I was very honored to be selected to be a part of the launch team that Jeff Goins put together for his new book Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into Your Comfortable Life which will be available in a few short days.
Are YOU Ready To Be Wrecked?
You won’t want to read this book if you are completely happy with your life and you have no desire to be moved or changed in any way. If that is the case for you then this book isn’t for you.
If, however, you are looking for a chance to be moved, to be inspired, to look outside yourself and let the hurting world around you wreck you then this book is a book that you will want to check out.
As I was reading this book I found it was impossible to not have my heart moved. When we look outside of ourselves at the needs of many people who are hurting and in need it opens us up to experience gratitude for all that we have and also to hurt along with those who are hurting.
My First Wrecked Experience
I remember the first time that I felt wrecked. I was about fifteen and I was on a trip in a very poor part of Mexico with other teens from my church. We drove into the town in the two vans and saw all of the “houses” which were built with nothing more than thin pieces of wood. I’ve seen better quality tree houses here in the states. The homes were for full families and many only had one room.
It was a hot July day and we initially parked at a park which overlooked the houses. The first thing that we noticed was a really bad smell and we soon found out that the people had just had a funeral for a child, a young girl who had died recently.
Later we went to the orphanage where we would be playing with the kids and building them a bathroom. All they had was an outhouse that made a port-a-potty look like a mansion. The kids were thrilled to play with us and the language barrier meant nothing. Most of us knew some basic Spanish but not enough to hold an actual conversation.
We had brought some basic first aid supplies to give to the orphanage and the kids were completely blown away with the plain brown band-aids. They absolutely loved them. It really amazed me because I was working with young kids at a preschool back home and the kids from the US would pout and complain if they didn’t get a band aid with cool enough cartoon characters. Yet these little ones living in a tiny orphanage in a tiny town of Mexico thought the plain ones were the best thing ever.
Getting Wrecked
We don’t need to go to a foreign country to get wrecked and motivated to help make a difference in the lives of others. There are plenty of needs where we all live.
When I was in college I made it a habit to give money and food to the beggars in the city. There are even more homeless people now begging than there were back then with the current economy. My husband and I have given them sleeping bags and other items that we no longer needed but didn’t want to throw out.
Someday when my kids are a bit older I would like to take them to serve the homeless. I would like them to gain an appreciation for how much we have and to have open eyes and compassion to those with less than we have. At this point in their young lives they mostly only see the beggars on the side of the road in the city or from stories that we share with them about the less fortunate.
We can even look closer to home to become wrecked. People all around us are hurting and it’s not just the physically poor. People often live with hurts that we have no idea about until we ask about their lives. If we allow ourselves to hurt for and with others we can open ourselves up to helping others in deep and meaningful ways. We can make a real difference in the world.
If you are interested in learning more about the book visit the Wrecked website. You can also find out about the free bonuses that Jeff is offering that are valued at $158!
To Your Success,
Thank you for reading! I'm Stacy, the owner of this blog. You can learn more about me here.
I'd love to hear from you, please share your thoughts or questions in the comments section.
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Hi Stacy,
this is a really moving story. Most of us would greatly benefit realizing what life really is for other people. Sometimes we are just too caught up in our perception of how things are and we don’t put ourselves in someone else’s place.
Mariella
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Stacy Claflin Reply:
July 28th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Hi Mariella,
It definitely does our hearts a lot of good to look around and be reminded of how much we really have and how much more we would have if we would reach out to help others.
Stacy
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Something I have recently discovered about myself on my quest iin finding my purpose, is that I always compare myself to people better than me. In doing so I feel bad as I haven’t reached that point.
I am learning not to compare myself to others but appreciate what I have achieved. Wrecked might be a good balancing point to help me. Thanks
Ryan invites you to read… Finding My Purpose as at July 2012
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Since your ‘on writing’ recommendation – I pretty much trust your taste.
