I have been a single mom for over 13 years. Most of that time I focused on everything that I considered wrong in my life. My journals are filled with negative predictions for my future. My morning mantra of my failings have left me exhausted and in tears.

I have tons of self help books and tapes. I am drawn to stories of people that have remade themselves. I pray but I have been afraid to believe.

My story is about changing my morning mantra to I am a magnet for ….

My daughter was awarded scholarships and grants that have allowed her to spend her final semester in Paris studying art and language. This is her first trip abroad and she has extended her return so that she and I can travel together in Europe. I am thrilled that she wants to do this and so happy that we have a good relationship now, because it hasn’t always been the case. Still, money is a huge issue for me, and I was not sure how I would ever pull it off.

Two weeks ago my boss told me about “The Secret” so I started reading and decided that I would actively change my morning mantra to I am a magnet for ….

I need to back up a little here. Before I became involved in nonprofits I worked for many years in the travel industry, and I made many friends. I met Jan, not long after my daughter was born. I was far from my family, and she was like a mom to me and I a daughter to her. We’ve kept in touch through the death of my husband, through the death of her husband and son, and through the death of my fiance. She is a positive force in my life.

So how does this all relate? This past week my dear friend Jan gave me enough frequent flyer miles to cover my round trip to Paris. It is a gift worth much more than the $1500 airfare. It is a reminder of a special bond between Jan and I. It is a beautiful opportunity to spend time with my daughter. It is an affirmation that I am a magnet for positive things in my life.