Global Q&A: ‘Have you experienced something good that arose from what appeared to be bad circumstances?’

Danielle Weston, Sydney, Australia (The Epoch Times)

Sydney, Australia

Danielle Weston, 41, Personal Assistant

The night my mother-in-law passed away three years ago, half an hour later my father won AU$12,000 on the lottery and that was exactly [what] he needed to pay for the funeral. It was like she sent it from heaven.

Teodor Maries, Bucharest, Romania (The Epoch Times)

Bucharest, Romania

Teodor Maries, 48, Association President

I lived through the Romanian Revolution in 1989, and other following events with lots of bad circumstances for me: sabotage, jail, and a gathering of 100,000 people shouting, “Without Doru Maries.” Today, I can walk peacefully among all those people who don’t have this image anymore. After all, everything was for the good, but it was not a simple thing.

NOTE: Teodor Maries is a well-known anti-communist fighter for the rights of Romanians who fought in the December ’89 Revolution. He was imprisoned four months by the neo-communist then-president Ion Iliescu. He is president of the Association 21 December 1989.

Azucena Bonilla, Girardot, Colombia (The Epoch Times)

Girardot, Colombia

Azucena Bonilla, 42, Hotel Manager

I will comment on the case of my son. When he wanted to be a military officer, at first, I thought it was a terrible idea. I did not like the fact that he would be part of an institution, because of the risk. But eventually, I realized it was very good because he learned to be disciplined, orderly, and tolerant. It served him well to know all kinds of people and different places. He improved in all aspects of his life. Besides he has taught me that the threat of dying is nothing compared to being alive.

Zach Hanner, New Jersey, U.S.A. (The Epoch Times)

New Jersey, U.S.A.

Zach Hanner, 23, Management

You have to take things in stride. I lost a job, times are tough, people get laid off, but other opportunities arise. … I lost a job as there was no longer work needed; I worked in construction so it was contract work. But then I got a job managing, and it’s much better pay.
… I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten the job.

Rosmery Silva, Lima, Peru (The Epoch Times)

Lima, Peru

Rosmery Silva, 21, Saleswoman

In my sales job, for a period, the incomes were very low; my boss paid me only enough money for the bus tickets and food. I had no money. Then there was a big change, and the sales improved a lot, and my boss was able to pay me. What I learned from this was that in bad times I should not give in to despair, because after a time the situation improves. Now, I don’t stress, and I don’t get sick.

Mohamed, Barcelona, Spain (The Epoch Times)

Barcelona, Spain

Mohamed, 49, Builder

Three years ago, I left the world of drugs; I lost everything—money, friends, and family. From this evil situation, I have obtained something very good—the support of many people who have helped me to recover, for instance, social workers. Today, I have recovered my relationship with my family; I have eight children, but I talk a lot with one of my daughters, who has been very supportive. This is the positive side of this negative situation—the help and support of many friends and family. Now I am looking for work to return with them to Mauritania. 

Marcia Mardones Alvarado, Puerto Montt, Chile (The Epoch Times)

Puerto Montt, Chile

Marcia Mardones Alvarado, 40, Housewife

In Chile, we have a popular saying, “Every cloud has a silver lining.” Some years ago I had a disappointment in love. My boyfriend of seven years deceived me, and, at first, it was very painful for me. But here is the good thing, I was almost two years alone, and then I met my current partner. Within seven months he married me, and now I have beautiful twin babies, and am very happy. If I had not experienced something that seemed bad, maybe today, I would not be happy like I am.

Heloisa Bueno Cardoso, São Paulo, Brazil (The Epoch Times)

São Paulo, Brazil

Heloisa Bueno Cardoso, 19, Student

There is no situation in our life that cannot be resolved. Whenever, [no matter] how difficult it is, we can turn it into something good. Always! Hard times make people learn, understand, think of the mistakes, overcome, and start over. I have learned that all difficult situations can bring us something good.

Gillian Ytsma, Dunedin, New Zealand (The Epoch Times)

Dunedin, New Zealand

Gillian Ytsma, 60, Teacher

Losing a job and getting a new one. From 2004 to 2006 I had a permanent job, and through some different circumstances, I was forced to resign, which were quite unfair circumstances, and somehow everything went against me. … I always think that a door closes, [another] door opens; there must be something else there for me. I don’t get all upset. I always say you move on; you go on to something else; and that’s the attitude I took, and something did come out of it. It was about self-belief, and even though you know you could have done better you have learned something, and you move on, and you use that knowledge.

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “Do you think the year 2012 has any special cosmic significance?”