A summary of valuable perspectives gained from people whose paths crossed with mine via serendipitous encounters
Interesting Relationships in Personal Stories
Some people leave remarkable impressions on our lives. Friends, relatives, colleagues, professionals, mentors, community members, even strangers can play a role in our decision-making. Beautiful relationships remain in fond memories whether they bring joy or grief.
I met many people who appeared in my life, especially at crossroads, and gave me valuable insights. Most of them were serendipitous encounters. I see them as angels appearing during challenging times. I explained why I believe in angels in this story.
Many readers enjoyed my personal stories related to interesting and insightful people I met face to face or online. Their feedback inspired me. In this post, I summarize some personal stories with links to originals featuring people who entered my life journey and taught me valuable life lessons.
By keeping the privacy of the people I met, these stories reflected their contributions to some important decisions in my life. I hope you find some engaging and valuable stories from this special collection including personal stories. Some of these friends now rest in peace.
1 — A Filipino Elderly with Dementia
Nancy was a remarkable elderly, experiencing Alzheimer’s disease. Her dementia makes her forgetful about current events, but she remembers the past in detail, especially her traumas in World World II. Nancy’s family members were killed before her eyes when she was a little girl. Her story triggered massive sadness in me and even brought some tears.
Five Valuable Life Lessons from a Filipino Elderly
A serendipitous encounter in an Airbnb accommodation in Canberramedium.com
2 — A Distinguished Psychotherapist
Janine played an important role in my life. She was older than my mum. I considered her as a second mother to me. Gratefully, she has helped me understand the value of spiritual love, which I had no understanding before meeting her. I met Janine several decades ago in our local sauna introduced by Algor. She was outspoken, asked about my background without intrusion, and listened attentively. The more she asked and attended to my words with no judgment, the more I revealed layers of myself.
Cherishing Fond Memories of Janine
“Sorry, she is in heaven now. I’m sure she shall appreciate your thoughts.”medium.com
3 — A 64 Year Old Breast Cancer Survivor
Jennifer is a retired tertiary education teacher. She had localized breast cancer when she was 59. She was fortunate as her tumor was identified at an early stage and did not spread to other organs. She had excellent care and multiple therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, and endocrine therapy, and she got her health back. While she was extremely grateful and happy to beat cancer, after 60, she started experiencing noticeable mental fatigue, commonly known as brain fog or chronic fatigue syndrome.
How Jennifer Healed Her Brain Fog
A 64-year-old breast cancer survivor naturally cured mental fatigue with simple lifestyle changes orchestrated by…medium.com
4 — A Single-Mum Who Reversed Her Obesity
When Maggie was in her early thirties, her husband, a construction worker, left her when the kids were 3 and 7. She believed her changing body to an obese state was the leading cause for her husband losing attraction. Her husband had an affair that broke Maggie’s heart. Maggie gained her self-esteem and self-confidence using her spiritual power, which she believed was deeply embedded in her psyche. Even though she was poor, she had an abundance mentality. The more she gave, the more she got. My friend, Maggie, is a 71-year successful businesswoman. I see her as a healthy, wealthy, and wise person.
How a Single-Mum Reversed Her Obesity and Built up a Unicorn Business
Health, finance, and life lessons from a 71-year-old wealthy femalemedium.com
5 — A Truck Driver Who Melted His Potbelly
This was a serendipitous encounter. I met Alberto decades ago when our car had a flat tire on a busy highway on a cold winter day in Downunder. Our young child was crying aloud at the back of the broken vehicle. Unfortunately, we didn’t have a roadside assistance subscription and no tools in this problematic second-hand car that we purchased a few days before this scary incident. I didn’t know what to do. Alberto kindly stopped his massive truck, volunteering to fix our broken car.
How Alberto Melted His Potbelly & Doubled Testosterone in a Year
A health coach can make a transformational impact on men’s well-being by acting a catalyst for fat loss, hormonal, &…medium.com
6 — A 105-Year-Old Centenarian
Algor was 95 years old when I met him in a local sauna. He is now a 105-year-old centenarian. From my initial observations, I had a gut feeling that he would be a centenarian. And he exceeded my expectations. Algor migrated from Ireland to Australia at a young age. He married three times and still is living with his third wife. He had six kids and 11 grandchildren. The oldest daughter is 80, and the youngest grand-kid is 17. Sadly, his first wife died from severe depressive disorder and the second one from breast cancer.
What I Learned about Longevity from a 105-Year-Old Centenarian
Moderation, balance, altruism, and a curious mind are Algor’s forte.medium.com
7 — A Successful Fat Looser and Her Coach
This is the story of a friend who was desperate to lose fat. Eliza is now a 50-year older adult with a new boyfriend. She raised three kids as a single mum. I met Eliza when she was 40 years old. She was overweight and unfit. When her tough coach, Adrian, asked her how serious she was in losing fat, her reply was an instant yes. Adrian asked again how committed she was within a one to ten scale. Eliza’s response was 10. Eliza found herself fortunate to meet this dedicated coach.
