Summary

Meiko S. Patton, a former United States Postal Service letter carrier, found inspiration in the purpose of a postage stamp to overcome the grief of losing his mother to cancer and to subsequently defeat his suicidal thoughts, leading him to write a book and meet his mentor, Oprah Winfrey.

Abstract

Meiko S. Patton's life was profoundly impacted by his mother's terminal cancer diagnosis and her eventual passing in 2008. Prior to this, Patton was an outgoing and enthusiastic individual, but the loss of his mother, whom he considered his best friend, led him to contemplate suicide. While working as a letter carrier, Patton had an epiphany about the purpose of a postage stamp—its unwavering commitment to deliver a message without giving up. This realization became a metaphor for his own life, prompting him to identify his purpose and persevere. He channeled his pain into writing, authoring "How a Postage Stamp Saved My Life," a book offering strategies to combat depression, boost self-confidence, and achieve goals. Patton's resilience also led to a life-changing meeting with Oprah Winfrey, who became his mentor. Patton, who enjoys traveling, running marathons, and volunteering, now helps entrepreneurs utilize FB Messenger for business growth.

Opinions

Patton believes that, like a postage stamp, one should stick to their purpose and never give up.
He values the therapeutic power of writing, as evidenced by his decision to write a book during his period of grief.
Patton draws inspiration from Oprah Winfrey's overcoming of her own struggles, indicating admiration for her resilience.
He considers it an honor to be part of the Illumination community, suggesting a sense of belonging and appreciation for the platform.
Patton is committed to personal development, as shown by his interest in learning new languages and leveraging technology for entrepreneur

Introducing… Meiko S. Patton

How a Postage Stamp Saved My Life

In 2008, while employed as a Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service, my life was served a devastating blow when my 59-year-old mother was diagnosed with Stage IV colon and liver cancer with less than a year to survive.

Mom died on November 17, 2008.

Prior to her death, I was a very out-going, energetic and enthusiastic person. But after her death, the only thing that I could think about was suicide. I was in so much pain because not only was my mom my best friend, she was the one person who I knew for sure that really loved me.

As a letter carrier, you see stamps all day everyday. So one day, while contemplating suicide, the purpose of a postage stamp popped into my mind. Of course postage is needed to make sure your mail gets delivered, but for me, the main purpose of a stamp is to stick to its recipient until its job is complete. The postage stamp never deviates from its goal and it fervently sticks to its goal until it is realized. The postage stamp never ever gives up. Now, that is how I live my life.

“Consider the postage stamp. It secures success through its ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.” — Henry Wheeler Shaw

That one statement got me to thinking. If the postage stamp has but one purpose in life and it never strays from that purpose, then what was my purpose and why had I strayed? I thought, how could I end my life before it had really begun? How could I end my life before I achieved my goals? How could I just give up?

I COULD NOT.

I DID NOT.

For me writing has always been therapeutic, so, I wrote a book titled: How a Postage Stamp Saved My Life: 21 Powerful Tips to Defeat Depression, Skyrocket Your Self-Confidence & Achieve Your Goals.

Because I did not give up, I had the opportunity to meet my mentor, Oprah Winfrey. Knowing her story and what she overcame was an inspiration to me and meeting her has been a highlight in my life.

ABOUT ME:

Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA.

Lived in San Diego, CA for 8 years.

Currently reside in Sacramento, CA.

Love to travel, run marathons, volunteer in my community, count my steps with Fitbit and learn new languages.

Fluent in Portuguese and currently learning Cantonese.

I help entrepreneurs leverage FB Messenger to help grow their business and generate leads quickly.

It’s an honor to be a part of the Illumination community.

Thank you.

Meiko