Odds…what are odds?

There is a 33% chance its already raining? – sorry I had to throw in a Mean Girls quote at some point!

But in all seriousness what are odds? why do we even use them?

Science tells us odds, stats people give us odds and tell us whether its a good bet or a bad bet either way they are just odds. Sometimes they are right and sometimes they are really wrong.

People make a lot of money betting sports and people also lose a lot of money betting sports because they followed the odds and the team did not pull of the win like they should of. For instance, the odds are telling me to pick Dallas Thursday night but the Vikings are playing at home and their season is in the air so they could pull off the win.

Odds in life work the same way. Medical professionals tell us there is a such and such percentage of recovery or successful surgery. Professors tell us there is a certain percentage of people will get jobs in the field, or that will get a good grade on the final. Knowing these odds does it mean you just give up or fight those odds.

If you are given a 10% success rate do you give up and say well it won’t work 90% of the time or do you push and fight to be apart of that 10%? The ones that are willing to push and fight no matter the odds will get the most out of life and will succeed because they do not let others dictate their lives for them.

My last post discussed doubters and people telling you you can’t do something. This follows the same pattern. Odds may not be in your favour but how will you ever know which side of the odds you fall on.

Odds are just numbers they are objective. A researcher has gone through all the numbers and has determined who was successful and who was not. No subjective findings were taken into account. Usually, the persons will to fight and do what is required to succeed is not measured or the opposite. People who are not successful aren’t necessarily unsuccessful because the task failed, but because they were not willing to go along with the requirements to make them successful.

The mind is a powerful being and it plays a large role in the success we have. If we picture ourselves beating the odds we have a better chance than if we sit back and accept the odds as they are. So picture what you want in life whether it is business or fitness or other goals that you are unsure of at this moment. Know that the only person stopping you is yourself. You can be that 1% if you work hard and try but you will never know if you don’t. We only get  one life so why not give it all we got because there will come a time when we will not be able to anymore. Why wait. Make today your day to start! Start living the life you want and not what others tell you to do!

Stay tuned for a special posting on Saturday for International Day of People with Disabilities 🙂

Doubters are all around us, whether it be medical professionals, family, friends, co-workers, classmates and even yourself can place doubt on what you can and cannot do! How do we overcome this?

In my journey, I have been told I would not do things many times. I was told on numerous occasions that I would never walk again. This doubt is a lot to deal with it places great deal of pressure on yourself and people see you differently. I remember doubting in my own ability to walk again because I was constantly told I wouldn’t. What made it even more difficult was that knowing this made people look at me differently. Although my close family and friends didn’t doubt me I felt as though they were feeling sorry for me and looking down on me. The doubt in myself to finish school, learn to walk, and have a normal life really started to slip away. This was a dark time in my life!

One day in class we were sitting there and our teacher had come up to me before class warning me that the video she was going to show may affect me. The video was of a man who was told he would never walk again and he started little by little every day working towards his goal and at the end of the video you watch him run down the street. My teacher was right it did affect me! I cried and many people in my class during the video looked at me and offerd silent support. Something in me that day did change I knew that I had to do something and work towards my goals. I told my teacher that day that one day I would run down the street I just did not know when that would be.

That same teacher through my third and fourth years of university really pushed me and challenged me. One day she asked our class what we value the most in life and I did not want to answer because I was not sure. I remember listening to other people say they valued their health and their ability to workout and walk and I remember running out of class crying. These were some tough times. I remember sitting in this professors office crying my frustrations out but she always believed in me even when I doubted myself entirely.

After my stay in the hospital I did not know what I was going to do with my life I felt with my limitations my career choices of being a Kinesiologist and a Therapeutic Recreationist were behind me. I sat down with this professor who was about to go on maternity leave and she motiationally interviewed me into realizing that I should take an extra year of school and find what I can do because I was right where I belong. This professor had a big place in my life, she may not even realize it but so many times she has changed my life and taught me to love and believe in myself.

Doubt still creeps in from time to time but it is important to push it aside. There will always be someone that will put doubt into your mind and tell you that you won’t be able to achieve your goal, whether it be your goal to lose weight, start a new career, go back to school. The most important suggestion I can make is to surround yourself with people who believe in you. Who push you to be the best you! Who only bring positivity to your life and make you want to be the best!

Your goals can only be obtained when you push your doubt aside. So start today believe in yourself, know that you can do whatever you put your mind to. Set goals, make them realistic and get out and achieve them. Prove the doubters wrong because let me tell you nothing is more satisfying. If I could send a picture of me walking, running, or sliding across the sliding board at the gym to the knee surgeon who told me he would never be able to fix my knee and that I would never walk again would be one of the best moments.