Why & How Eliza Lost 30 Pounds of Fat in Six Months?
She fired her nutritionist and hired a qualified fat-loss coachmedium.com
8 — A Car Thief and a Spiritual Leader
My wife and son picked me up, and we quickly went to the shopping mall. It took us only 15 minutes to purchase a device. We promptly left the shopping mall to get ready for our dinner. When we arrived at the parking spot, the car was not there. My son started crying as his scooter, which we purchased a week ago, was in the car. He saved his pocket money for over a year to get his favorite toy at the time. My heart started pounding because my work laptop and travel passport were in the bag, just a day before the trip. We all had a devastating moment.
My Stolen Car with Laptop and Passport Taught Me Valuable Lessons about Spirituality
The dominance of karma manifests in my life visibly.medium.com
9 — A Repetitive and Over-thinker
This is a transforming story of a woman whose first career created havoc in her physical and mental health and ruined her relationships for many years. She was having the same thoughts repeatedly. Usually, they were evil and stress-creating thoughts. She couldn’t control them. However, by understanding her situation, accepting it, and taking corrective actions, Olivia transformed her physical and mental health and developed excellent relationships with her loved ones, friends, colleagues, and clients. Olivia used to be a social worker dealing with disadvantaged people. Even though it was her dream job initially, this job was killing her in her words.
Stopping Rumination Made Olivia a Triple Champion
Transformation of a person who dramatically improved her physical and mental health, and developed better relationshipsmedium.com
10 — A Vegan AirBnb Owner
I was late to arrive at the premises. So, I emptied my car and decided to cook some meat and fish that I purchased from the local fresh meat market on my way. The host was not there, but she left a key for me outside. I was hesitant to leave the oven, so I had to go to the bathroom. When I was in the bathroom, I heard the outside door open. In a few seconds, the house echoed with the scream of a woman. My meat and fish were cooking halfway through. I quickly washed my hands and left the bathroom. The host was looking at me with an angry face. She looked half my age.
How I Felt When I Was Thrown out of an Airbnb House
Being rejected from accommodation services taught me valuable and memorable life lessonsmedium.com
11 — A Virtual Mentor Who Died Recently
When I heard Larry died at 87, a few drops of tears appeared in my eyes unconsciously. Tears in my eyes were an unusual occurrence because I had not seen any tears in my stoic eyes for many years. After some thinking and checking my journal, it became clear. I had multiple entries about Larry King in my diary starting from 1995. The most flagrant one was when I discovered Larry’s book in an old bookshop in Australia. Unfortunately, the bookstore does not exist anymore. I used to do a lot of public speaking as part of my job. Toastmasters initiated my courage in the early 1990s.
Larry King’s Death Touched Me Deeply
Larry King was a special and spiritual mentor to me for many years.medium.com
12 — An Angel Who Taught Me My Priorities
My silver-headed wise supervisor recognized my stress symptoms, detecting the root causes as he had been there and done that. Each time we met, my supervisor asked what important tasks I planned to undertake on that day. He kept asking me about my priorities and wanted to review them and provided instant feedback. He was like an angel disguised in human form to me. He emphasized it was the critical focus to complete my studies on time “effortlessly” with care and compassion. The word effortlessly was paradoxical and sounded too good to be true.
Do Less Achieve More
Secret to successmedium.com
13 — A Deaf Friend Who Died on New Year’s Eve
My friend, Jeremy, was born in 1919 as a deaf child in Australia and died on 31 December 2021 as a special friend in my life. His parents died over a half-century ago. He survived his life with a trust fund created by his parents. He dedicated his life to studying humanity and supporting his local community with charitable activities. He did not earn a single cent from his contributions to society. But he gained many intangible benefits, which made him a centenarian. When he was 80 years old, 22 years ago, I met Jeremy in our local sauna, which was introduced to me by Janine and Algor.
A Centenarian Friend Died on New Year’s Eve
I initially did not know what to do with over 5,000 books but found a way after a conversation with a lawyermedium.com
14 — One of the Richest Man
When asked about tech stocks, Warren Buffett made one key point. Tech stocks are dependent on interest rates. He thinks that valuations for tech stocks are not crazy if interest rates remain low. However, he believes that if interest rates rise, they could result in a sharp decline in the price of tech stocks trading at high price-earnings ratios. Mr. Buffett is not extensive on technology. He does not pay much attention to computers as he does not like them much. I understand that he doesn’t see much value in his personal and business life. However, Mr. Buffet focuses on a few tech companies.
