In late 2007 I was dealing with some of the most challenging issues of my life. My financial services practice was only a few years old and teetering on success or failure. The retail business I started with my wife was dying a slow and financially painful death. I had buried myself under a mountain of stress and struggling every moment of every day to keep my head up and take care of my family. I was scared and spending a lot of sleepless nights thinking.
The one thing I kept thinking about, wishing for and praying for was “Strength”. I recall asking myself to “find the strength” or thinking “Give me the strength to get through this”.

At the same time I was dealing with all of this internally, I was participating in one of my many pleasures. I was performing with a group of students at Lafayette College in a production of “Museum” written by playwright Tina Howe. It was announced to the cast that the Director had arranged for the playwright to attend our dress rehearsal. Ms. Howe would also address the cast after rehearsal speaking with us about the play and sharing with us her inspiration for writing it.
After Ms. Howe was through speaking she announced that she had a special gift for each of us. We all formed a line and proceeded to the stage to receive our gift. As I approached Ms. Howe she reached into a cardboard box on the floor and produced a small black stone. I took the stone, shook her hand, gave her my thanks and began to walk away. As I turned to go I looked down at my stone and engraved on one side is the word “Strength”. Everyone’s stone had a different word on it. I had received the strength I was asking for.

Today I keep my Strength Stone in my car. I drive a lot and take it out from time to time especially in times of need. The thing that strikes me most is that when I pick up the stone it has taken on the temperature of the car at that time. Hot in the summer or cold in the winter. As I hold it I can feel the stone receiving my body temperature matching my energy. It is always a powerful reminder to me to be specific about what I think about and ultimately bring about in my life.

Much Stronger!
Paul L