You only get one life to live and do what you want when you want and I am so glad I went through the struggle to get where I am today because I appreciate the journey so much more. I wouldn’t change anything because now I know that I can overcome anything!!

Special shout out to those who stuck beside me even at some of my darkest times because you helped me see the light and change my mind on doubting myself!

As I sit in the airport at 5 in the morning I was compelled to write a post about never giving up. Yesterday was a huge day for me and I’ll start with sharing that. 

Six weeks ago I joined the worlds best bootcamp not really sure what I was getting myself into and not sure if I was really ready for this bootcamp. Both mentally and physically I struggled but I know I wanted to do something. I went on the Saturday of thanksgiving for baseline tests. I did mediocre at best and wasn’t overly impressed with my measurements. I decided to dedicate myself to the process to not give up when it got hard and to get through it. 

The baseline workout included skipping, squats (hey I can squat) sit ups, push ups (ya right) and burpees (my enemy). Needless to say in the ten minutes we were given to complete this I did not. I left feeling kind of down but knew by the end I would finish it. Maybe shave off a minute or two from my time. 

Through the six weeks I struggled to find my pace. I struggled with feelings of doubt and not being good enough to keep up. But with the help in support from the ladies and Al in my troop we were on fire. Yesterday when I went and did my baseline and graduation measurements a couple days early becuase I would be leaving town I can’t even begin to express the feelings I had about the work out. 

Now wednesdays are tough for me as I meet with my friend who trains me in the morning and then I have to go to bootcamp at night but I got myself there ready to go. 

We did the measurements the one minute max tests and the baseline. After all was said and done I went and ran my laps and completed the workout with the class. After class we learned my results. I managed to get down 11.5 inches and got my time to 7 minutes and 10 seconds!!!!!!!! Absolutely crazy what you can achieve when you put your mind to something and commit yourself. If you never give up and strive for the best self you can really do anything. It won’t be easy but you will do it! 

In the words of Marcus Stroman “I can’t lie I’ve been on a mission to make all the doubters eat their words up in the kitchen…legendary comeback!” 

Don’t ever give up on your dreams because you can do everything your heart desires! Get yourself in the right mindset and you will achieve greatness! ❤️?

The past six weeks I have been running on a high! I have been hitting goals and losing the inches and weight and feeling good but it has not always been that way.

Through university, I dealt with ups and downs constantly. I would have good days and weeks and then I would slip and fall or I would blow my knee out bad and end up back at the beginning. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I re-learned how to walk! One thing I learned is that no matter what you cannot give up you have to keep trying.

On my 21st birthday all I wanted to do was take a few steps. It was a tough goal to reach and on the day my physiotherapist and her student held me up on either side and I took a few steps. Although it was not my actual goal, I did not give up hope.

The last year has been extremely difficult for me. After being hospitalized and having to fight what felt like everyone to learn how to walk again and trying to figure out who I was and am I kind of feel like I had lost myself. I had gained weight and ended up weighing the most I have ever weighed. I was not hitting goals, school ended, my contract ended and I felt even more lost.

I have always been an active person and super nerd and have spent years studying and doing homework. When September came around I did not know what to do and really struggled. To me, my struggles almost felt ten times more than it had been for the last year. I always knew I had these struggles but when you have nothing else to focus on the struggles seem bigger. I hated looking in a mirror and seeing who I was becoming (physically and mentally). I knew I needed a change and that is when I started looking harder.

Realizing that I had a big trip coming up I decided that I needed to get serious and get myself back on track. On October 1st I decided that this was it. I started working out again and eating better, the first few weeks were tough and I struggled when the alarm went off to get up and get going but eventually it did become easier. Now if I miss a work out I think about it and want to get it done. Hearing people say “I can tell you are losing weight” has been huge for me, especially since this time last year I had been asked if I was pregnant due to the fact that they had never seen me that large before.

Today, I can proudly say that I am feeling more confident in myself and that I can finally see the me I want to be. But one key point is realizing that I can do whatever I want. For awhile I used the excuse I was in the hospital of course I gained weight, or Oh I just learned how to walk I will never be able to get back to the way I was. I pretty must threw myself a pity party. But the pity party is over. For me to conquer the physical obstacles have really helped me to conquer the mental battles. I know last post I said mindset was everything and you can achieve everything by having a good mindset sometimes you have to push yourself physically to get to the mental mindset.