Five Astounding Investment Ideas from Warren Buffett to Beginners
Investment principles that Mr Buffett developed in many decades of experiencemedium.com
15 — Top 10 Stock Market Investors
From their insightful books, I collected hundreds of quotes from these famous investors and thought leaders. If these investors resonate with you, you can find many more published quotes from them online. To make this article more useful, I also share my understanding and interpretation of the quotes from my review of their books or other content. You might interpret them differently, and I’d love to obtain your perspectives too. These people are leaders and practitioners in stock market investing.
10 Timeless Investment Quotes from Top 10 Stock Market Investors
Get inspired by insightful wisdom from exceptional investors in less than 10 minutesmedium.com
16 — A Principle Oriented Financial Leader
When I read about Ray Dalio’s childhood story in the first chapter of his book, I instantly connected with him and got hooked to the book as he was mirroring and reflecting on some memories from my past. Reading his 70 years of experience summarized in 210 principles in a few days has been an excellent investment in my education and growth. Unlike some billionaires, Mr. Dalio did not inherit wealth. He was not a prodigy. Instead, he grew up an ordinary kid in a middle-class family. His father was a musician and supported him to be creative and independent.
22 Curated Work & Life “Principles” from Ray Dalio, Billionaire Investor
Work and life lessons from the founder of Bridgewater, listed in the top 100 most influential people globally by Time…medium.com
17 — Two Global Technology Leaders
These two global leaders, Elon Musk and Jack Ma, inspire millions of people for various reasons. First, they have a proven success record in creating, implementing, and running innovative solutions. Their contributions make a substantial impact on a global scale. They have different backgrounds and personalities. At the highest level, one represents Asian culture and the other Western culture. However, despite many differences in their perspectives and approaches to business and life, they also have a lot in common, especially artificial intelligence. They both are ardent supporters and opponents of artificial super-intelligence from different angles.
How Artificial Intelligence Vision of Elon Musk Integrates with Intelligence of Ali Baba [Jack Ma]
How two different intelligence methods serve the societymedium.com
18 — Two Teetotalers
Alcohol has been a mystical drink throughout history. It is a complicated drink that affects the body and mind. Alcohol can make substantial changes in the brain by altering its biochemistry. Many of us enjoy alcoholic beverages. Nothing wrong with it. It may work well for some, but it can be a problem for others. The problem was about the metabolization of alcohol in my system. I was one of those who couldn’t metabolize alcohol properly. Thus, it created complications for me when I was younger. My body did not tolerate alcohol nicely. I tried drinking alcoholic beverages at the age of 18. My reason to start was due to peer group pressure.
Agreeing With Both Biden And Trump On Alcohol
Did you know that both Joe Biden and Donald Trump are teetotalers?medium.com
19 — A Cold Enthusiast Shakes the World
I obtained energetic alertness, improved mood, increased courage, improved immunity, reduced risk of depression, improved sleep, enhanced tolerance, fast recovery, reduced pain, reduced body fat, and even increased lean muscle, all with a natural hack based on a challenging habit. From my experience, I believe that one of the best skills for entrepreneurs and leaders is to learn to tolerate cold exposure, starting with cold showers. One of my most significant inspirational role models is the legend Wim Hof who broke several Guinness records in the field. He is not only a practitioner but also a science-focused collaborator sharing his knowledge with others.
Instant Mental Boost for Leaders
Cold showers are simple hacks that can make a tremendous impact on our performance.medium.com
20 — A Young and Famous Medical Doctor
This is a short story to reflect the controversial thoughts of Dr. Paul Saladino for society in 2020. I don’t agree with all his opinions, but he provides valuable perspectives, especially encouraging us to think beyond the box. Previously working as a psychiatrist, he now focuses on functional medicine.
A Young Hero Spoke Up Yesterday
A profound message from Dr Paul Saladino for societymedium.com
21 — Centenarian Dancers
I introduce a centenarian dancer living in Australia. At age 106, Eileen Kramer seems more productive than ever. Eileen is known as the oldest living dancer currently. I also introduce another legend, centenarian Tao Porchon-Lynch, “born in 1918 and died in 2020, an American yoga master, dancer, and award-winning author of French and Indian descent. At age 101, “Tao taught a weekly class in New York and led programs across the globe. She was the author of two books, including her autobiography, Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master, which won a 2016 IPPY Award and three 2016 International Book Awards.”
