The Sweetest Revenge (Part 2)

Doris fought back her tears as she entered the 405 freeway heading north towards her job. She didn't want to smear her makeup or explain her red eyes to Diane, the always-in-your-business coworker.

On the radio came a song Doris hadn't heard in decades. The station aired Christian songs from the 1980s as part of a special. The Best is Yet to Come by Cynthia Clawson - the melodic voice of a woman who knows pain - filled Doris' car:

The best is yet to come

Never any day without the sun

Shining all around us together

Forever, together, living in love.

And I know it will be soon

Not the slightest doubt it will be soon

Cause in my heart I know

The best is yet to come.

How that song used to help Doris out of many emotional slumps that Reese could put her in.

"Ironic or coincidental?" Doris thought to herself. "One day after another emotional slump caused by Reese, this song comes on the radio."

Doris pulled into the parking garage. She took another look at her eyes. They were still noticeably puffy.

"That nosey fake Diane Stratton is going to make a comment. I just know it." Doris grew annoyed. "I'll just tell her to kiss my you-know-what."

Sure enough, when Doris arrived at her cubicle, Diane was standing across from it sipping a cup of coffee and talking to a fellow coworker, Brita. Diane turned to Doris.

"Hi, Doris. Is everything okay, Honey? You look a little tired." Diane commented.

"I'm fine, Diane. Thanks." Doris quipped then sat down at her desk and busily logged into her computer. Reading her body language, Diane resumed her conversation with Brita. Doris settled into her heavy workload.

"Hey, Doris! Did you see the flyer for our Lunch & Learn Speaker today?" The cheerful and gregarious Brita asked. Brita was a kind soul; always the optimist, always looking out for others. Brita was the reason Doris kept showing up at a job where she was overqualified and underpaid.

"No. I didn't see it. But I don't have time to attend today's lunch and learn. I have too much work to do. Being out for two days can put a devoted worker way behind." Doris responded sarcastically.

"Oh no, Doris. You gotta go to this one. Here, look at the flyer." Brita shoved the flyer in Doris' face, blocking her from continuing to work. Doris read the flyer with dry enthusiasm:

The Secret Ingredient to Happiness in Work, Life, and Love

"That sounds nice, Brita. But I'm gonna pass. Happiness and I aren't on speaking terms. There is nothing she can say to me that will help me in work, life, and especially not love."

Brita looked at Doris, took a step back, and looked at her with piercing, yet compassionate eyes.

"Doris, those red, puffy eyes poorly concealed by blue eye shadow and mascara tell me you NEED a dose of happiness. Plus, you gotta go with me otherwise Diane is gonna ask you 100 questions why why why you didn't attend the lunch and learn." Brita and Doris both turned to look at Diane who had been listening to their conversation the entire time. Diane returned the look, rolled her eyes, and walked away.

Doris thought about how right Brita was. Reluctantly she said, "Okay. I'll go."

---

The keynote speaker took charge of the conference room and began her presentation with something Doris had never heard before:

"When you make another person responsible for your happiness, it's like building your house on sand: when the wind changes direction, there goes your house. When you depend on yourself for your happiness, you build your house on a solid foundation."

Doris was intrigued.

"The secret ingredient to your happiness is found in the practice of Selfish-Generosity™: give to yourself FIRST so you can generously give to others."

The speaker went on to explain the connection between Selfish-Generosity™ and happiness. When the speaker said Selfish-Generosity™ is the antidote to depression and the guarantee to feeling fulfilled, Doris wanted to know more. Doris felt her heart calm and the tense look on her face begin to relax. When the presentation was over, Doris made her way to the front of the room to introduce herself to the speaker. But everyone else crowded around the speaker, wanting to do the same. Doris couldn't find a way in. Instead, she grabbed one of the speaker's business cards, headed back to her cubicle to look her up on the internet:

Pamela Elaine Nichols, Selfish-Generosity™ Teacher.

"Selfish-Generosity™ Teacher. What is that?" Doris clicked the BOOK A FREE SESSION button and completed the intake questionnaire. The speaker's calendar was nearly full, but Doris was able to find an opening in 3 weeks.

She could hardly wait.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

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Destiny Nicole Walker is a thoughtful and creative writer who is unafraid to challenge long-held, traditional beliefs about the connection between God, spirituality, and wifedom. She re-examines and provides alternatives to societal notions about motherhood that disenables the feminine spirit. She invites every reader to do the same. She can be reached at DestinyNicoleWalker7@gmail.com