I was introduced to the Secret by a close friend a few weeks ago. I put off watching it, but I then had a “sick” day. I was feeling so upset about work that I literally brought on a cold (I have a gift for this). I got cozy with my tea and blanket and watched it on my laptop.

I was deeply moved and kept wanting to get up to write things down mid movie. The one thing I did was start writing out what I wanted to happen for myself on any given day. I had items such as “see a wild turkey”, “receive an unexpected gift”, “encounter warm and engaging people who are so glad to see me”, and most importantly “be invited to my ideal job that uses my favorite skills, remunerates me appropriate to my needs and desires and makes the world a better place”. I had been looking for a new position for a long time and ran into several that seemed ideal, interviewed for them and then at the last moment, had things blow up. I had spiralled into depression over these and had to make great effort to bring myself back into the world.

After writing these lists, I would also write and contemplate everything I possible could that I felt grateful for. The way the world looked started to change. After a few days, the wild turkeys that I thought were gone from the new watershed development had reappeared, I found myself receiving small material and immaterial gifts (a free latte at starbucks, spontaneous hugs, someone attributed a clever quote to me in front of a large group, discounts here and there) and the world started to feel friendlier. My mother invited me to a vegetarian dinner for my birthday instead of insisting on serving steak.

I persisted in my job intention. I wasn’t seeing the opportunity I wanted and I didn’t know where to look. I just kept focusing on what I valued, what I best had to offer and just did that as much as I could in my day to day job. After a few weeks, my boss, a stern and formidable woman invited me to be a part of a “tiger team” to find new ways to improve the operations of our plant. She sited me as a creative and analytical thinker and said she hand selected me for the job.

Folks, sometimes the thing you want is actually the thing you have. My desert transformed into a paradise. I really didn’t want to work somewhere else. Where else could I work and see wild turkeys on my commute, or the blue herons, cranes, hawks and kites that I do daily. I am so grateful that the scales have fallen from my eyes. Despite the bad news we receive daily on the state of our poor planet and the crazy things we seen to be doing to her, we DO HAVE THE POWER to make a real change. We absolutely can change the world. I am just so grateful to see it now.