Al Weatherhead's book is an inspiration that offers hope for people to become stronger because of and in spite of their problems.
Q: What inspired you to write The Power of Adversity?
It was at the request of people in my business and the book business. The subject was dropped later. I still decided to write a book about the adversities in my life and how they made me a better person.
Something that’s not in the book is that I recently fractured the vertebrae in my back. They had to fit eight titanium rods into it and one of them broke. I had to go back for surgery again. After that my doctor asked me why I wasn’t running the treadmill.
That’s easier said than done.
Well, that’s what helps me get out of adversity. Exercise and healthy eating helps me recover. I participated in competitive swimming since 1937 and I never miss a day of swimming fifty to one hundred laps.
When I went to my doctor about my rheumatoid arthritis I asked him what his goal was with my treatment. He said it was total recovery. He’s a heart surgeon from South Africa and he told me that one in five people completely recover. I kept that in my mind and decided I was going to be one of the ones who recovered.
Q: Who do you think this book will help?
It would be helpful for anyone facing adversity. In an age where all the headlines in the news are negative I wanted people to get the message that if I can get through this anyone can. We went through the depression in the thirties and we don’t need a repeat of that.
Q: What were your biggest challenges when writing your book?
At first I didn’t like the idea of the whole world reading about all the things I’ve done. After that I had the realization that the purpose was to help other people.
Q: What do you think is different about your book compared to other self-help books?
There were no other books with titles about how to overcome adversity. It’s not really labeled a self-help book. It’s more a demonstration on how to overcome adversity through personal experience.
Q: What advice would you give to people still struggling with adversities such as addictions, health problems or other personal problems?
Stick with it and do what you want to do with your life. Don’t give up. We’re all trying to better ourselves and there’s always someone worse off than you are.
Q: What projects are you working on now?
I’m still busy running my company. There’s a younger crowd there now so I stay more in the background. We’re working on a ten-year plan right now. I’ll be 93 by then. I can’t see myself ever retiring and I don’t understand why people want to retire. We all need a purpose, an inner purpose to keep us going.
- Al, thanks so much for taking the time to share more information about yourself and your book The Power of Adversity. It will resonate with many people, even those who have faced differing circumstances. It’s a must read that offers hope and help for anyone struggling with adversity.
Sandra Williams - Sandra's a book addict and writer from Ontario, Canada. Her interests include cooking, health and personal development, so many of her ...
