Making the Best of a Bad Situation
In this guest post, I’m proud to introduce you to a good friend of mine, Dr. Vincent Tufano, author of Empires of Gold, an in-depth historical fiction based in Peru. I wrote about his book in a past post, “Empires of Gold”: Do Good Dictators Exist? Below, Dr. Tufano writes about the perils of walking around in Peru.
Peru has been described as one of the world’s most fascinating countries, with incredible geographic diversity, gorgeous scenery, and a rich cultural heritage that, over the years, has attracted millions of visitors. Yet, hidden terrors exist among this splendor that continue to plague its populace. Peru is truly one of the pothole kingdoms of the earth! They’re everywhere. On highways and sidewalks, on the coast and in the mountains, in poor neighbourhoods and rich ones. Wherever you go in Peru, potholes will be close by and continually vex pedestrians and vehicles alike.
In fact, damaged vehicles and personal injuries in Peru due to potholes have caused tremendous harm to the national economy and yet, they are hardly ever discussed since they are basically considered one of the unfortunate realities of life. This regrettably often leads to impetuous and foolish behaviour.
My friend Guillermo was one such individual who acted like that. Guillermo ran every day at the nearby track in his hometown of Chiclayo. The track was like most others in Peru, covered with large, dangerous potholes. Yet, he ran there so often that he thought that he had memorized the locations of the most dangerous holes. He never considered the need to be forever vigilant and watchful of new holes that might open up.
So, on this one day, while racing on autopilot, he ran into a newly formed pothole, and ripped apart the tendons and ligaments of his right foot. His doctor operated on him and ordered him to be nonweightbearing for three months to give his wound a chance to heal. Fortunately, Guillermo wasn’t one to feel sorry for himself and sit confined in a wheelchair doing nothing. Making the best of his situation, he used all of his extra time indoors to concentrate on studying for his exams. He passed them with flying colours. To this day, he attributes part of his academic success to his pothole accident.
How have you recently turned a bad situation into a good one?
Tags: making the best, potholes peru
Linda Esposito
We were recently visited by Animal Control due to my son “accidentally” letting go of one, or the other of our Siberian Huskies. Neighbors in our small city north of Los Angeles, CA tend to be “small dog” folks, and generally afraid of “wolf dogs.”
Rather than look at the negatives and worry about the implications of his irresponsibility, I see this as a sign. He needs more attention on following directions, following through, and general taking responsibility for his actions.
Not nearly as painful as a broken foot, but a timely reminder to break some bad habits.
Good luck with the residency process, Samantha :).
Samantha Bangayan
Linda, thanks for sharing such an amazing example! It can be so easy to only look at and focus on the negative, and blame others. I know that would have probably been my first reaction. It takes so much self control and maturity to be able to look beyond that first reaction to take responsibility. Thanks for being an amazing role model!
And thanks soo much for the luck! =)
P.S. Sorry for the delay in getting your comment up! For some reason, it went to spam. I’m glad I found it. =) Have missed ya!
Carolyn
Wow, what a truly inspirational story. I’m a big believer in making the best out of a bad situation. Sometimes when times are dark, it’s really God wanting you to take another direction. We can’t possibly know the outcome of the situation we may find ourselves in, but we can try to optimize it.
Thanks so much for sharing Guillermo’s story, Vincent!
And thank you, Samantha, for having Vincent here at your blog. We miss you, but wish you luck with Roy’s application!
Samantha Bangayan
That’s such a beautiful way to put it, Carolyn! It’s funny how we try to be so controlling of life when a more fulfilling path may be the one that we’re too short-sighted to think is worth taking. =P
Vinny T.
I’m glad that you liked the story Carolyn, and thanks for the kind words. I’m not sure that God’s the reason for problems in our lives, but whatever the reason, taking a positive attitude when adversity strikes always helps to make things at least a little bit better.
Hajra
Making lemonade when life hands you lemons!
I went through a phase of unemployment and started blogging, and got writing offers from that. And yes, I have a nice freelance career thanks to that.
My parents keep telling me that once you cry about how miserable things are, it just gets miserable; if you work on it, it will get better!
A great post Vincent!
P.S. Samantha, good luck with the application! 🙂
Samantha Bangayan
Exactly, Hajra! =) You’re definitely a role model when it comes to making the best of life. =) Your success story continues to inspire me for sure, especially as I continue growing my freelance career alongside yours. =)
Haha! Love that tidbit from your parents. =) And thanks for the luck, friend! =)
Penelope J
Good luck, Sam, with Roy’s papers. Hope it all works out though I believe he may be in for a bit of a wait.
Loved the way Dr. Tufano showed how a pothole misadventure became an opportunity for the young man to study for his exams. That’s thje upside – if there is one. The reality is that potholes are not only unsightly, but ruinous to cars and a challenge to people on foot. I fell into one years ago though all I lost was my dignity.
