Making Lemonade

MichaelSunnarborg / October 14, 2015 Article, Image / Leave a Comment

Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible
things before breakfast. – Lewis Carroll

It was apparent at an early age that I was gifted with an “abundance of energy.” During my first years of elementary school, my teachers enjoyed my creativity and enthusiasm. However, my third grade teacher found my gregarious nature to be a bit challenging—so she tried something different.

When my Mom and Dad came to the parent/teacher conferences that fall, they walked around the classroom looking for my desk. “Where’s Mike’s desk?” my Dad asked. “Oh,” said the teacher, “I put his desk back there,” pointing to the back of the room.

My parents walked back to find that my desk had been placed behind a folding screen. As they looked at my space, they smiled to each other. I had decorated the whole inside of the screen with pictures of rainbows, smiling faces, and other colorful drawings. There was even a sign hanging up that read, Mike’s Place.

Initially confused by this placement, my resilient creative spirit had decided to make the best of the situation. Instead of this being an obstacle, it became an opportunity. I had created my own office. And who wouldn’t love that?!

My Mom and Dad waited along with the other parents for their turn to speak with my teacher. During their conference, they learned that her plan to isolate my enthusiasm had backfired. Seeing what I created had prompted the other kids to ask, “When do we get our turn in the back?”

Upon hearing the teacher’s explanation, my Dad turned to my Mom and said, “Just a chip off the old block,” to which my Mom nodded in agreement. Spontaneous creativity runs in our family.

Now when life hands me lemons, I go back to my third grade office and remind myself that I have the power to respond to a potentially negative experience and reframe it into a positive one. I can step into any situation and have the confidence and assurance that things will eventually work out for the best.

I’ve learned to make lemonade.

Michael Thomas Sunnarborg

Michael Thomas Sunnarborg is a professional speaker, best-selling author, and life transition coach. His passion is to help people reclaim their power of choice and find better balance in their work, relationships, and life. You can follow Michael on Facebook and Twitter, or find out more at michaelsunnarborg.com

Want more lemonade moments? The White Box Club Handbook: Simple Tools for Career Transition is launching November 6, 2015, via links at http://thewhiteboxclub.com and Amazon.com. Be sure to buy your copy on launch day and start aligning yourself to the career you really want!

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