We all have issues but do you know yours?

 

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My physical weaknesses are fairly apparent. I can’t walk and I have fairly limited motor skills. These are probably obvious to anyone who meets me. What they may not know is that I have mental weakness as well. I have self Image issues, as well as occasional doubt about my self worth. I know that I have these issues. Knowing means that I am aware of the aspects of my life that need  work.

Like me, you have some fairly obvious weaknesses. Some of them you may not be able to do anything about. I can’t do anything about my cerebral palsy. That’s completely out of my control. I will always need help, dressing, showering, etc. What I can work on is believing that I am worthy. Knowing that I’m a good man, and understanding that the way that someone reacts to me, my chair, my looks, my approach to life is not my problem. I have felt rejected many times in my life. I felt that the rejection was somehow my fault. I pushed too hard, was around too much, As I get older I’m learning that when this happens it’s rarely my fault. Knowing this doesn’t make rejection easier to take but it helps to combat my self-doubt. It has taken me years to understand why I have self doubt. For a long time I thought I was broken, that women treated me badly because I had done something to deserve it. That maybe I wasn’t good enough to do a certain job, or speak at a certain place. As I have said in previous posts, it’s very easy to get depressed and let self-doubt take over. Knowing who I am. and reminding myself that my doubt isn’t rational keeps me level, and allows me to focus on what I can control.

We all have weaknesses, places we struggle. Knowing and understanding yours, may not change your life, but ultimately it will make you stronger. We all have issues but do you know all yours?

 

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Dreamers can’t be afraid

 Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. – Les Brown
Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are living our fears. – Les Brown

 

I’ve had to fight my entire life. I had to fight to even be born. Then I had to fight to live, then I had to fight through five surgeries. From there, I fought to show people  what I was capable of in school. Even in college I fought hard to prove I could do the job I wanted. If you are new here and you want to know more about all that, go back and check out all the early posts.

There’s not much in life that I fear. The one exception is that maybe all of the mountains I have climbed in my life, were for nothing. Maybe all those naysayers were right. Maybe I’m not as good as I think I am. Maybe I don’t have gifts that can change the world.

It’s easy to get stuck in that mindset for periods of time. I’ll admit that I’ve been fighting it off and on this year. I launched this blog thinking I could change the world with it, and the response hasn’t been what I had hoped.

I tried to shoot a trailer for a TV show and it’s still not done. Nothing has worked the way I anticipated this year, but I don’t give up, for one simple reason. I WON’T BE BEATEN  BY MY FEAR. If you feel like I have for a lot of this year. I have good news for you. The year is almost over and we get to start fresh very shortly. The new year means all kinds of fresh possibilities.

Take the next three weeks and make them count. Do small things to make sure next year you can start living your dream. I know what mine is, do you? If you don’t know, start thinking about what you want. What you want for yourself is all that really matters. I’ve known for a long time what I want, and I’ve fought hard to work towards it. I got tired and frustrated, and let that fear overtake me for short periods this year. Next year is going to be better. I’m going to get closer to what I want, and I’ve already started working toward getting 2016 off on the right foot. Are you going to live your dreams next year or are your fears? only you can decide.  

 

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Feel the burn don’t let the air conditioning get in the way


 

I’ll admit to being a bit of a gym rat when I was younger but as I get older it makes less and less sense. I really do think if anybody is watching us, they must find the idea of going to a building to work out fairly comical. Also I know  no one who looks good while working out.

 

This has been Funny Friday

 

 

 

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Bullies can only do as much as you allow

 

Life is so much more complicated for kids in school today then it was when I was going up. I’ve had lots of people ask me if I was ever picked on because of my chair. It may surprise you but I wasn’t. There are two reasons for this. The first is that I think most boys were afraid of me. If you haven’t noticed, I’m pretty outgoing, and I give as well as I get,

If anyone ever came at me with taunting or whatever, I came back at them just as hard. I also think I didn’t get picked on because no one wanted to be seen picking on a disabled kid. I was always popular, I wasn’t the best looking guy, I didn’t have a lot of money, I just knew how to talk to people. In those days, people thought my chair was special. They had more fun rolling with me, (yes that pun was intended) then picking a fight.

It’s not that easy for kids these days, there are pressures and expectations that I and other adults have no concept of. That said, do the best you can every day to be good to the kids around you. If you do have a run in with a bully, use every resource at your disposal to handle this situation the right way. The teachers around you have your back everyday. Trust them, they have your best interest in mind. You are a gifted and special, and can change the world like no one else. Don’t let everyone tell you any different.

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Peace on earth and goodwill toward men Even the idiots

enjoy

I had family at my house all weekend. If you are paying attention you would have noticed that I only posted two entries last week. The family was here, I was busy and when I sat down to write I had nothing to say.

