I had been off work for 2 1/2 months this past year, due to an illness. Being off for that 2 1/2 months affected me, financially, for 6 months! I have never been responsible with my money and I have always had a tendency to look for the “quick fix” when it came to issues around my finances.

I had been avoiding the credit card company for 5 months. They were phoning daily, sometimes as much as 9 times per day! When I saw that number on the call display, my stomach tightened, I became anxious, and I simply avoided picking it up. Then one day, for some reason still not clear to me, I picked it up, full well knowing it was THEM.

When I answered, I got a very nice woman who talked with me a bit about the situation I was in and she made me an offer. I went from paying 23.5% interest to paying 5%. They deducted the last 3 months of interest that I had accrued. They offered me a payment plan that required me to pay a minimum of 25$ per month (I pay at least $50). This deal was good for one year, and then at the end of that year, we would revisit it and see how I was doing. At any time, I can pay a larger amount or pay off the account. I can’t tell you how much of a weight this took off my shoulders!

Then, in the same week, I received my income tax refund. I had done my taxes and figured out that I was getting back about $50.00. I made a mistake and ended up getting back $400.00!

On a smaller note, I was driving to work one day and for some reason, started thinking of a funny cartoon that I had seen many years before. When I got to work, I was checking my email and someone had sent me the cartoon in an email!!!

Just recently, I had been fretting about the bills due on my next payday. I realized that I was becoming negative about money again and that I needed to get back on track with “The Secret”. I began to be positive about my finances and told myself “Money is abundant in my life. I am never without enough money and money is my friend.” Two days after I started back on track, I got a notice at work that we were all getting bonuses!!!

I’ve had a few scoffers and had many people say that you can’t get rich and happy simply by thinking good thoughts. I tell them “It sure can’t hurt to be more positive!”

I believe that you can be very financially comfortable by viewing money as a friend rather than something you never have.

As for happiness… why on earth would anyone doubt that happiness breeds happiness?

Someone said, “Your grandmother just passed away… if you were truly being happy and The Secret worked, she would still be alive.” That’s just silly. Nowhere in “The Secret” does it say that positive thinking keeps all people from ever dying. I don’t let the naysayers affect my attitude. I have seen The Secret working!