For days I pushed myself to get up and workout because I had the mindset that it needed to be done, that I had to do something. But now that I physically can get up and do the workout, the mental mindset has changed from you need to do this, to you can do this and you will be way happier than you were without the workout.

One thing I have learned this past week though is that you have to plan in order to succeed because without a plan failure is easy. I did not miss a workout for six weeks except for active rest days. This week came around and I went out, drank too much, didn’t get any sleep and missed my meal prep Sunday. This resulted in McDonalds for lunch and Subway for lunches during the week because I did not have anything prepped. Missed my workout Monday because I was still hung over I swear which was difficult for me even though I did the senior workouts with my clients I did not feel like this was enough. Finally on Tuesday I knew I had to do something. I reached out to an amazing friend who is also on a fitness journy and told her that I was going to crush a workout at 4pm when I was home from work. She said good and send me a message when you do it. This held me accountable to my plan to do the workout. I did not want to do the workout a nap might have been better but I still need to reinforce myself to not have any setbacks. At 420 when I got home I was running late but I had made the promise. I texted my accountability and snapped my after photo! All it took was that one workout to get back into the swing of things.

Life is busy but we need to plan to succeed and embrace the set backs use them and move forward. This goes for anything doesn’t even have to be fitness. I use physical activity and achieving goals as a way to help my mental health because there is nothing more satisfying in accomplishing a goal that accomplishing something you were told you would never do but it can be anything. It can be graduating university, it can be getting that promotion at work, it can be waking up a little earlier and becoming more of a morning person. If we take the time to plan ahead, have an automatic coffee maker, meal prep for the week, set alarms and times with friends to hit those goals nothing will stop you.

Do not let the set back stop you. We all fall down and if you fall down seven times make sure to get up eight. Show life that you will bounce back!! Never stay down because life goes until that final bell and we got to keep fighting.

Mindset really is everything and for those who don’t really know me or have not been along for the entire journey, you may think that I was always positive and ready to go. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

In my personal experience, I believe the mental challenged I had to overcome to get where I am today were harder than the physical battle I fight daily. When you get constantly told that you will never walk again that there is nothing they can do for your pain, you fail exams or struggle with school because you are higher than a kite on pain medication trying to survive the day being positive can be extremely difficult. Lucky for me I had some great friends to show me the way.

I was lucky enough in university to have a great friend who fought the battles with me. From picking me up for school so that I did not have to crutch to the bus stop to helping me study even though she studied better alone! I also met people along the way at the right time to help me battle the mental aspects of my challenges.

I am a firm believe that we are never given more than we can handle but with a twist. I believe that our bodies can physically get through anything but sometimes we need a push and someone to run along side us to get through the mental game.

When I was in the hospital unable to move my right side of my body only a few people saw the real me. I put on a brave face for a number of people brushed everything off like it was nothing but deep down I was scared and I was feeling angry with life because it was not fair that I just learned to walk again and now I was back confined to a wheelchair. I struggled with doctors not believing there was anything wrong with me, I struggled with being stuck inside without seeing outside air for almost 17 days! I struggled with hot flashes, pain, nausea, and my biggest struggle was my loss of dignity. Being lifted off the toilet and showered by nurses who are your age or younger was one of the toughest things I had to deal with and was extremely difficult on my mental health. Unfortunately, most people don’t fully understand this situation and can only offer empty encouraging words because they have not been in this situation before, but I was lucky enough to have had a friend who had lived in the hospital and dealt with the same things I had, even though I wished he never had to experience the hospital life it was comforting to have him around.

Before the hospital, Manny was a guy I had known through friends and had met him a few times at some parties. On my 24th birthday, which started with a 730 am needle poke and wake up call from the nurses I was feeling pretty down! I got my new wrist name tag so that it said I was 24 and not 23 anymore which was a big deal for me. I got a day pass and I was on my way. First, the wheel chair didn’t fit into the car and I couldn’t even go home because I would never get up the stairs to my room. This was mentally tough on me. I had been in the hospital for 19 days and had not told many people because I was embarrassed and didn’t want my friends to take pity on me. I decided I could no longer do this on my own. I mean I  had support from my closest friends and family but I needed more. I reached out to Manny and let it all out there and I will never forget the words he spoke to me and from that day forward, my mindset change and I will never let myself back into that dark place again. As I sit here and write this thinking about how big a part Manny played in my recovery I cry. I cry tears of happiness that in such a terrible time a great friendship could be formed but I also cry because I am scared to think of what would have happened without his encouraging words and my hospital decorations.

