Back from New Orleans

What can I say? I am inspired.

My work trip to New Orleans ended up being a trip of inspiration. But, that didn't come until the flight home.

So, I went as an assistant editor of the magazine we print for this association. I was really there to cover events and to write about them every night. It was draining. And I was there by myself. You know, without my hubby, who is my rock. I love doing things with him by my side.

But, he was in Gainesville with the kids, which meant I would have to be a big girl and get to work. My very last event to cover was about finding your passion in life and using your gifts. I was ready to go to that one, since it is a topic that's been heavily on my heart lately.

But I found out that I'd be leaving the hotel at 11, which gave me no time to cover and write about the event. So, someone else did it and I was on my way to the airport.

I got to the Louis Armstrong airport and had a few hours before my flight to Atlanta. And so I asked if I could get on the early flight. As it turned out, I could. And I did. Once in Atlanta (where they lost! my luggage), I barely made it to the connecting flight. It was also an early flight.

I had a stand-by seat, which meant that they would put me there--only if there was room. I literally ran through the entire airport to make it to the flight. And when I got there they were just beginning to check people in. "Whew, I made it on time." Not really even knowing if I'd get a seat.

"Cirulli," I hear the attendant say.

(Hey, I know that name. That is the guy who owns the gym where I work out.)

Rewind about three weeks and said gym owner was having a speech about how he basically became a multi-millionaire. When I finally called to get in on the speech, it was full. And so I missed it.

But, here we were, in the same airport. And so I figured I'd at least get to meet him. "Is your name Joe?" I asked.

"Yes."

"I am a member of your gym," I said.

We began chatting and ended up being checked in at the same time. Meanwhile, I was telling him about the speech that I had missed and how his story really inspired me.

(When he was 23, he lived in a car. At one point, he didn't have enough change in his pocket to buy a Coke from McDonald's. But, he changes all of it. How? Well, that's what I wanted to know.)

As we boarded out little flight back to Gainesville, I knew we were about to part ways. He'd go to one seat, and I'd go to another. And so, I told him I was glad to have met him and that I'd be at the next speech, if he had one.

At that point, I looked at my ticket. "7D" I said. And he looked at his. "Well, what do you know? I'm 7C"

We were sitting right beside each other. How. How could that be a simple coincidence? And so, for the next hour, I got something so much better than his original session. I got the one-on-one. I asked him question after question.

In my life, I want so much more. So much more. Which is the result of a lot of frustration. He told me how to alleviate the frustration with a list of books he said had changes his life.

I scrawled the list on a few receipts I had in my purse and by the time we walked away from the flight, about 1 1/2 hour later, I was inspired. Turns out, he had taken an early flight back to Gainesville at the last minute as well. I knew it had to be God orchestrating this meeting.

I knew that God needed to get this list of books to me. I just knew it. I just know it. God works like that and I refuse to doubt. Within a few days, my husband bought me the first book. And so, now I'm off to begin the fourth chapter of "The Power of a Positive Mind."

God is cool like that.