Disability Dialogue with Bill

Demonstrate Gratitude and Embrace Thankfulness

To increase effectiveness in our professional and personal life we should demonstrate gratitude and embrace thankfulness.

This month gives us extra encouragement to celebrate. Let’s take advantage!! Traditionally, Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. If your country does not celebrate Thanksgiving, that should not be a reason not to participate in celebrating such positive emotions.

Why I am thankful and grateful:

I am grateful to have my loving wife Kathy by my side. Ten years ago we experienced some difficult unexpected challenges listed below that altered our life’s plans forever.

• Suddenly going into a coma for 3 months, after awakening finding out I had completely lost all vision.

• Going through multiple surgeries and painful procedures during a 7 month hospitalization to save my life.

• Being told I would never walk again.

• Owing the hospital and doctors many thousands of US dollars, accumulated after I lost my medical insurance.

With the above seemingly difficulties and challenges I have a lot of gratitude and thankfulness to celebrate:

• I feel I was the lucky one lying in the hospital bed during my 7 month hospitalization. I cannot envision how difficult it must have been to be my wife looking at me with many tubes in me, on a ventilator, wondering each day during my 3 month coma, and more months after until I was out of Intensive Care if I would live or die.

• Having Kathy to help me with everything when I first got home from hospital; loosing over one-third of my body weight, new to being blind, no medical insurance, inability to walk; or even sit up in bed required a substantial amount of assistance, time and care.

• Having Kathy to take care of our pets and everything around the home I used to help with enabling me to recover and put my full energy, drive and passion into engaging in physical therapy and re-skilling myself.

• Having my wife as my partner to share and learn together how we would adjust our lives’ to live our new life we were blessed with.

• Ability to be grateful and accept life’s challenges, not waiting for external encouragement. Ability to move on and learn how to walk again, learn essential blind skills and successfully returned to work as a productive employee in just less than one year after going into my coma.

• Was blessed to be given real life lessons to learn from, enabling me to increase effectiveness in my professional and personal life.

I could not have had the time to devote my full attention to the re-skilling needed to obtain my strength and so many new skills so quickly without the support of my loving wife Kathy. I am also very grateful for family, friends, and co-workers that provided valuable support and help when I got home from the hospital. I am grateful for all the dedicated doctors, nurses, therapists, volunteers, Nuns and Chaplains at the Catholic hospital I called my home for the majority of 1999.

I plan on celebrating gratitude and thankfulness with my family and friends. I will also reflect on past challenges and successes. I will remember back to when I was fortunate enough to smell turkey and all trimmings lofting through the air as I celebrated Thanksgiving 1999 in the hospital. I am very grateful that by November 1999 I did not have a feeding tube, was able to eat solid foods and enjoy my turkey dinner. I’ll re-live in my mind, the simple successes, like when I was first able to go outside by myself in my new constant blackness, feel the fresh air blowing against my face, smell the trees and flowers and experience the freedom from my hospital bed. Developing an attitude of sincere gratitude for your current blessings unleashes the power for receiving many more.

Some of you might have read about a few of my past challenges from my other blog posts. I feel re-living difficulties, humbly stating and graciously accepting will strengthen gratitude and thankfulness. . I will not forget people who are less fortunate than me and are experiencing challenges and can use our thoughts and prayers.

I am not beyond learning by any means. That is why I reach out to all of you to allow me to learn how to best keep thankfulness and gratitude in my actions. What do you have to be thankful for? How will you celebrate thankfulness and gratitude this Thanksgiving Day? Do you have any examples of how thankfulness and gratitude has benefitted you and others?

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Believe in Your Vision for Success

Do your goals ever seem out of reach? Have you had challenges or unexpected set-backs on your way to reach success? I sincerely hope we never stop stretching our self emotionally, physically, and educationally. As part of lifelong learning, we need to continuously increase our understanding and ability to value, accept and respect the differences in others, including the disabled, to help increase our successes. If we stop growing, one tendency might be to settle in a place we are familiar with, that requires no change or extra effort on our behalf. Settling for anything less than our clear vision for success will prevent us from fully flourishing in our professional or personal life.

To live with vitality, drive and positivity I believe we need vision and passion for life and work. Vision and passion can be considered fuel for our body and mind. If we are lacking in either of these sources of positive energy, it is very difficult to live up to our best potential.

How can we keep focus directed on our vision and believe in our abilities for success? How can we maintain our passions when we are at times, exposed to negativity, misunderstandings, experience difficulties and perceived road blocks? All such challenges need to be put into perspective or they will distract and blur our vision. How can we embrace the attitude to expect and dare to believe our vision will become a reality?
If we listen and believe the words of negativity spoken, and about doubt by some in our abilities and value, it could be possible for these words to suffocate our passions and drive.

