I had watched ” The Secret” DVD and I then I signed up for emails from the website. I received A Secret Story — My Own Daily Reminder about 6 months later and I felt so inspired by it. When I finished this incredible email about a philippino man who so desired a leather calendar from Starbucks, I felt an overwhelming feeling of joy. When I finished this email, I looked and saw an email from WPLJ announcing a contest for a “Spring Makeover”. Immediately, I got this instant feeling that I had won. I knew, like I knew, like I knew! I just felt it in my heart each time I thought about it and connected with God. It’s almost an indescribable overwhelming feeling of love in my chest.
While I had been reading the Starbucks story I had thought of my leaky bathroom down my basement. The beams down the basement are rotting and I have mildew behind my wallpaper and ants all over the drop ceiling and they come down to visit… My daughter didn’t like them. That’s when I felt the need to win the contest to fix the bathroom. As I sat at my computer, I logged-on to the WPLJ website and signed-up for the contest. As I began to type I felt this incredible feeling of gratefulness and an overwhelming feeling that I was going to win. I wrote something about being grateful and what I needed done for my home and ended it with some other grateful stuff. I then wrote on my calendar which Friday’s they would name the winners and put it on my kitchen calendar. I also printed out the colorful “Believe” that I made up and put it on the dashboard of my car. Every time I sat in my car I would look at the sign and get that overwhelming feeling about the contest. Less than 2 wks later, on Wednesday night, I went up to get my children’s boombox from their room and prepared it on the kitchen counter. On Thursday night I announced to the kids that on Friday morning we “had to” listen to WPLJ because they were going to say my name on the radio. Shocked they asked “Really?? Why?” Without hesitation I said that I had entered in a contest and they were going to call my name. I remember that little voice in my head thinking that if they didn’t call my name the kids would be disappointed. However, what the little voice in my head was overpowered by was my feeling of gratitude. The next morning I put the radio on and went about the usual routine with the kids. I went to the shower and asked that they turn the volume up. Minutes later, I was walking from the bathroom to my room and I heard Scott announce my first and last name on the radio. I think I went into total shock as I let out a bloodhurling scream of disbelief. I felt like I was in the twightlight zone! The reality that my thoughts had actually occurred was an incredulous feeling. It was so out there, it’s hard to comprehend. Although I had believed and felt that I would win (all along), the reality of actually hearing my name was quite freaky. I immediately screamed, began to shake uncontrollably, and was sobbing. My kids were in shock too when they heard my name and saw my reaction. All I could blurt out was, “I didn’t really know they were going to call my name” Ha! My next step was to call the station to confirm I was the winner. I had 15 minutes to call in. Well, between the uncontrollable shaking and commotion between 4 phones and inability to dial even from memory, for a split second I though I would miss this incredible opportunity to claim the prize. We were going crazy, the kids were texting and calling cousins for the number. My new cell wasn’t programmed, my other cell was hiding, my brain was deactivated, and the commotion just wasn’t helping. After what seemed like eternity, the kids and I managed to call WPLJ and be heard live on the radio. I think my first words to Scott & Todd were that I told the kids we needed to be sure to listen because they were going to say my name and Scott said “Well, you must know more than we know!!”. It was an amazing moment and to be honest, I don’t even know what I was saying, I was on autopilot. All I know is that I won $5,700.00 for my spring bathroom fixer-upper. $5,700 can you imagine? It was so exciting to have my kids present for the experience. For the rest of the day I was in a total fog. I’m still amazed!
Thank you Rhonda, for the opportunity to wish for the unthinkable. You have changed many lives throughout the world and we thank you and are grateful for you.
xo