The day I reached out to Manny he came to visit and decorated my room. He brought a Batman which sat on my window sill and in every room I moved to as it had done for him. (That Batman has seen one too many hospital rooms) He also hung a banner that said “courage not the absence of fear or despair but the strength to conquer them”. From that day forward I used Batman as a hero until I learned to be my own hero. From that day forward I let people in and I let people see me at my weakest. I made stronger friendships out of people I knew and I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I still have tough days but waking up and believing in yourself is half the battle.

It is okay to be scared, sad, and fearful as long as you look for a way to overcome those. The power of will is in my opinion, the strongest emotional force there is. If you believe you can do something and reach deep down inside of yourself you will achieve it. I was told I would never walk I was told I should probably just pick out a wheelchair and learn to write with my left hand. I chose to not let anyone but myself write my story for me. If I wasn’t going to walk again it was because I did absolutely everything and emptied all the tanks.

I feel like this might have been long winded and all over the place but I hope I can get the point across that mindset is everything! Sometimes we need someone to show us the hero inside of us! Its okay to ask for help, it is okay to feel vulnerable and it is okay to let people in when you need them the most!

Check this pod cast out: http://www.brucelee.com/podcast-blog/2016/11/2/17-affirmations-part-3-willpower

P.S. Manny if your reading this….THANK YOU SO MUCH for helping me find myself and my willpower to overcome everything.

Stu if you read this…thank you for bringing me coffee every day and sitting with me and bringing Shilo to visit!

Laurel, thank you for coming up to the hospital every day, for packing my room up, for helping me move, for advocating for me with the doctors, for doing puzzles with me to distract me, for letting me cry when I needed to cry, and for dealing with my stubborn angry sad happy mood swinging life.

All our lives we strive for success and usually only get praised when we achieve the ultimate goal but what about the hundred steps you took before that ultimate goal!

For years we have been praised for taking our first steps, passing a test, graduating school, scoring our first goal, getting our first car, buying a house and on and on and on. Each of these things are AWESOME and should be celebrated but what about all that time you spent figuring out how to take your first steps, the hours of studying and tears it took to pass that test and graduate school, to the hours and hours practice your shot against the garage door, to all the small financial gains you made in order to buy that first car or the dream home!

In a life of fast pace and ultimate goals we should all take the time to step back and cheer on the small successes we do along the way! It is okay to get excited before the ultimate road and it is okay to celebrate the small victories. If we wait forever for the ultimate goal to come we may have lost our way. Sometimes it could take years to get to the point where you have reached your ultimate goal and it could be extremely frustrating!

For example, my hand and wrist have been not completely functional for the past 19 almost 20 months. This at first was extremely frustrating and with some help from those around me I have been able to celebrate the small victories. If I had sat back and decided I wouldn’t celebrate until it was fully functional I would be waiting a really long time instead through the power of social media I can celebrate the small goals. The day I took the brace off, the day my fingers slowly started to move, by shaking hands after my training sessions instead of high fives because I can let go. By showing everyone I know that I can pass them that cup instead of having them rip it out of my hand for me. All these small achievements do seem small but in the grand scheme of things they are what ultimately make that final goal a reality. Without the sweat and tears of the hard work the final goal will never be achieved.

I challenge you to each day celebrate the small things in life that get you to the big thing in the end. Whether you celebrate being able to get out of bed in the morning, completing that workout you didn’t want to do, doing 1 push up from your toes, or even completing that assignment a few hours early celebrate it all because it will get you where you are going. Be happy and don’t beat yourself up you are awesome and no matter what all those small things will add up to a big thing that we can all celebrate!

Yesterday I celebrated being able to do a push up from the toes for the first time in 9 years! Today I celebrated only hitting snooze once and waking up and getting my work out in! I know that yesterday sounds so much more exciting but I know that getting my work out in and starting my day off will help me to achieve the next goal that much quicker!

SMILE AND DO SOMETHING FOR YOU! CELEBRATE YOU!

and incase you have trouble starting let me help you: you are beautiful! you are amazing! you are incredible at what you do! You can do anything you put your mind to! you will achieve all of your goals and dreams! Just keep going! Never ever  stop!

The Unknown!

In February 2015 I woke up with severe pain in my left eye that did not get better as the day went on. I was eventually told to go to the eye doctor and I assumed I just needed glasses. This is when I was told I had optic neuritis which is an inflammation of the nerve to your eye. It was also when the words Multiple Sclerosis were spoken to me.

