Have you ever had something happen to you life that’s really thrown you off balance? Only to later find that in the big scheme of things it really didn’t matter?
You may not think so at the time, but most challenges we face are never a life or death situation.
I had one of those days yesterday.
A friend emailed me early in the morning to tell me that some of my blog pages and images were not visible.
So I spent the next two hours furtively talking to my host company and also going through my blog settings to identify the problem.
Around noon, I realised that my home page and another page had actually been deleted – and the only explanation was that I had been hacked!
Someone out there had got some pleasure from destroying my blog. I can’t relate to this, but I guess they must get some satisfaction from doing so.
I was left quite angry with a sinking feeling as for a few moments it felt like the whole world was against me.
How could anyone do this to me?!
Thoughts of revenge and retribution against an unknown hacker swept through my head.
Just then I got a phone call from a dear friend. We hadn’t spoken for a few weeks and after the initial chit chat, I sensed a change in tone.
She then calmly informed me that she had just been diagnosed with a serious illness.
In that moment everything changed. Gone was the anguish from that morning. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, what did it really matter if my blog was damaged or a few pages were missing?
And that is the point. We go through our lives fretting and worrying about petty things whilst our days pass us by. Our loved ones are the most important part of our lives and yet we just focus on the mundane and the dross.
So here’s a challenge for you from today – next time you face a problem, ask yourself this – does this really matter?
And despite the drama queen in you wanting to shine, is it a life or death situation?
In the years to come, what will you regret – the time wasted fretting about petty things or the time spent with those people close and dear to you?
Today I am thankful to the hackers – they reminded me of a key lesson in life. Yesterday afternoon, my Facebook status message attracted quite a few comments:-
“Just discovered that my blog has been hacked. But the sun is shining above the clouds, and I still have my health and my friends. So there!”
You too already have the things that really matter – the key people in your life. From today, make the most of your time with them whilst you can.
Update:- My blog has now been fully restored with all missing pages and images now visible once again. This is thanks to my blogging friend Satish in India who worked tirelessly for many hours to retrieve and restore the missing bits:-)
I can highly recommend Satish’s services to all bloggers.
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:- I have lately been busy creating a 28 Day programme for the month of February to help you improve all the relationships in your life. Look out for more details on 1st February.
Image courtesy of Globetoppers
Great inspiration… way to keep the positivity Arvind. And thanks for sharing this..
Thanks Jai Kai.
The hacked pages are now almost sorted:-)
You’re getting there Arvind, the site isn’t back to its old self yet. But then again, do you want it to be?
Perhaps its time for a change, a rebuild?
BTW, I’m sorry to hear about this whole mess, it can happen so quickly. The trick is to keep charging forward, no matter what 🙂
Thanks Stuart.
I am getting there – it looks like I may have to get the designer to redo the home page.
This is actually a redesign so will have to stay with it for a few more months.
Arvind,
What a great message. I can really relate to this as I just got a virus on my computer that completely shut it down. I just took care of it and didn’t totally let it get to me. I love your message that we can always find something to be grateful for in the midst of difficulties. Like you said at least we have our health, friends, and family. Great message!
Thanks Joe.
It did get me down quite a bit intially but my friend’s call came just in time.
And yes I’ll always have my health and my friends – like you:-)
Thanks for sharing your lesson Arvind. Though difficult on many levels, it’s meaning is pure and very valuable.
Alex
Yes, Alex.
Life always teaches a pure and very valuable lesson just when we least expect it:-).
Hi Arvind, I’m so sorry to hear about what happened to your blog. It must have been a nightmare trying to get it back up. But you are so right to look at it the way you did. There are so many more important things in life…when things go wrong for me sometimes I feel like the bottom has fallen out of my world. Then I look around me at my world, and do a quick checklist: 1. Are the kids ok? Tick 2. Family ok? Tick. 4. Pets ok? Tick 5. No major floods or earthquakes to worry about today? Tick.
After that I can always pick up the pieces and carry on with gratitude for all I have, and say a prayer for those who are not so lucky. Thanks for this reminder Arvind and I hope your friend can get through her illness ok. Brilliant TEDMED video on Mary Jaksch’s Goodlife Zen today about a young opera singer who had to fight a major illness. Have you seen it?
Rosemary, it has been quite a challenge to get it all sorted and I am there yet.
But I have to keep things in perspective – this not only a wakeup call to always remember what’s important, but also a timely reminder to get a solid framework for my blog.
Great to know that you are quick to remember what’s really important to you.
And yes, most important is always to remember to be in gratitude.
