Four years ago my sister received a large settlement from a motor vehicle accident. It was enough cash to enable her to leave her job and recover from her injuries. Then, her generous heart found her lending out sums of money to various family members and friends, including myself. This past year unbenowst to everyone, her finances dwindled down to the point where she was in trouble. She had co-signed a line of credit for me and her last asset, a cashable GIC had been frozen until I paid off the line of credit.

In September 2011 it became very clear that she was desperate for cash. I told her I would get the money for her by mid November. I cashed in everything I had, a small GIC, an RSP I had started, and a tax free savings account but I was still $1,500 short because of withholding tax. It was paramount for me to get this money to her before Christmas. She can no longer work and is now a pensioner. I went crazy trying to get the cash together – I had no more room on my credit card. I even tried to get another credit card but was declined. I was in despair. I didn’t even want to talk to my sister because I was so ashamed I couldn’t come through for her. I festered in self pity for weeks and then I remembered a scene from the movie, The Secret and adrenalin kicked in!

I printed out a screen shot of my on-line bank accounts and whited out the amount I owed on the line of credit and instead put zero point zero zero. I taped it to my bedroom wall and everynight before I went to bed and every morning, I would pass the wall and say out loud, zero point zero zero. I just kept focusing. Well two weekends ago a rush project came up at work and due to staff shortage and time frame, we were given the clearance for overtime. That weekend I put in 20 hours of double time and on yesterday’s pay cheque I had enough to pay off the line of credit and enough to pay my own bills with a bit left over. I phoned my sister and we went down and paid off the line of credit and then her GIC was released to her. I got goosebumps when the bank rep showed me the zero point zero zero on the computer monitor. My sister was elated and I felt like a ton of bricks had been taken off my shoulders.

I won’t be able to buy gifts or do anything extravagant for Christmas but I don’t care. I am just happy I could pay back someone in need who helped me get money at a time when I couldn’t on my own. So now, I will use The Secret to focus on getting my credit card paid off and more money into my accounts. Thank you Universe!