Foreword from Irene's Inker Book 'From Rags to Riches". http://ireneinker.com
I am often asked how I retain such a sense of humor, how I always smile and make jokes, how I can “jazz up” any difficult situation, where I get so much energy, and how I can laugh about bad things that happen to me and make fun of myself.
Here is the answer to all of you who asked me these questions many times.
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This is the story my father told me about thirty years ago, when I still was a “Daddy’s Little Princess”:
When Alexander the Great took over one village, he sent his solders to collect the loot.
They came back with some loot, so he sent them the next day for more.
Soldiers came back empty handed, saying that villagers were crying and saying they did not have any more valuables.
Alexander replied: “If they cry, they have something to lose. Go push them and bring back more.” And so soldiers went back and returned with more loot.
And on the third day, Alexander sent them again.

They came back astonished and reported that something was wrong with all villagers, because when soldiers beat them and asked for more, they just laughed, and laughed, and laughed ...
Then Alexander told his soldiers: That is enough, if they laugh, they have lost it all, and they have nothing more left ...
This was the message my father was trying to send me, and much later I got it:
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“When you have lost it all, laugh. Do not be afraid anymore. Once you have lost it all, there is nothing more to be afraid of.”