My mind is in other places. I’m thinking about Christmas, and gifts, every thing that the next two months is going to hold. I’m also thinking about how behind I am.  How this year didn’t go quite as planned, how to make next year better. It’s easy to lose track of the  Joy of the season, when you’re trying to find that perfect gift, just like everyone else. Tempers flare, stress goes up, and bah humbug just feels right. I have to remember  that I really enjoyed seeing my family on Thanksgiving, and if I really stop and think about it, my life is pretty good.

I’m not rich or famous,(I’d like to be both) and I didn’t do anything spectacular this year, but I’m doing okay. It’s easy to be completely overwhelmed by the pressures of the holiday season.  it happens to all of us, just don’t forget to enjoy it while you’re in it, because no matter how little you have, there are many people around the world that have much less.

 

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Count your many blessings

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This is being posted on Thanksgiving day in United States. It’s funny that we have a day on the calendar to remind us to be thankful. We should be thankful everyday. I admit however that like everyone else, I forget sometimes how good I have it. I’m blessed with an amazing family, good health, and the ability to chase my dreams. I also have two women in my life that drive me every day. I talk about them a lot here it seems, but they go by the names of Evie and Natalie. If you’ve been one of my readers for very long, you’ll know that I’ve talk about Evie before. She built the site and has come up with numerous ideas to make me a success. (most of which you haven’t seen yet) I drive her crazy on a daily basis. I’m not sure I’ve ever met a more gifted and talented woman in my life. So much so that it’s intimidating sometimes. She keeps me on my toes I can’t say that about many people,

I hate to admit it but she is much more driven than me and is constantly trying to find ways to inspire me to be better. I’m extraordinarily blessed because of her.

Then there’s Natalie.  Maybe the single greatest surprise of my life. I could spend the next three paragraphs telling you how wonderful she is but I won’t. I can some it up very simply by saying she brings the kid out in me. She brightens my day every day. (I’d tell you how but if I repeated most of what we talk about here we would both be committed.)

Right about now you’re probably wondering why I chose to tell you this. What does that have to do with you? The answer, we are all blessed. You may have to think about it for a while find the blessings in your own life, but I promise you, they are there. So my question to you ladies and gentlemen yes how are you blessed? Leave me a comment let’s talk about it.

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We all inspire someone let them pick you up

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I know the holidays are tough for a lot of you out there. From now until after New Year’s is a daily struggle. I don’t know what you’ve been through or what you struggle with. I do know that no matter who you are, someone out there believes in you. There is a person in your life who believes you can do anything. Whether you believe it or not. I’m lucky enough to have two of those people in my life.  They know who they are. I know that I would not survive a day without them. You may not think that person exists in your life. You may have to look hard but I promise they are there. It’s that person that believes in you no matter what. No matter how many times you fail, they pick you up. That person who would give everything they have if it would help you succeed. When you struggle this holiday season, go find them as often as you need to. I promise, they won’t mind.

The people and relationships we have in this life are all that matters. When you see that person, whoever they are, tell them you love them, even if that’s not really your style. Life is hard and this time year, it can take its toll. If you know you are “that person” for someone in your life, don’t wait on them to find you, go get them.

Whatever your struggles are, remember they don’t own you.  You are in control. If after some thought “that person” in your life that you inspire doesn’t come to mind, email me I’m not afraid to talk to you. Just know you’re not getting my pie on Thanksgiving.

This has been Motivational Monday

 

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The past prepares us for the future

Easy to say harder to practice
Easy to say harder to practice

 

 

“When things don’t work out for you… When things happen that you could not anticipate, what are the reasons that you can think of that can keep you strong?
You will never, ever be successful until you turn your pain into greatness. Until you allow your pain to push you from where you are, to where you need to be. Stop running from your pain and embrace it. Your pain is going to be a part of your prize – a part of your product.
It’s easy to be on the bottom. It doesn’t take any effort to be a loser. It doesn’t take any motivation, any drive in order to stay down there at a low level. But it calls on everything in you – you have to harness your will to say ‘I’m going to challenge myself.’
The biggest enemy you have to deal with… is yourself.”

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook recently. I have no idea who originally said it but there’s a lot of truth there. The mantra of this blog is “We All Have Issues.” We all have a past, and we all have demons that try to keep us there. It’s been said that most people only have 5 true friends throughout the course of their lives. Five people that will support you no matter what. Those five people can only do so much. If you want to change your life you have to make the change and I challenge you to start today. It won’t be easy or quick, but you CAN do it. The past is the past. Leave it there and start today

This has been #MotivationalMonday

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