Life is a funny thing…there are times when a person feels great about themselves; their self-esteem is at an all-time high, everything in the world looks and feels as beautiful as a cool, crisp autumn day…nothing can be better.

Then come the “down times” in life; the moments in life when an individual feels as if they are beaten, battered, and worthless. It seems as though nobody cares about what they say (or do), their self-confidence is gone and life just seems to be going nowhere.

It is during these rough times that two kinds of people are made; those who dwell on the negative and are forever stuck in the quagmire of worthlessness and self-doubt or the folks that deal with bad situations by determining what they can learn from their situation and use it in a positive way to help themselves and encourage others.

In today’s story, we see how ONE PERSON saw a heartbreaking situation and decided to do something encouraging…and notice the effect it had not only on the individual that was dealing with the hardship but how it affected the other people around him. What started out as an INDIVIDUAL act of kindness turned into an experience in which a GROUP got involved and turned a depressing situation into a fantastic experience for everyone that took part in the activity.

Also, observe the affect it had on the person that was receiving the encouragement. It’s truly amazing when you watch the affect of what a group of people, all focused on one goal in a positive manner, can accomplish.

The power of positive thinking, encouraging others and the ability not to stay “bogged down”, not only allows a person to feel better about themselves, but demonstrate an act of compassion that can not only help themselves but enhance other peoples feeling of worth.

So, the next time you are “down and out” and life throws you a “curve ball” (or even if you are enjoying a “high” in life)…think to yourself…what am I doing with the gifts and abilities that I have been blessed to have? Am I going to wallow in self-pity or am I going to decide to try and make a difference in another person’s life and be an encouragement to the people and friends around you…like the one man started in the video?

What can you do when your life is a gloomy and ominous?? Help and encourage other people. You will be surprised how quickly your view on your life will chance.

So…what are you going to do?  The choice is yours.