My right leg started to go numb. Which had happened before and I tried to make it not a big deal. Eventually I was taken to the hospital and put on some serious steroids that made me so sick!

On March 10^th I woke up completely unable to move my right side of my body but still tried to play it tough. I was taken to the hospital since I could not take care of myself and it was dangerous for me to be left alone. I walked in thinking I would leave. Little did I know that I would never go home. I would stay in the hospital for five weeks and get transferred to a rehabilitation hospital for another five weeks and have to move into a barrier free apartment.

Needless to say the ten weeks in the hospital might have been the biggest ten weeks of my life. I felt every emotion possible. I was scared, I was angry, I was sad, I was determined, I was frustrated, I had some happy moments, but it was the toughest ten weeks of my life.

Firstly, the nurses were amazing! At the beginning of my stay I had student nurses who did an awesome job of making you feel comfortable with having no dignity at all. Having to shower and go to the bathroom with an audience is something I don’t think I ever got used to. I had one nurse in particular who was a fourth year and she went over and above for me on numerous accounts. She took me to my appointments, she held my hand during scary procedures and she told me everything she learned since I am a complete nerd and wanted to keep my education. I had another nurse bring me real coffee and help me finish my homework as typing with one hand and making proper sentences was difficult on all the medication. I had another nurse who I enjoyed making blush as he made it so easy!

The first couple of days were extremely rough and I would not have made it through without Laurel. Laurel is a special lady to me. She is not my mother but has taken me in as her own and can pass as my mother. As far as the hospital was concerned she was my “mother” as I did not want them to kick her out when visiting hours were finished and they also gave her health information to help prepare me for everything that was happening in the hospital. I will forever be thankful and never be able to fully express my thanks and appreciation. I did not tell many people I was in the hospital as it was a scary time and it was frustrating and quite frankly I was embarrassed about being in the hospital and unable to do anything for myself.

Eventually, I started reaching out. Manny who is one of the most amazing people I know was someone I am so glad I reached out to. He had been in a similar situation where he had to stay in a hospital and deal with the reaction of friends and family coming to your bedside and treating you differently. He decorated my room and was a real turning point for me. He gave me a pep talk told me what needed to be done and changed my mindset. Batman was on guard for the rest of the journey and taught me to be my own hero!

The hospital was an interesting place, though. It really shows you who your friends are and brings people into your life that may not necessarily have played a big role in your life previous. One individual in particular brought me coffee each day of the work week and made me feel like a human by telling me stories about what was happened in the real world!

If you ever thought of giving up the hospital was a perfect time to give up! The hospital was a depressing place full of negative minds and sad situations. I did have one amazing roommate that I will never forget. Edy was the most amazing lady I have ever met. She was 99 years old and just had a heart attack and a stroke. She had lived alone up until this point which was amazing. She was the happiest lady ever. She would sing and hit on the nurses which was always entertaining and her daughters were great company.

Once I had been moved to St Joes that was when the real work started. Therapy was 7 days a week about 2-3 hours a day. Since there was nothing else left to do rehabilitation became my life. I had a friend as a rehab assistant which was also awesome because he would let me watch the jays games on the weekend while working out. I was told I would probably not walk out of the hospital and that I should probably pick out my wheel chair. I was determined not to be in a wheelchair as I would not be able to get around the arena very well. When you put your mind to something you can definitely achieve what you want. Although I didn’t walk out of the hospital completely unassisted I did walk on two feet out the door!

The hospital also allowed me to meet many interesting people. Most of my roommates were cool and interesting and I only had trouble with one roommate. Everyone had cool stories and helped passed the time which was ideal. I met a guy who was from my hometown as well which was nice and he always talked about my dad and told stories about his officiating.

Needless to say, the unknown was scary but the learning experience that I obtained was something I will take with me forever. I learned how to become my own hero, and positive thoughts will always make life easier than negative thoughts. I was vulnerable and I cried a lot but I can say that I was stronger after my stay than I was when I went in.

Always remember: that it is okay to be scared and afraid and cry as long as you are able to brush yourself off and stand back up! Don’t ever give up! No matter what they tell you. The power of your mind is so much stronger than what the doctors may be able to tell you. Giving up is never an option when it comes to life. You got to push yourself and believe in yourself! Becoming a person with a disability is not something that I feel limits me. My thoughts about being someone with a disability did limit me at first but when I came to realize that even if I had to modify things my life could go on and I would do whatever I wanted. Whether that be modifying how to work out at the gym, playing sledge hockey instead of skating, and taking breaks when before I may not have. It may not be the prettiest but one thing I can guarantee you is that I will never give up and I don’t want you to either!

