Yesterday, I was getting off a plane in Atlanta when I heard someone call out my name. It was a professional speaker colleague from the National Speakers Association. While I was glad to see him, I was also pressed for time and had several phone calls to make and work to do in the two hours between our greeting and my departure for home. I invited him to join me in the Delta Crown Room for “a few minutes” to catch up. It seemed like the right thing to do. He had asked me how things were going with my business and since one thing speakers love to do is TALK, I told him EVERYTHING. Just when I was going to bid him farewell, I asked him how things were going for him and he told me about his recent divorce and his ex-wife’s struggle with an eating disorder and other issues too difficult for me to comprehend. He was sadden by her loss and I was sad for him. He wasn’t bitter and in fact seemed to be almost grateful for having learned what he learned about relationships though he missed her dearly and had never wanted the divorce. He had definitely been through some adversity. Now he felt better equipped to handle future challenges that might come his way. All the while this was going on another friend is going through tough times with marriage challenges and wants a divorce. I am sick. I just HATE it when two people who love each other decide that they can’t work things out, particularly when it involves children. Children who will be impacted by a decision perhaps made too hastily or without full thought of the future consequences. I believe with all my heart that there is always a better solution but too often times we are so close to a situation we just can’t see clearly. Part of living rich means realizing that things aren’t always going to be perfect and seeing the good in every situation. Like I have said for years, “If you look for the good in everything, in EVERYTHING you’ll find the good.” I hope this post will encourage those who read it to find good in adversity today. Make a commitment to continue to fight for what you believe in be it the institution of marriage, a struggling business, or a dream that you have always had. It’s there. Just look for the good.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and national conventions. He is the founder of the The Worlds Biggest Blog Party an event which will connect bloggers from all over the world to raise money for charity. He is also founder and president of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com