Will check out the video on Mary’s blog – thanks:-)
It’s a beautiful post and some beautiful thoughts Arvind!
Such times are a test of character. Life provided you an opportunity to show what your years of personal development effort has yielded. Personally, I feel you came out with flying colors!
The way you are handling this situation shows great maturity and compassion. It shows your resilience, courage and coolheadedness. Hope your blog gets back to normal soon. You have gained much respect from me.
All the best.
Thanks Rahul for all your kind words. Much appreciated.
The last few days have certainly been a real test of not only character but also patience.
I would like to think I have come out of this well. But I will be even happier once the blog is fully sorted:-)
Wishing you all the best with your blog – and your journey.
Hi Arvind,
Sorry to hear your blog got hacked–that’s no small thing, still very difficult. I’m more sorry to hear about your friend, I hope things improve for her. Your post is a great reminder of the need to be mindful of the most important things in our lives, and to cherish them.
Cheers,
Thanks Dave – it’s the first time something like this has happened. What got me is what kicks anyone gets out of doing this.
However as you say, my friend’s well-being is far more important.
Let’s all be more mindful of the most important things in our lives.
What a great reminder… sometimes.. no.. most of the time, we fret and worry about things, but never stop to ask if they really are worth worrying about. So what if someone cut us off? So what if we’re a little overweight? So what if we didn’t get that promotion? Most things are trivial in the grand scheme of things, and life is meant to be enjoyed, and cherished, not to be stressed over.
Yes, Henway – we all fret and worry about things which are just not worth worrying about!
As you say, cherish and enjoy life!
Hi Arvind,
I do not understand the purpose of hacking.
I do very much understand the lesson you are sharing.
I work at our local hospital. If I think I am having a “bad day”..even last year when I had stage 3 cancer and a few “less than” days..I just need to be present for the latest trauma, or go to the any of the units to change my perspective. If I can see the sunrise, the sun set, or the moon and stars, if I can open my heart to create..than I am blessed indeed..anything else is “gravy”…
And, I agree with Stuart..when I “lose” something, it is my sign to allow for change..
Joy, you said it – what’s the purpose of hacking?!
I read somewhere that to truly appreciate your life again, visit a hospice. And your example from working in your local hospital is just as poignant.
Seeing other people’s challenges is a sure thing to make you aware of all the magical gifts in your own life.
As for Stuart’s comment about allowing for change, I am reviewing all the copy on my blog pages, to ensure that everything there is in line with me:-)
What a beautiful morning!
I just woke up on Sunday morning to find that overnight my blog has been fully restored with all missing pages and images now visible once again.
This is thanks to my blogging friend Satish in India who worked tirelessly for many hours to retrieve and restore the missing bits:-)
I can highly recommend Satish’s services. Please check out him out at:-
https://technotip.com/
Dear Arvind,
I know exactly where you’re coming from. A few weeks ago someone keyed my car quite intensely. I’m pretty sure it was someone getting in the door of a large pickup truck that I parked a little too close to bc it took up a lot of space.
For a moment I felt bad, but almost my first thought was how sad that the person had that much hostility. I felt some compassion for that. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t thrilled about it, but as you point out, not the end of the world.
It is a good day when all our loved ones are safe and sound.
Glad your awesome blog is back with us.
Love,
Lauren
Dear Lauren,
Glad you were able to see the positive in having your car damaged. But keeping things in perspective certainly helps, even when you feel like strangling someone!
Look out for more awesome blog posts soon – I might even write about relationships:-)
Arvind
Thanks for recommending me Arvind. Pleasure to see your beautiful homepage back. And did you notice the improvement in the loading speed of your homepage ?
Thanks again Satish for all your help. Much appreciated.
And yes, the home page is now loading much faster:-)
Dear Arvind,
So sorry to hear about your hacking problem. Very distressing. Delighted things are back to normal and even better. Your friends troubles seem to have been a “AH HA” moment for you which was good in terms of lifting you away from your frustration. When encounter these moments and there have been many, I have learned to stand back, mentaly open my arms and set my frustrations free. I realised a while back that I could’nt control my world and that the best way was to accept it. An analogy might be lifes road is constantly up/down, hard/ easy….The good news Arvind that usually when something like this happens, something lovely is not too far away. Hope this is very soon. Hope your friend will be OK!
Thanks Fiona for your kind words and thoughts.
My site is now fully restored and it’s all loking good. But it was indeed an “aha” moment in lifting me away from my frustation.
Let’s see what lovely thing is around the corner – I shall keep you posted, Fiona:-)