If Peru is one of the pothole kingdoms of the world, Mexico must be a close second. For a time when living in Mexico City, every morning when I drove off in a hurry, my car stumbled over a pothole at the end of the street. Each time I chided myself for not driving around it. This happened about nine times before I finally caught on and learned to avoid it. Subsequently, it became a learning experience for not repeating the same mistakes, and beware of the potholes in my way.
Samantha Bangayan
Thanks so much, Pennie! Although we won’t hear back until March 2014, at least there’s no more work involved. =P
It’s true! I’m just imagining people who are disabled for example. It’s almost an analogy for my life in Peru in general. There are tons of unpredictable moments that are often negative. But I guess life’s about working through that and staying positive anyway. It’s that learning experience you describe. =)
Glad you weren’t hurt when you fell into one!
Roberta Budvietas
Interesting – in Ottawa we swore it was the pothole capital of the world. They would repair the holes and the next year they were back. Peru sounds amazing. I wish you luck with Canadian residency. Very precious to have and good luck.
As for moving out of a bad space, we always have the choice of how we respond.
Samantha Bangayan
Hey, really?! =) I’ve never been to Ottawa before. I’ll have to see if it’s still like that. =)
Thanks so much for the luck, Roberta! =)
Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.
I guess Guillermo was able to realize that his pot of gold was the pothole!
Another great example why failure is not final- but just a means to learn, to parry, and to grow in other directions.
Samantha Bangayan
Ooh! Good one, Roy! =)
Exactly so! I hadn’t thought of this as an analogy of looking beyond “failure.” Love that!
Janette Fuller
This is a great story of finding the silver lining in the cloud. Guillermo’s determination and perseverance is an inspiration to all of us. I know what it is like to have surgery on a foot or leg…it is not fun.
I hope Guillermo will soon be back on his feet and avoid hitting the potholes in the future.
Samantha Bangayan
Yikes! You made this post so much more real for me, Janette. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to have foot/leg surgery. Glad you’re okay!
Bonnie
Ouch! What a hard way to learn to stay on your guard against new developments. Still, good for Guillermo for not getting stuck in self pity. It’s so easy to do that. Instead he really did make the best of his situation.
Life is very random and your entire life can flip upside down in a single moment. Learning to roll with it and find the positives makes such a difference.
Good luck with your application (not that you’ll need it!)
Samantha Bangayan
I love the way you describe it, Bonnie. That’s really what it’s all about — staying on our guard and life’s randomness! =)
Thanks so much for the luck! =)
Barbara
Lovely to see you back, Sam! What? An application of 200 pages, this is like turning you inside out, anyways, I keep my fingers crossed and wish you all much patience for the long wait.
Truly inspiring story, thanks to Dr. Tufano for sharing it with us. I liked Carolyn’s “Sometimes when times are dark, it’s really God wanting you to take another direction”, yes to that and to be able to see it, for me it is an attitude, we have the choice of deciding on the way of our path: wallowing in self pity or making the best of a situation.
Like Hajra I was unemployed when I started blogging and look how much good has come out of it: I have met you and so many wonderful people.
Samantha Bangayan
I am SOO glad to be back, Barbara, and the most heartfelt apologies for being so distant these past few months. Thanks for being patient with me and for keeping your fingers crossed. =)
True that! That’s what can be so tough — changing our perspective and realizing when negatives can be positives/opportunities.
I so needed that reminder of the beautiful benefits of blogging! =)
Joy
Wise man, that Guillermo! I think finding the positive in things when they go wrong requires faith. You really can’t be optimistic if you don’t possess faith. And one important thing I’ve learned about faith is that it’s not so much the belief that things will eventually go your way, but more about your belief that no matter what happens, you will be okay. Good luck again, Sam, with Roy’s papers!
Samantha Bangayan
I hadn’t thought about that, Joy. I’ve always thought of “faith” as directly associated with “religion,” but in this scenario, even such basic faith is required. What an important distinction between trying to control faith and letting faith be.
Thanks again for the luck! =)
MuMuGB
I wish you the best of luck for Roy’s application…Am keeping my fingers crossed for you! I like your post too. It is all about trying to make the most of the waiting times, isn’t it!
Samantha Bangayan
Thanks SOO much, Muriel! =) Every bit of positivity and optimism helps, I believe. =) It’s definitely a good way to practice patience. =)
Avoiding Danger in Peru - What Little Things
[…] that can always be found and this week’s follow-up guest post by Dr. Vincent Tufano on making the best of a bad situation recounts how lucky breaks factor in as […]
Jimson Paul
I must say Guillermo is really very lucky and think of him i believe that whatever happens with you in your life, it happens for really something good reason and the moment with Guillermo was that one moment. Good luck to Guillermo.
Samantha Bangayan
Great to meet you, Jimson! Guillermo was truly lucky, although it’s hard to see it at the time. =) I’m in total agreement that everything happens for a reason. =)