Pain is an emotion that is common to all of us.  Some suffer more than others.  Whether it is emotional or physical, all pain hurts. 

But what do we do with pain when it strikes?  Some weather through and use it as a springboard.  Others feel they can’t take the pain and decide to end their life.  Still others bury their heads or look for pity.

I was ten years old when my best friend died.  This experience was my first lesson in letting go.  I had just returned to South Carolina from my summer vacation in New Jersey when my mother told me the sad news.  I had been looking forward to seeing Bernard when I returned home.  I wanted to talk to him about what he’d done all summer and I was ready to share my exciting experiences, too.  But he wasn’t there.  It was tough getting used to the fact that I’d never see him again. 

Much later, I learned that the tides of life will always ebb and flow.  Divorce, separation, being laid off from work, getting fired, loss of a business, home, or loved one…twists and turns are inevitable.  Through it all, we must be willing to bend.  If not, we’ll break under the pressure.  It’s important to remember that just as the sun rises each morning, we will prevail.

Pain turns into power when we talk about our experiences, telling others how we made it through.  Whether we’re speaking from a platform, face to face, or through the pages of a book, people need to hear our stories about succeeding against the odds.  They need to be inspired to believe in a better tomorrow.

When I was 29 years old, I was in a near-fatal car accident in Atlanta.  The car door had to be torn from the hinges to free me from the wreckage.  I was in excruciating pain and lucky to be alive.  I had started my publishing business only a few months earlier.  This was a difficult time for me.  All of my money was tied up in my business and I had no family in town.  I had an apartment in Union City, Georgia, but I was hurt and my rent was due.  My brother, who lives in Savannah, Georgia, gave me a loan.

However, I had to make a major decision - pay my rent or buy a used car.  I decided to buy a car so that I’d have the means to go out and make money to pay the rent.  Though I was hesitant about getting behind the wheel of a car again, I couldn’t let fear keep me trapped. 

This setback taught me a valuable lesson: nothing can stand in the way of unshakable will and steadfast determination.  Today, I’m still in the publishing business and my publication is one of the premier publications in metro Atlanta. 

If you’re in the midst of a fire right now, don’t give up.  Deep in your heart, you know you should keep moving forward.  So, keep your head up.   Soon you’ll be looking back to see that your pain has become your power.  And you’ll have the strength to help someone else rise from the ashes.