Positivity Coach finds Silver Lining!
Published March 2, 2010 | 
I’m a coach for individuals and businesses, specialising in positivity – and I had a very challenging incident to deal with yesterday. OMG guys. I made a COMPLETE fool of myself in a gorgeous restaurant last night.
Our son’s girlfriend had very kindly asked if we would go out for dinner as her treat. How kind! She had chosen a delightful location called Pizzeria Libretto – on Ossington, Toronto and she drove us there in her car.
It was a lovely place – and absolutely brimming with people – queues out the door even on a Monday night. As we stood in line, we watched the most wonderful pizzas being served and eagerly anticipated ours in due course. Great stuff.
Something happened though and by the time I sat at our table, the furthest end of the restaurant, I was aware of feeling a bit unwell. Oh no, I didn’t want to spoil this special evening out! So I smiled and nibbled on bread and thought that I could take some of my pizza home as I didn’t feel that hungry. The first course was brought to the table (by the world’s most handsome waiter, surely?) and everyone else tucked in.
Then events began to overtake us. I was hot. Anyone else hot? I was fanning myself with paper. Others started to fan me too. There was a ringing noise in my ears and my skin felt prickly and my legs wobbly. I don’t feel too good, I whispered. Mum, are you alright? I could hear but couldn’t answer or open my eyes. I was gone.
Out of the blue I fainted and then, deep joy, ‘came to’ a bit and promptly threw up all over myself & the entire table. Many, many times. It wasn’t pretty.
BUT…there’s such a silver lining that followed, that it turned this embarrassing and horrid experience into something so special, I’ll treasure it.
As soon as I became ill, hubby, son and girlfriend became the most extraordinary care team, supporting me, supporting each other, liaising with the restaurant staff and just dealing effortlessly with the whole situation. You’d think they had rehearsed. They were SO kind and reassuring, dealing with mess and chaos discretely and positioning themselves in such a way to form a barrier to other diners in the restaurant. The girlfriend even got wet tissues to wipe away mascara from under my eyes – thank you sweetie! At the same time, the restaurant staff instantaneously changed the order as one ‘to go’…and simply facilitated the whole event in an understated, professional way. 10 out of 10 to them for their help in our crisis – not to mention the fact that they even packaged up a dessert to go with the pizzas too!
Outside it became clear that I couldn’t get into the car in the messy state I was in, so I had the interesting experience of stripping off my clothes in a side street and redressing in just my coat – watched rather closely by an oriental tramp who even crossed the road to get a better look! Home we went after that and I was so lucky to have son and hubby continue to care for me with such love, attentiveness and kindness throughout the night – that I felt absolutely blessed. Iced water, straws, bucket, damp cloth for my forehead, supportive, lifting arms and reassuring loving words all flowed for hours and hours – and although I truly felt like death warmed up, I had a great big smile on my face. And the CN Tower which has been in plain colours for days on end – was suddenly putting on a glorious rainbow show – surely just for me, too! Bliss.
What’s that Og Mandino quote? “I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.” Well, stars I had last night – great big magical ones, in absolute abundance. I wish for stars in dark times for you too. And me? Today, I’m just resting in PJs, sipping on water and lounging about – but I still have an enormous smile etched on my face that just won’t go away.
