Friday, August 30, 2013

5 year anniversary! Woo hoo!

So, it's August 30th. August 30th. A pretty big day for this gal. As you know, 5 years ago today was the day of my little "BIG" accident. Crazy how time flies.

I'm ready now to really grab my career/life by the horns and steer it towards that bright light I've seen at the end of my tunnel. I know, no matter how long this journey  will be, in the end everything will be ok, and here's why......

While I was in the hospital (Methodist Rehabilitation Center), I had a mini vacation. Hard to believe right? However, it happened. I can't remember how I got there, but I was suddenly transported to this place. It wasn't a beach, or a lake, but in front of me was this huge body of water. It was beautiful.
 The sun was low, and the water looked as if it was the suns personally mirror reflecting its image back perfectly. There was a man sitting next to me on my left. I never turned to see his face, but I could see him in my periphery. I had no desire to look at him because it was as if he was this old friend Id known forever that I just felt completely comfortable with. We were both sitting looking forward at this magnificent body of water. Then he spoke while still starring at the water.

"I have a message to sent out to the world."
"Ok"
"And I am going to do it through you"
"Ok"
" I choose you because I know you can handle it"
"Ok"
"Only, you'll never know what it is, and you never will"
"Ok"
"Now, you need to know, you have a long road ahead of you. It won't be easy. You'll go through a lot of ups and downs"
"Ok"
"But I PROMISE YOU, everything will be OK in the end"
"Ok"

And that was our conversation. Just the way I would want it. Short, to the point, but full of information, insight, and encouragement. Before I knew it, I was back in the hospital. The man was gone. No body of water anywhere, just the 4 walls around me and the television monitor connected to my bed.

I believe in a heaven and a hell. My relationship with God, is very special to me because its mine. That man was my God. He knew me, spoke my language, and gave me hope. After that, I've never seen him again since that day. But I don't need to ( I mean that of course in a good way).

My friends and family along with random strangers I've meet throughout my life are the best angles a girl can have. They know, as well the big guy upstairs knows, that Im not perfect. I have my flaws just like everyone else, and they still care and love me for it. That is so  rad!

So, Im here. 5 years and standing strong. I was told that I have a long road ahead of me and I best be walking on down it. I started on this path the day I realized I was alive, and trust me, there is absolutely no way I'm stopping now.

Thank you to everyone, and I mean EVERYONE who has been a cheerleader, a rock, a friend. You're part of this amazing story as much as I am. I truly love all of you and thank my lucky stars I have you in my court.

Today marks a huge milestone and a new beginning. Kids, my ticker is still running, and so am I :)

Nicole



Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Radio show pics and a little bonus

Told ya I'd put these bad boys up....

Bob Gallo - Radio DJ on Supertalk

About to go on air. Feeling pumped.

BONUS photo

I put up this bonus photo for a reason. In two more days it will be August 31. August 31, 2013 will mark 5 years since my accident. 5 years of my heart beating. I've been alive for 5 years after a pretty horrific accident. I've kept it up this far, so might as well just keep moving forward.

Nicole







Super Talk!

So yesterday was pretty cool. I was on SuperTalk MS Radio yesterday. Here is link to the program I was on:http://www.supertalk.fm/ . Not gonna lie, I think it went pretty well. No complaints on this end.

 Check out the behind the scenes: ( having difficulty with upload) pictures soon to come :)

Nicole


Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Expecting the unexpected

This morning at 8a.m  I'll be on MS Super Talk radio at 8a.m. I've done radio interviews before, but Im not gonna lie. I'm a little nervous. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. I had a professor once tell me, "it's good to have nerves. It's the minute you think you "have it", before you perform, well....that is the time when you need to worry the most". In other words, if you go into any situation thinking it will go perfect it usually doesn't. So, your nerves are a cushion to help you remain humble and up for anything. I may have paraphrased that a little incorrectly, but I think you guys get my drift.

"Expecting the unexpected". That is by far one of my favorite expressions, and something I preach often. Things happen, there is a hiccup in your plans, a delay on the way to an appointment , something gets canceled. The point is, sometimes things are out of our control. We can put such energy into expecting things going or happening a certain way, that when a monkey wrench is thrown into the equation, we're clueless as to what to do now. How will we go on? Well, not to worry. So there's a snag in your plans. Doesn't mean it will be a bad out come. That is unless you allow it to. Perhaps maybe whatever happened happened for some interesting reason.

I/we don't have a crystal ball, we can't tell the future, but we can embrace the "unexpected". I speak for myself when I say I embrace the unexpected. It's a reminder that things don't always go expected to plan. The main thing to know is that it isn't the end of the world when there is a ripple in our daily lives.

Breath, embrace, and carry on....

Nicole

Friday, August 23, 2013

Time passes...and before you know it, a new beginning emerges

Well, after seeing how long it's been since my last post, it feels right to write this.

On August 31,2013, it will be five years since my accident. Weird. It is an extremely odd feeling knowing that you almost left this world. That there could potentially have been no more watching the run rise, the sunset. No more laughing, crying, no more building memories to reflect back to, and the list goes on and on.....

But you guys, I'm here. Imagine that. Through some pretty horrific odds, I'm here. The past five years have definitely been interesting. My entire thought process has been "get better " and "got to find a job". There's a problem though. Just getting better and finding a job is not that easy. Especially when your clueless as to what direction your life is going in now. Especially after a major, never saw it coming, accident.

I sorta had this life plan. Then the accident happened and everything changed. The life plan I had was altered. There had to be a new plan. A new goal. My heart was beating, so I knew that life wasn't over yet. It was now going to begin in an entirely different way. A new chapter.

So, the last five years have been trial and error. What can my body do, what can't it do (yet), what things need work in order to function properly, and what was I gonna do now? That's when public/motivational speaking flew in. It was up my alley. Think about it. I'm still performing, Im on a stage, only this time I'm playing myself. Easier said then done sometimes.

My life has been moving on this up and down roller coaster with no stops or place to pull into. Yet, that's all about to change. This gal is about to embark on a new adventure. The adventure I've been searching for and just couldn't find. But things are starting to become clearer. I've done the hard part. I worked on getting better and I still continue that. Though Im not in physical therapy as frequently, I'm still working towards my recovery. My body gets stronger everyday. Things are starting to wake up slowly more and more.

The hospital days are a thing of the past. Now the challenges of creating a new me, a new life is at the top of my list. Once again, I'm making progress.

I'm sharing this with you because I want/need you to come on this adventure with me. Good or bad, we'll definitely see. Plus, it makes things more exciting. You know......... venturing into the unknown with guns just a blazing? That's me, only my guns are the confidence Im striving for every day :)

So, I welcome you, the year, and every bump along the way to take a deep breath. We've made it this far. Might as well just keep moving forward :)




Nicole