Have you ever wondered why someone came in to your life when he or she did?

Can you think of a past struggle when, just at the right moment, someone enters your life helping you move past that obstacle?

Maybe you are just having a bad day and a random conversation with a stranger at the local coffee shop or grocery store cheers you up?

Take a few minutes and think about all of the people you’ve come across throughout your life. It could be a girlfriend/boyfriend, business partner, acquaintance, teacher; the list can go on and on.

Think about everyone in your life right now.

Each person you’ve met has contributed to the person you are today.

I absolutely love this quote by Deepak Chopra. I began thinking about everyone from my past and in the present to see how they have served in my evolution.

Once I did this, I started to see how true this quote actually is.

I can think of so many examples. There is one in particular; however, that I’d like to share.

I wanted to play football in high school. Funny thing was, at that time, I didn’t even like football. I wasn’t the tallest, fastest, or biggest kid in school. I wanted to be on the team, probably for the girls or the popularity. It was most likely for both.

During that time, my doctor diagnosed me with scoliosis, which is the curvature of the spine. He said I needed to wear a back brace. I remember when I found out I was devastated. Talk about the worst time for a kid to have to experience something like that. In high school, most of us were just trying to survive.

Now I had to wear this brace to school every day under my clothes. I remember when I had to get it fitted. It was like I was like a human Paper Mache project lathered with cold plaster.

That cold plaster eventually became a hard plastic molded to my body and had these big Velcro straps in front. It fell just below my hipbones and went up right under my armpits. The best way to describe the whole experience of wearing that thing was that it fuckin’ sucked. It was also extremely hard to keep anyone from noticing it because I couldn’t bend over or twist my body.

I was like Frankenstein’s monster but I was able to put my arms down and I could still bend my knees.

Whether I would have made the football team or not, being hit, tackled, and crunched by linebackers was an option I could no longer pursue. It certainly wasn’t something the coaches were willing to risk either.

Deflated were my hopes of ever joining the football team. That’s also around the time when Mr. Maxwell, my history teacher, was in my life.

One day in class, Mr. Maxwell brought in his guitar. It was a little weird because how often does a history teacher bring a guitar in to class. He never brought it in before, and after that day, I never saw it again.

Once he began playing, I knew immediately I wanted to play guitar. Honestly, I don’t even remember what he played. However, it was at that moment I somehow moved beyond the fact that I had to wear this restricting cast wrapped around my body or that my high school football career would now only be a fantasy. My life changed course and headed down a different path.

Maybe it was just a coincidence.

I just happened to be going through a shitty time in my life and maybe that morning Mr. Maxwell didn’t feel like teaching so he decided to bring in his guitar and start playing.

On the other hand, maybe I was so impressionable at that age he could have brought in a pan flute and I would have been amazed.

However, I don’t think so.

Mr. Maxwell and his guitar were there for me at that moment when I needed it the most and I am forever grateful.

I still play guitar to this day. It has allowed my creative side to flourish and has been a tremendous help in boosting my mood, relieving any stress I may experience along my journey.

It will always remain one of the many passions in my life.

Now it’s your turn.

How does this quote inspire you?

Tell me about an experience of someone in your life that has helped serve you in your evolution. Is there anyone in your life right now helping you through a tough time?

Contact me or share your thoughts below in the Comments section.

Let’s get the discussion going.

Remember, you are not alone on this journey. Together we can become stronger individuals.

Educate. Engage. Evolve.