Coping With Adversity

by Gerry Hopman
(Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada)

Life has given me some unexpected and valuable lessons in coping with adversity.

For many years I enjoyed a successful career in Finance, Human Resources and Management Consulting. As a matter of fact, I started my own Management Consulting business - G.H.Hopman & Associates Ltd. In 1990.

My daughter, who had a degree in Social Work and was a Certified Human Resources Professional was going to join me and eventually take over the business.

However, March 5, 1997 , forever changed my life and ultimately my career path. On that day, our daughter who had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, found out that she only had three months to live.

At the time, she had a son who was just two years old. When I talked to my daughter about her son, we both realized that he would never remember his mom, nor have any idea what traits or characteristics he had inherited from his mom.

My daughter and I decided that we would write her biography together, so that her son at least would be able to read what his mom had accomplished in life, what family, friends and co-workers thought of her, and realize the unique traits and characteristics she had.

Unfortunately, before we even got started, she took a turn for the worse. I promised that I would write her biography on her behalf. Despite the fact that I had crossed many hurdles in life and career, this proved to be the most difficult challenge of all in coping with adversity.

No matter what I tried, I could not get started and deliver on my promise. I always had thoughts that I would want to write about humor and laughter, as humor had always played a major role in my life.

One day I took my notes that I collected over the years on humor and laughter and started writing. At the same time I started on the biography. I had found the balance I needed to fulfill my promise.

I finished both, my first book 'The Power of Humor' and my daughter's biography at the same time. It provided both healing and closure for me.

It proved to me how powerful humor and laughter really are in coping with adversity and helping overcome even the most difficult hurdles in life. It also opened up a new career for me,... writing and speaking about humor and laughter.

Since then I have written another hardcover book - "Kids Say the Doggonest Things", a number of e-books and hundreds of articles on humor, laughter and happiness. I also have developed a website on humor and laughter so that I can share with people the countless health and wellness benefits you can gain with humor and laughter.