|
2007-01-11 00:33:25
|
|
Article by Chuck Gallagher |
|
Over ten years ago I learned a profound lesson: You reap what you sow. While many people feel that they can avoid consequences - one thing is for sure - consequences are inevitable. Every choice we make will ultimately yield a result. In my case, unethical choices resulted in a prison sentence. The following is an excerpt from my journal. As I look back I now know that we have more control over our destiny than many think. Our choices can, in fact, yield negative consequences (prison as an example) or positive results (professional speaker and business executive today).
Perhaps the excerpt from my memoir may benefit others as they seek to recover from choices they made - after all we do control prospective positive results since they are all found in the seeds we sow.
October 8, 1995.
Seems like each day is riddled with some emotion. At times, it seems the sadness comes in waves and is more than I can hold back. I feel much compassion, for some of these folks here. There seems to be two types of inmates here - those who will always be in trouble, and those who will grow from the experience and never be back.
This afternoon I went walking on a gravel track. I remember before arriving here, people calling this, "Club Fed." One thing I can assure them, it is no country club! As I was walking, however, I heard Elton John's, "The last song." Seems like every time I turn around, I am bombarded with emotion. A line in the song says, "I never thought I'd lose, I only thought I'd win." That's the way I felt. Then the thought came to me -- maybe by losing -- I win.
I wrote a letter this morning to the members of my former Sunday school class. It reads as follows:
Greetings from prison,
Today is my first Sunday here, and I thought of you. It's 9:45 a.m. and you are just now getting together.
Prison is not bad -- but then I wouldn't recommend anyone join me. The warden's comments are, "You are here as punishment, not for punishment. This philosophy means that you are being held in prison, away from your family, your community, and not being allowed to leave without authorization." The people here are, for the most part respectful.
I seem to be dealing with being here O.K., however, the pain I feel in being denied being with my children is tough. A parent's bond with their children is strong. Being away a week is not critical, but thinking of missing Christmas is tough. The time, I must spend away seems like an eternity to me. Hopefully, it will pass fast.
I joined the choir here. I always wanted to sing in a black choir -- so here I am. Reminds me of "Forrest Gump" in the church choir he sang in - swaying, hand clapping and all.
I attended church service this morning. There are some beautiful spirits here - I must say and I look at people differently now. I'm much less judgmental. What I did was wrong and you reap what you sow. I am now reaping. Yet, while people can make mistakes or get caught up in wrong things -- that doesn't take away the fact that they are still God's children. Worthy of forgiveness. I hope I never looked at the poor, the afflicted, the old, or deprived the same way I used to look at them in the past. As you stand here on a visiting day and observe a group of men waving to their families as they leave after a visit and see tears well up in their eyes -- you feel compassion and love.
Be thankful each day for what you have. Freedom is precious. Hug your children and tell them you love them -- they are truly a gift from God. Share with your husband or wife your love. It's funny how the little things in life are important -- having a home, your own clothing, food of your choice -- all these seem to be taken for granted.
I am thankful for you as my friends. Keep me in your prayers, along with my family. I will keep you in mine. I hope someday I'll be able to share this experience through speaking to others. How important it is to appreciate what we have. Most important is our relationship to each other. Money, cars, houses will all pass away -- we may not have the opportunity to show our love again.
Through this letter, I want to let you know, my love for you!
God bless you, Chuck
Looking back, my experiences placed me on the right track. As I journaled my experiences, I find that my efforts today to share with others, a message of hope and inspiration, was well founded and the path is clear.
On a crisp October day in 1995, Chuck Gallagher took 23 physical steps... opened a door... and began a new experience that was life-changing. This series of articles explores that experience and the success that followed... while involving the reader in ways that could be life-altering for them. Gallagher captures the heart of the audience and defines Consequences from Ethical Choices in an honest way that deals with human emotion.
|
Specialized in: |
Ethics Conference Keynote
-
Professional Corporate Speaker
-
Motivation Success Choice
-
Integrity Change
-
Texas Chuck
-
Gallagher Success
-
Beyond Illusion
-
Negative Consequences
-
Positive Results
-
Presentations Workshops Convention Corporation
|
URL: |
http://www.chuckgallagher.com
|
|
|
Related Articles |
|
The Law of Attraction - 3 Tips on How to Make it Work For You (Popularity: ): Are you trying to manifest your desire by using the law of attraction? After the launch of The Secret, this law has become one of the most sought after laws of the universe. In fact, there are many laws out there, but the attraction law is the law that will help most people attain what they want into their life and that is why it is so popular.Even though this ...
The Law of Attraction - Manifesting More Money (Popularity: ): One of the biggest reasons why people get interested in learning about the law of attraction is the desire to learn how to manifest more money in their lives. The reasons for this desire are pretty plain and simple. With more money, you begin to open up more opportunities to experience life and you give yourself more options as well. Try to relocate with no cash in your pocket. Can ...
Law of Attraction - Beginner's Guide Part 1 (Popularity: ): If you are interested in the law of attraction or have heard about it, but are not sure exactly what this law is and why it can be so important to you and your life, then stay with me here.The law of attraction is a universal law that tells us like attracts like. What we can gather from this is that the thoughts that you have will attract circumstances or ...
Law of Attraction - Do You Feel the Vibes? (Popularity: ): You can identify what you desire to expand into your life through the back door: "Well, what I don't want is..." (which will only create more of what you don't want) or, you can walk through the grand entrance. Fact: The human brain omits the word "don't". So does the quantum field (our larger brain). "Don't slam the door," is heard by a human brain as "Slam the door." "Don't ...
Getting Rich With Personal Power What Are You Thinking? (Popularity: ): You made a decision, you desire is to change your life, maybe a little, maybe a lot, it doesn't matter, you are going to change and whether you know it or not, your decision just had a profound impact on the whole universe! From your spouse, kids, family, closest friends and someone clear across the world, we, you and I are connected by our thoughts.You've all heard "you get what ...
|
|
Related Business |
|
Final Exit (Popularity: ): Realities of life choices and the consequences of those choices depicted through the medium of interactive drama.
Seafood Choices Alliance (Popularity: ): Provides seafood purveyors (fishers, chefs, and retailers) with the information necessary to make responsible choices about seafood.
Happily Ever Afters - Interactive Novels (Popularity: ): Your source for interactive inspirational novels. You make the choices, follow the consequences, like a game for readers. Create your own books.
Carol Kauffman, PhD. (Popularity: ): Harvard psychologist specializes in Behavioral Finance and Ethical Wills. Executive coach. Author of Pivot Points: Small Choices Can Change Your Life.
Drugs Bite (Popularity: ): Stephen Arrington, former diver for the Costeau Society, offers high-tech, multimedia programs about the importance of positive lifestyle choices aimed at teens
Liviu Bora Sculpture Gallery (Popularity: ): Each has a universe, a world. Here is my world, choices and consequences. Since you're here not only to thank you that you have stopped a moment to read my words carved in the shapes, light and color. I do not know where is the beginning, if we chose and I was elected, the fact is that I always liked the shapes and tried to make in how we perceived ...
Drugs Bite (Popularity: ): A co-defendant of John DeLorean develops a program aimed at helping kids make positive choices concerning drugs.
Far Eastern Press (Popularity: ): A small press dedicated to offering books, videos and classes that encourage positive change and healthy lifestyle choices.
Antenatal Results and Choices - ARC (Popularity: ): UK charity offering support to parents thinking about or undergoing antenatal testing, or making decisions based on the results of tests.
Alliance for Human Research Protection (Popularity: ): National network to advance responsible and ethical medical research practices and empowers patients with information they need to make informed research choices.
|
|
|
|