Losing some face created a wonderful life journey? Adversity in the face of change!

I thought I would share a story of adversity and how we can overcome obstacles through one simple process.  Adversity Quotient is a term that was created around the mid to late 1990’s.  The basic thought about Adversity Quotient is that it is your ability to deal with challenges and how you respond to change.  We should grow from the trials in life and not allow them to tear us down.  What struggles have you faced?  Have they deterred you from your purpose in life?  From your goals?

Here is my story.  I had just finished my second year of college at the University of Colorado.  Go BUFFS!  It was the Friday before Memorial Day and I was exercising before going to work that night.  I was also excited because on Memorial Day I was going to have my first official date with a beautiful, wonderful woman I had met during the semester.  I jumped on my touring bike and began my 8 mile ride before getting ready for work.  I was about 8 blocks from home and passing a middle school.  All of a sudden, the front wheel released and the front forks of the bike tore into the asphalt.  I had no time to react and found myself plunging face first into the asphalt.  All of this happened so fast just as change can occur in our lives.  There are times we have no time to prepare for change and find ourselves in a situation we never expected.  When was the last time this happened to you?

My face hits the asphalt and I find myself sliding and flipping down the street.  I somehow ended up on my feet and remember the intense burn on my face and seeing the holes in my wrist area of my arms.  I couldn’t really see out of my right eye.  My immediate thought was that I was going to have an immense scab on my face and would have to deal with that all summer.  I was thinking about how long it would take to heal and how my summer would be ruined with a giant scab on my face.  What about my date?  Have you ever had something hit you so suddenly that you begin to start “crying” about the inconvenience it is going to cause?  Could be worse, so don’t dwell on what it could be and focus on your inner you and strength.  The journey may change.

You know how you were always told not to touch the burner because it was hot and yet you wanted to touch it as a kid?  That was my next move in my journey with this sudden accident, this intense adversity.  I thought about touching the scab and seeing how bad it was going to be.  As I slowly touched my face, my fingers slid on my exposed skull and I found that the right side of my face was somehow missing.  It was mangled and teeth were spewing out of my mouth.  The blood began rushing so incredibly hard and fast that I didn’t know what to do!  I was about to scream and go running in a panic, but I remember what happened next.  I felt as though I was being touched on my right shoulder and heard a voice telling me that I was going to be okay.  I immediately felt calm and walked slowly over to the grass area next to the school as the voice instructed. I heard I was going to be all right and that everything would be okay.  I laid down in the grass face first feeling as state of peace and some teachers rushed to my aid.  Have you ever felt panic during a time of change or adversity?  How did you react?  What were your thoughts?  Did you gain composure?

I was laying there face first bleeding like none other.  The school nurse showed up and somehow I was able to speak a little and I asked how it looked.  She tried to muster up a way to make me feel better.  Her exact words were, “Your nose appears to be broken.”  At this time I knew it was bad and laughed a little.  I told a joke about a teacher who had a broken nose, “Great. Now I’m going to look like Mr…..” I knew some of the people there, but they didn't recognize me.  I told them who I was as best I could with both jaws being broken and blood choking my every word.  My sister showed up as they were able to get a hold of her.  She didn't recognize me and who would.  We never see beneath the skin of those we interact with!  Do you truly know the ones you love?  The ones you interact and work with?  Truly listen to them and care for them and find their inner beauty?  We fail to take time to truly experience the joy in the ones we love.

I had determined that I was going to be okay and accepted the challenge before me.   Panic and fear were not going to overcome me.  We have a choice in any situation that we face in life.  The simple solution is to determine our approach.  We can’t change what has occurred, but we can change the outcomes and the journey.  Your attitude and your ability to face adversity are determined by your approach.  Choose to move forward and know that you can make it.  My story continues and the challenges in the hospital and the following year I am going to continue in my next blog.  I want to share the journey in hopes that it will help you and others truly face your challenges in life and turn them into opportunities. We tend to over-complicate our lives and approaches to adversities in our lives.  Everything in life works out!  Good comes from bad in our lives!  I could have created a crisis or issue in my life, but I chose not to.  We create our issues in our life and therefore are the solution.  Please share this with as many individuals as you can.  I want to continue the journey with thousands of you and share how you and those you love can create a wonderful life in how you face adversity!  What is your approach when faced with difficulty?  What is your level of courage?

