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

thankful_quotes

 

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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I feel the need, the need for speed

I don't even want to think about what fuel would cost
I don’t even want to think about what fuel would cost

 

When I got into high school and got my power chair, I was constantly being told to SLOW DOWN. I never understood this. If you had to sit in a chair with the motor on it, why wouldn’t you go as fast as possible all the time?

Okay I admit it, I’m a guy and I love things that go fast. I loved Top Gun, as a kid(still do really) and The Fast and The Furious movies. I love anything that I could possibly die while doing. Roller coasters, homemade airplanes built from a kit,(yes I’ve ridden in one) I love it all. I’ve even gone skiing. That was a blast. People ask me if I would like to race a lot.(I think they truly believe that I can hit a button on my joystick, and afterburners and will pop out like the picture above). The truth is most chairs only do 4 miles an hour(I’m pretty sure most of you can walk faster than that). I do not have a chair that will do 8 miles an hour but it’s big and the battery drains quickly.

I think those people that always told me to slow down were afraid I was going to lose control and mow someone down. It could happen I guess, but I don’t really see it. On the other end of the spectrum every guy that I grew up with, who had any mechanical skills at all, wanted to soup up the chair. (if I hadn’t been afraid of being grounded until the end of time if something went wrong, I probably would have let some of them do it.)

I’ve often thought that electric wheelchair racing should be an actual sport, with pit crews and sponsors just like NASCAR. The cool thing about it would be that you can actually see your favorite driver as they went around the track.(The advertisers would actually get their moneys worth). if that were a real thing I think, I would be really good at it. Yeah I know, I’ve got too much time on my hands, but you have to admit it’s a great idea.

This has been Wheelchair Wednesday

 

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Make the most of what you have

I made this video more than three years ago. I have to admit I feel like I haven’t accomplished much in those three years because I still feel the same way today. I’m still trying to figure out how to make my way. The one thing that I am proud of is that my vision has not changed. I still want to take over the world.

Three years later I still don’t feel like much is expected of me but the one thing I have learned, is that the only thing that matters is what I expect of myself. One thing I haven’t talked about here is that  I am amazed while watching able-bodied people. It seems really simple for you guys to walk, or drive or do all the things that you do without even thinking about it. When I see that. It makes me wonder why most people struggle so much? They have the ability to do what they want to do with so few physical barriers that it is mind blowing to me, why most people don’t do more. It’s hard for me to do simple things, like open a piece of candy, or put on a shirt. In short if you can tie your own shoelaces. It seems to me you can probably be President if you so choose.

As the front page of this blog says, we all have issues. I’m not disputing that. All I’m saying is. If you are physically able with no major physical deficits, then make the most of it. If you don’t, I’m probably going to find a way to do what you want to do better than you. Even with all of my physical issues. I do have one major advantage, it’s called handicap parking (if you people don’t steal my spot, that is.)

This has been motivational Monday

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I STILL want to be like Mike

Greatest ever
Greatest ever

I love sports, always have. I’ve never been able play them, but they have always captivated me. I think it all started with Michael Jordan. When I was a kid, he was the closest thing to a real life superhero that I knew. I couldn’t walk but he could fly. At that time you could catch all the Bulls home games on WGN. For about seven years I’m pretty sure I saw every single one. He made me feel like anything was possible. He is the greatest to ever play no discussion,

When I was 18 years old, my mother asked me what I wanted for my birthday. By this time Michael was in his last year with the bulls and I knew I had witnessed greatness. I told her I wanted a pair of Air Jordans. This was a big deal back then because even in 98 we didn’t have a lot of money.

I’ll never forget going to the store and rolling in to find the perfect pair. One of the sales guys asked me what I wanted, I told them I needed Jordans. The next part of the story is absolute truth, he went to the back, and when he came out he had the shoes and a massive smile on his face. I asked him what the smile was for and he said “you are going to love these shoes. They’re going to make you run faster and jump higher.” Those shoes are displayed  prominently in my room and I still put them on occasionally, to see if they’ll do something for me. I don’t expect to jump like Mike but even at 18 I had hoped that they had some magical powers. I’m starting to wonder if that might be defective because I put them on and I’ve still got nothing. I don’t need to jump, but if they made it easier for me to walk I’d buy at least two pair every year for the rest of my life.

This has been wheelchair Wednesday (and yes I know air Jordans don’t have magical powers, or maybe you just don’t believe enough 😉 )

Update 6-29-16

jj-shoes

One of the coolest things about running a blog is you have a space to tell people about your life. Evie drew this comic based on one of my jokes, and I just had to update the post. The comic is even funnier because it actually happened to me. I’m curious has anyone else out there ever hoped the new parish shoes Will give you superpowers? I certainly did.

 

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