It was in September or October of 2001. Yes, I know, a few years before The Secret was written, but I really want to share this story.

I had just found a job as a high school history and an art-history teacher. I did not have a lot of money, so I did a lot myself: I got my dad’s photo camera and made my own diapositives. And I was able to buy a really good, nearly new, secondhand scanner from a friend for a really good price.

When my brother saw it, he really admired it. He was very happy for me and said to me, “Oh, I would like one too!” But he did not have a job and he did not have any money. I told him he could always use mine if he needed one.

One Saturday morning, I went to the photographers’ shop down the road where I lived, to get my developed diapositives that were already paid for. There was a lot going on in the shop, so I had to wait for a while. I heard one of the shopkeepers telling a customer, “Today our shop exists for 25 years, and we are celebrating this occasion with a raffle. You can pick an envelope out of this box. Everybody wins!” I saw people winning coupons for developing photographs, etc. As I was only collecting my developed diapositives, already paid for, I thought that I would not get the chance to pick an envelope, but when I got the chance to do so, I wanted to win a beautiful prize.

Then it was my turn. I handed over the ticket for my already paid for diapositives. The girl behind the counter gave them to me and wished me a nice day. I turned around to leave the shop when she suddenly yelled, “Wait, I forgot! You have to pick an envelope because today we are celebrating!” She put a big box of envelopes in front of me, I took one out and gave it to her. She opened it and said, “Wow, you won a nice prize! A scanner!”

I couldn’t believe my ears and eyes as she hand over a big, heavy box to me. As I left the shop, I phoned home to tell my brother he had a scanner too. It felt so good to be able to give my brother this amazing gift he had wished for!