but I was really worried about the cord and if it would last. He said, don't worry...and smiled. I wasn't sure what he meant.

He went down to his truck, entered some stuff in his computer and came back with a receipt. He told me, here's the receipt for the new cable I just ordered for you. I said, "Well how much will it cost me Pete, because I know it was our fault it broke". He said, "Nothing...don't worry." He was totally like an angel from heaven I tell you...the part would have cost me $270. A week later I got a package in the mail, and sure enough it was the replacement cord, which I've tucked away in the manual safely in case I ever need it.

The treadmill has run fine ever since, and I have lost at least 3 pounds since I've bought it. And the blessing of this story is that it is helping me to achieve yet another desire...to be healthy and whole, and free to do things like ride roller coasters and ice skate with my son.

Do you have any Secret testimonials? I have more to share later, but I just wanted to get that one on the table for now. You could say these were all just a bunch of coincidences that got me to where I wanted to be...but I firmly believe that without my positive thinking, visualization, and allowing myself to receive these things/opportunities/people in my life, I wouldn't have what I have or be who I am.

Challenges with Changing

Recently, I've noticed in my efforts to integrate The Secret into my life, I have run into some road blocks. I'll want something, or think I want something, and the opposite will happen, or it will definitely not go as planned. Here's an example...I really want to lose weight, and part of my goal in doing so is not to eat fast food except maybe once a week, and that's usually on the weekend. My son begged for some Burger King as we were picking up something across the street. I talked to him about how we only do that on the weekends, etc...so being the little negotiator he is, he cleverly suggested that we swap our weekend fast food splurge with tonight. So I gave in, I caved, and had a burger and fries. When I got home...I began seething with anger...snapping at my son, really losing it for no reason. I just couldn't understand why I was just so out of sorts.

I decided after tucking him into bed, that instead of watching tv or even doing exercises, I would just meditate and try to figure out why I was so upset. I re-watched some parts of the Secret while ironing, and then sat down to read some more in Ask and It is Given, to figure out where my anger was coming from. I knew these absolutely dark, negative emotions were not going to get me anywhere. I finally discovered, that what was going on, was my anger was a direct reaction of my thoughts and actions being out of alignment. My thought/desire was to ultimately eat a healthy dinner and work out, but my actions were to eat crap and get upset about it. How can I possibly receive anything I truly want if my actions are directly contrary to them. It may seem psychologically simple, and silly, but it's important to "go there". Anger seems to dwell in me quite a bit, and come out in violent outbursts that are scary to me, and to my son. If I don't try harder to get my actions and my thoughts going together in the same direction, it will only get worse.

There are some other instances where I'm doing the same thing in relationships. I think I'm still trying to force issues, instead of receiving and allowing. My goal today is to focus on allowing and receiving, not to take any action against my desires. Tomorrow I will write some testimonials on the postive side of the Secret, so don't worry!