I am one of those people who always notices someone in need (I don’t know how anyone couldn’t), and usually tries to lend a hand. It’s just built into my nature, I think. I want to make a difference in this world in some small or big way. You have me intrigued – will check it out.
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Sich a motivational story, I have never thought of being wrecked from this view. I really like this aspect, it is inspirational to find the positivity in a negative situation.
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It seems that “getting wrecked” is a prerequisite for learning to count your blessings. That has been my experience as well, and “wrecks” can be difficult lessons indeed. Thank you for sharing these words and your story – very inspiring!
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It sounds like a really good read Stacy. I’m sure that any type of book like that would help people realize that they should be counting their blessings. Like your experience as a child going to Mexico made you realize just how well we have it here and how we should help others when at all possible.
Thanks for sharing this with us and you enjoy your week.
~Adrienne
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Hi Stacy
I am sure this is a great book. It is good you remember your Mexico story so well and that you and your husband give to those more in need as you do.
My nephew lived in Mexico for a year to go surfing. As a 6’4″ blond Australian I am sure he stood out. He and some of his surfer friends stayed in very poor accommodation but he remembers the experience fondly. He was also moved by meeting so many people who had nothing in material terms but were very happy.
Your post is a very strong message in being grateful.
Sue
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It’s heartwarming to hear stories of how you’ve helped the most vulnerable – it’s really humbling. I think everyone should take part in these sorts of initiatives – it gives people a better perspective on life and ultimately we’ll have more people helping others. Will defo check out that book – seems like a great read.
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Wow, I never knew you did that in Mexico – I’m so glad you shared that. You know, you have an invaluable perspective seeing how those kids lived with so little and yet appreciated what they had. I think it’s a big problem in societies that have a lot who are somehow never satisfied. I’m a strong believer in helping others and that’s something my parents always taught me. I remember years ago as a kid, my dad always stopped on the street to give money to people who were homeless. I remember one day a man was on the side of the road and my dad pulled the car over with all of us 6 kids inside and he gave the man money and the man looked in the car and said “I can’t take this, you have a lot of kids to support.” And he gave the money back! Things like that really change your perspective. Thanks for sharing this and your story, too!
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Hi Stacy,
Thank you for this wonderful story you’re telling us here. You made me want to cry.
I will definitely want to check this book out. Thanks for introducing it to us.
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Stacy this a a wonderful post. The book looks interesting I will have to look it over. However your stories of giving and being touched by serving others is really awesome. I too have taken food and things to the homeless. I try to help others whenever I can. And I am under the firm belief that helping others is the best way to help ourselves as well. You never know what you are going to learn or the joy that you can receive by helping until you have done so. Thank you for sharing this post.
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I am happy with my life. But a lot of people are not – they just wallow in the comfort zone. I expect this book could really help a lot of them.
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This is such a heartwarming story that we all could definitely learn from. We should always remember that we are blessed so that we could also be a blessing to others. Thank you for sharing this beautiful post.
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Alex Reply:
August 8th, 2012 at 5:19 am
Well-said Joy, we should share our energy to others as we feel we have it to much that we can afford to do so. We should be open to all kind of people and show them we are not afraid of the world, so they can get inspired by us and hopefully conduct as we do. Thanks for this great post!
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Thanks for sharing your story, it is truly moving and something I can draw inspiration from. I want to check out this book as well.
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There are so many underprivileged people and kids. We should look at them and always thak the Almighty for having more than they do. Gratitude for having things is the only way of life-and not crying over things one does not have. This is a touch story. Thanks indeed for sharing.
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Reading this post, i remembered the first i nearly quit blogging. I will use this to strengthen my online Performance.
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Every day is another opportunity to share, give thanks and make a difference. Your story is truly moving, we should learn to count our blessings and appreciate what we have. Thanks!
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Thanks for recommending this book. I think readers will find a lot of inspiration from this book. Getting out of our comfort zone can create a huge impact to our lives.
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