Please stay tuned.  Please share your story with me! 

Next blog the story continues…..almost dropped and more!  Could it get worse?

Goals: Can you handle the adversity? 65 Yard Field Goal - $65K in Scholarships!

I had an amazing week last week in the San Luis Valley speaking with high school students about goal setting and careers. I was so inspired by these individuals and their abilities to achieve great things!  I made a public statement that a new goal I have is to kick a 65 yard field goal at a college football game next fall and give a $1000 per yard away in scholarships to some of the students in attendance. Well, accountability would state that if you say it then you have to do it.  So....I am waking up around 5:30 to 5:45 am each day and working out to include weight training and any aerobic exercise I can muster up.  I have cleared the snow in a portion of my front yard in order to practice kicking.  The net goes up and the footballs get kicked!  Thanks to snow blowers I was able to easily clear a portion of my yard!

I noticed my neighbor looking out the window attempting to figure out what I was doing.  To the occasional individual driving by surely is created some sense of curiosity.  You see when we set a goal that seems impossible not only to others but to ourselves as well, we need to know our Adversity Quotient.  The students in the San Luis Valley know what Adversity Quotient is.  Adversity Quotient basically states your ability to handle challenges and change.  Think about how you handle challenges.  Do you find yourself getting "flustered" easily by the smallest of challenges or change?  If so, your quotient is in the low range. Note that you can change your level through your approach.  Begin to change your outlook and visualize the positive in all you do.  Positive in means positive out.  We are the creators of our issues and therefore the creators of doubt.  We can't allow doubt and fear to seep in, we must maintain courage. So, back to the discussion about goals.  Obstacles are always going to make their way into our path.  How we handle them will help determine the outcome.  There is a great amount of snow on the ground and the weather is cold.  I removed the snow and dressed warm.  These obstacles were there, but not going to deter me from my goal. What about those who are questioning my actions? What about those who say I'm too old and that I have no prior experience?  I can't allow those ideals to overcome my mind and way of thinking. I have purpose!  In order to truly accomplish a goal, we must seek the underlying purpose to it.  To just kick a 65 yard field goal is one thing, but to kick it to help others in their quest is another.  The true purpose behind my goal is to show myself and others that I can accomplish something and at the same time help many students financially with their goal to get a college education. When we develop the purpose behind our goals, we develop a strong reason to continue in the face of adversity.  I may or I may not make the 65 yard field goal, but either way I am creating action.  What if I only kick a 35 yard field goal and give away only $35,000? I am getting in shape physically as this is a personal benefit!  I have at least created something that did not exist prior.  Oh, another obstacle is the money.  I still have no idea how I am going to find or create the funds to pull this off.  And, is there any college that will even allow me to kick during their game next fall?  CU? You see, when we create action in our goals we create possibilities.  We can't just sit around wishing or dreaming it, we need to create actions in order to create reactions.  Just the journey alone may inspire others to seek goals they have long been putting off!  Others may be so inspired that they decide to give to the cause and generate action on their behalf to help in the goal we are moving towards.  We need to get up and do something!

Don't be consumed by the "I can't" "You can't" "That's crazy!" and other statements that you and others create.  Write your goal with "will" statements and that will help you create action.  I sat around talking about kicking the field goal, but I needed to create action!  So I did!  Will you create actions in your lives to reach those outcomes you desire?  How do your goals assist others in their lives?   We all  need to take action and find meaning behind our action.  Trust in your abilities and know that all things happen for a reason.  Even if you fail, you create an opportunity to learn and grow.  From all things in life comes good as long as we create action and do not become overwhelmed by the adversities that show up in our paths.  I would love your support in this goal and would love to support you in your endeavors!  Contact me today and lets take on life's journeys together!

Set up the net (the plan), place the ball (the goal) and kick (action)!