Reticular activating system

What does this mean?

In short, it is the mind’s ability to believe what you constantly tell it to believe. For example, if you constantly tell yourself you cannot do something eventually your mind will believe that you cannot do it!

Throughout our lives, we are constantly told the things we need to work on or fix whether it be a mark on a math exam or a coach at practice showing you how to fix your shot. Positive reinforcement sometimes gets brushed off to the side or a more general good job after a practice. If we change our mindset to a more positive attitude and constantly tell ourselves we can do something, that we enjoy what we are doing our reticular activating system will begin to believe those thoughts!

My challenge to you is to try and change your mindset and be positive to yourself. In order to improve our lives we have to start with self-love.

Some of the things I use are the famous quote of “never give up”. Every day I walk around with this quote on my shoulder and constantly have to tell myself that I can do it that I will not give up. This is important, mindset to get into because if we start to believe that we can’t do something our bodies will not finish what we started. So if you are starting a workout plan tell yourself you will not give up. You will do great and that you can do this. Even if before every set you have to tell yourself you can do it and that you only have to do one more you will find that that set is easier than constantly telling yourself “I cannot do this, this is too hard”. “I rock these squats” “I am strong” sounds way better than “squats suck” and “I am too weak to do one more rep”

One more example: I am a strong independent woman

Believing in yourself apart from everyone else is one of the best things I have ever done for myself. Being able to say that I can achieve my goals and dreams myself if something that I am proud of. I do not mean that I do everything alone, I am saying that I can function myself. Sometimes we end up in a cycle of being dependent on other people and begin to have a sense of reliance. What I want you to believe is that you can get through all that life sends your way because you are strong! Friends, family, significant others are there to support you and encourage you through those times but deep down you need to believe in yourself and know that you can get through it all.

One thing I learned was that sometimes the people you think will be there for you are not always there when you need them the most. Understanding that you are strong enough to tackle the world is the first step in overcoming life’s challenges! Please if you follow my journey that begins now start with believing in yourself and changing your beliefs in yourself. #selflove #positivethoughts

Hello All,

My name is Tiffany Gervasi and I am a 25-year-old Kinesiology graduate living in beautiful North Western Ontario.

I have not always had the easiest road to get to where I am today but one thing that has always gotten me through is the support I feel from those around me. In the paragraphs below you will learn my story but first I just want to say that I hope this blog will help give you the inspiration and motivation required to get through whatever it is you are trying to get through. Together we can inspire and motivate each other to achieve any goal you want to reach whether it be rehabilitation, adjusting to life with a disability, lose weight or just live an overall healthy lifestyle!

So let the journey begin!

At the age of twelve, I dislocated my knee for the first time by the time I was 17 my knee was dislocating on the regular and I underwent my first knee surgery. By the time I was 21 I had gone under three more surgeries and was told I would never walk again. In 2014 at the age of 23 I was given the opportunity to go down to Southern Ontario and had another surgery that was successful and I began my journey to recovery! On March 10th, 2015 I woke up completely paralyzed on the right side of my body and I was unable to move my arm or my right leg. I was again told that I would never walk again and had to prove to the doctors that no matter what I was going to walk out of the hospital! Which is exactly what I did!

Since then I have spent the last year working hard to get back to where I feel I should be and it has not been easy! Sweat, tears, and hard work every day have brought me to where I am and I hope that this blog will help someone else find the strength to break free from the norm and become the best person they can become! Remembering that no matter what limitation someone places on you, only you decide if that limitation will stick or if you can overcome! All starts with believing in yourself!

“Courage- not the absence of fear or despair, but the strength to conquer them.”

A wise friend once told me “Bad things HAVE to happen to the good and strong, because if they didn’t then those people wouldn’t be able to become better or stronger. Also, it’s only the strong people in the world that can handle the tough things, because if bad things happened to the weak they wouldn’t survive it. It’s up to us to show up mother nature, tell her to go f*** herself because we’ll defeat anything she throws our ways because we’re warriors”.

Join me on this journey and fight against mother nature. I hope I can inspire you to become the best person. If not I am sure you can find some humor in the stories I have to share! Just remember one thing…you can achieve whatever you put your mind to! I was told twice so far in my life that I would never walk again and I can jog!