The Importance of Dancing for Longevity
An overview of the longevity aspects of dancing with perspectives from science and lives of exemplarmedium.com
22 — Extraterrestrial Life Experiences
I share eye-opening perspectives of extraterrestrial life experiences via intuition from Dr. Russell Targ, Dr. Steven Greer, Dr. Ramin Skibba, and Michael Jaco. The critical point from Michael’s experience is having and developing intuition as we desire. As part of my previous studies in cognitive science, I have a strong interest in intuition coming from our subconscious mind. I touched it in several articles related to reality and consciousness from various angles, such as mental health and spirituality.
How Would It Feel Like Living in Separate Realities?
Eye-opening perspectives of the extraterrestrial life experiences via intuition from Dr Russell Targ, Dr Steven Greer…medium.com
23 — Friends at Postgraduate School
One of my favorite classmates, Kylie, hugged me firmly for a few minutes with no words, which felt like an eternal hug to me. I felt in the arms of an angel. However, suddenly, it was as if ten thousand kilos of load disappeared from my shoulders. The suppressed beach ball surfaced on the water. I felt so euphoric. I felt no shame, no guilt, no embarrassment, even though my behavior logically looked weak and absurd. The tears turned into joy. The ecstatic moment was an indication of my healing. The lecturer felt terrible about his comments and apologized as he did not mean to hurt my feelings. His apology also became a catalyst in this healing process.
A Childhood Trauma Burst in a Graduate School
And manifested as a healing causemedium.com
24 — Highlights from My 14 Day Journal
We called an ambulance that arrived in eleven minutes. Two paramedics performed initial tests and quickly decided to take my wife to the hospital. The lead paramedic called several hospitals, which were full at the time. He finally found a hospital that could accept her. The moment they moved my wife to the ambulance created an intense emotional burst in family members and neighbors. The lead paramedic said: “This is a serious situation. You better say goodbye to your patient as she might be away for a while”. This brief remark brought sudden tears to the people around the ambulance. An adorable neighbor started crying very loudly, breaking the silence. It caused several others to cry when the ambulance started the sirens. Even though I had internal tears, I had to stay calm and composed to keep family members and neighbors integral.
Reflections from My 14 Day Compulsory Isolation, Ended Yesterday
I completed mandatory isolation requirements teaching me valuable life lessonsmedium.com
25 — Hackers and a Beggar
I was joyful with getting the essentials. I walked with the trolley towards my car. It was only a meter close to my car a person stopped me abruptly. He started talking to me with highly emotional and confusing words with tears in his eyes. I finally understood that he was asking for money. I tried to explain my situation, saying I had no cash. Then I remembered the $2 coin in the emergency section of my wallet. When I am in fasted state I usually feel more alert and compassionate with high level of ketones in my brain. I removed the coin and handed over the beggar. He got the money and instantly threw it towards my head in slow motion.
My Credit Card Hacked Again
And a beggar threw a $2 donation coin to my neck afterwards. I am okay and still grateful.medium.com
26 — Fitness Guru Who Used to Hate Exercise
This is an interesting story of a friend who psychologically disliked exercise. Her disgust started in her childhood between ages six and ten. Her parents were fitness enthusiasts. Her siblings competed to be better than each other in sports. However, she never enjoyed their behavior, especially showing off and bragging about their fitness achievements and sports competitions. She did not want to be friends with kids she called “fitness freaks”. They turned her off. Isabella hated exercise and sports. Furthermore, she never liked physical education in school. In fact, she hated her teachers, who forced her to do exercise at school. She created excuses not to join classes. Sometimes she pretended to be sick, saying her tummy hurts.
30-Minute Simple Workouts Transformed Isabella’s Fitness
How someone who disliked exercise stayed fit and became an influential fitness gurumedium.com
27 — Ariana’s Sad yet Empowering Story
When she was five years old, Ariana’s teachers identified her as a child prodigy. This realization made her parents and siblings proud. She learned much faster than her friends. Her cognitive brain processed information quicker. However, her limbic (emotional) system was average which no one detected. Thus, like many vulnerable kids, she was put into an unnecessary race that dented her psychology in her tender ages. Ariana is a successful scientist and entrepreneur now. When I asked her what she learned from her psychologist at the middle school, she shared three points that resonated with me as I also had these problems in my childhood and resolved them in my adult years.
How Solving Three Mental Issues Tripled Ariana’s Happiness
Modest thought and behavior changes can create ripple effects for a joyful life.medium.com
Conclusions
Life offers us valuable lessons through serendipitous encounters. They offer symbolic miracles during hard moments. Each person I met in these stories gave me new perspectives on life. I hope you find some valuable life lessons in these stories. Thank you for reading my views and experiences. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
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About the Author
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Meet Dr Mehmet Yildiz
Owner and chief editor of Illumination Integrated Publicationsmedium.com
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About Me — Dr Mehmet Yildiz
Founder and Chief Editor of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications on Mediummedium.com
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Dr Mehmet Yildiz 