Ready to meet an inspiring person?

Three years ago I traveled to the British Virgin Islands to offer mental health aid to Hurricane Irma survivors. The people I met left a lasting impression, not least this wonderfully inspiring chap called Cumbar. 

He’s a taxi driver on the island of Tortola and talked of his family’s experience of that traumatic natural disaster that they fortunately lived through. Although they lost everything. Everything except each other and their resolute faith, love, resilience and optimism. Which are, of course, most important. 

The mind is our most powerful tool, it can get us through the gravest adversities if we know how to use it well. We get one life to spend as we choose. As Cumbar put it…

“It was a life changing experience, I wish for nobody to see. Three days after, I had the opportunity of going to Road Town. Seeing Road Town, I was sick to my stomach. It was just like a garbage heap. A lot of work was done and we’re seeing some small progress taking place. Seeing all of the devastation, we were wondering if we were going to ever get back to where we were. But with the resilience of the individuals here and the help from outsiders, we’re grateful, we’re working hard and trying to make sure we get back. People like yourself who visit, it’s all about seeing you leave with as big a smile that you came with. It’s all about people. People are the fulness of this life that we do live and at the end of the day, when you can make somebody who comes to our territory leave with as big a smile as they came with, it makes you feel like you earn a million. I enjoy doing what I do. Life’s journey is a little too short to do things that you don’t enjoy. What I enjoy is when I can make somebody smile. And you who haven’t been here before, I want to welcome you to the BVI. We’re here in the aftermath of the hurricane, but it’s beautiful and it’s going to get better, so come on down man. Bless and love.” 

Sage advice, thank you Cumbar. You pass on that spirit to everyone you meet.



#mindset #positivity #wellbeing #inspiringpeople