Have you ever experienced a period in your life when everything was going wrong and it seemed like nothing would ever go right again? Have you ever noticed that, over time, things usually work out ... and most often for the better?

That's the topic of today's column.

Former Neighbourhood Heroes Joy and Keith Hunter are a perfect example of the fact that the sunrise usually follows night. You may remember their story from a column I wrote a couple of years ago.

Keith had already spent more than twenty years building and operating a go-cart track north of Toronto when he and Joy were married. They continued working together on the business for another seven years and then, without warning, had it "stolen" from them.

Joy says she was totally devastated with no idea of where they belonged, or where they could go. She admits that she is the emotional one and that Keith is much more laid back.

One of the first gifts from this "disaster" was that they worked through their challenges together and grew an even stronger marriage.

So what could they do? Over the previous few years property values had escalated to the point they could no longer even think about starting over in that area; however, they had visited the Mid Island region a couple of times and liked it. Then, when they found an affordable six-acre piece of property that would allow Joy to keep her horse, the commitment to move was made.

Well they assumed they could afford the property but as they drove west, they were coming to a new mortgage and no jobs - Pretty scary.

But of course things did work out. Within ten days Joy was hired by School District #68 to drive a school bus, Keith was soon employed as well, and their new life began to bloom.

It's interesting to note that Joy had worked as a computer operator for fourteen years (1963 to 1977) and then moved to a small town north of Toronto where no such jobs were available so she started driving a school bus for the next fourteen years. When she was hired by School District #68, how many years do you think she had worked when she retired?

So when we last heard from Joy and Keith in this column, life was pretty good ... no, life was wonderful ... but then, when I dropped by for a visit last week, I found that their lives are even better still.

After Joy retired last year, she spent six months wondering what she was going to do next. None of her options seemed to be workable but then, while sitting on the porch one summer's evening, she had a brainstorm. She would put her two major loves together (children and horses), buy some ponies, and start a pony ride buisness.

I saw her pony trail for the first time last week, a trail that takes kids on a magic ride with "dangerous S-Curves", a bridge, a watering hole for the ponies, and an "enchanted forest" populated by elves and other small creatures.

I watched Joy's face as a couple of young children climbed onto their ponies and I could see that after "devastating times", life can definitely get better, and better, and better.

"This isn't the first time in my life that things have worked out after a devastating experience," Joy told me as I was leaving, "and I know that everyone, if they just keep true to their dreams, will see that things will work out. You don't have to let those troubled times get you down; you can find happiness again."

It's a great message, hard to remember when we most need it, but a great message nonetheless.