Anything that diminishes my vision and belief in success and recovery I describe in the analogy below.
The smoke that occurs when a forest fire’s first embers smolder can be the first sign one is losing vision. Soon more and more wisps of smoke fill the air. Shortly after, if left unchecked, there is a blazing forest fire out of control. It is very difficult to get your vision and belief in success   back until the fire is out, the smoke has cleared, trees and brush have grown back and all of the wild life has returned, bringing the forest back to a place filled with life and tranquility.

Restoring the forest back from such a set-back can take as long to recover as recovering our vision, once we have lost our way. Therefore it is critical not to loose focus or be distracted by negativity or non-believers.

We should not hold negative past experiences in our hearts when we relentlessly, tactfully and ethically pursue our goals. This diminishes our effectiveness for success. Forget the past and those who did not understand and were critical, and pursue ahead confidently with a clear vision. Partner and network with others who share our passion for life and positivity. These partners will keep our forest of life strong and vital keeping any minor set-backs and embers of doubt from igniting into anything that cannot be easily contained and managed.

Remember on our journey to our vision’s success, we will not be able to please everybody our work touches. This mind-set is one of the more difficult lessons to remember for me when I drive to produce quality and beneficial work.

Just imagine what we can accomplish if we keep our vision and passion alive!! Do not give up your vision before you allow your seed of vision to mature, take root and turn into a forest of success.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions to help us to have ever increasing expectations of our vision. We can benefit from hearing how your vision of success has become a reality and celebrate with you. 

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author,
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Discovering Your Unique Transferable Skills

During challenging times when jobs are being lost and some organizations are re-structuring, it is crucial to discover, re-evaluate and recognize our unique skills to enable us to truly represent our values. When corporations are re-evaluating their work-force and individual employee’s skills we should take this opportunity to be proactive. It is critical to recall our past experiences, difficulties and successes. We need to formulate our past life lessons into words that can clearly articulate our values and what we can offer as transferable skills. Internalizing and appreciating such skills and directly correlating these values to align to new opportunities will help in any interview or resume writing activity.

When looking to find other meaningful work, this list will help our prospective employer, our sponsor, stakeholder, or our customers to quickly recognize the values we have to offer that will help us all succeed.

When describing transferable skills to those who do not understand the value of utilizing the differences and abilities of the disabled and others who are perceived to be different can be more challenging. Consider when talking to others who do not value differences, that some skills are unique and rare and if leveraged into transferable skills can be highly valued and a unique selling point, in my opinion. An example of some of my transferable skills (•) I humbly note as an example from my life’s experiences (-) are listed below.

• Strong technical background, unique innovational viewpoints

- 25 years of technical experience. Becoming completely blind instantly has enabled me to develop a rare unique innovational viewpoint.

• Delivers innovative solutions to complex technical and organizational problems.

- I was blessed with the opportunity to now live as a blind person, learn how to walk again, become skilled very quickly in many new technologies enabling me to return to work after a very critical life threatening event. Overcoming many other obstacles has heightened my ability to be innovative at solutions I deliver to complex problems.

• Passionate leadership style and skills to direct or create effective trusting dialogue.

- I am the leader of a business group of over 100 employees from over 15 countries. Collaborate with CEO’s, CIO’s, VP’s and Directors, internal and external to my organization and corporation to enhance and accelerate positive results.

• Experienced in working in networks of interdependent global workers that must share information, act under severe time constraints, and establish effective relationships at a distance.

- The teams and individuals I work with are usually all virtual from many countries and time zones. We have very tight deadlines to deliver our work which requires effective relationships and flexibility working across many time zones.

• Skilled in working on a wide range of projects, domestic and international

- With over 300,000 employees from many countries in the corporation where I am employed has given me many opportunities to work on a wide range of projects. I work with a diverse group of individuals, which always enhances our deliverables.

• Not afraid of taking risks; excellent entrepreneurship and innovative ideas.

- Have accomplished many firsts. Helped to establish first ever internal accessibility group where I am employed by pursuing on my own until I received buy-off for my idea and received sponsorship.

• Enhanced listening, auditory and other interpersonal and physical senses.

- Now that I have no eyesight my other senses have been heightened. My special and unique senses allow me to employ this talent in business collaboration and negotiations.

• Developed written communications that have been published in a variety of sources to educate, inspire and give readers new insights.

- My weblog, where thousands have read and participated, "Networking Forum", "ACM Ubiquity:", "Careers and the disABLED ", "Blind Californian" and other publications.

• Exceptional at networking across businesses, organizations and corporations; maintaining long lasting professional relationships and connecting with others.

- The pioneering work I have accomplished required me to walk alone not allowing the false walls, boundaries of organizational and business structures to stand in my way for success. Maintaining long lasting professional relationships while accomplishing entrepreneurship work.

• High regard for excellence with relentless determination to deliver it

- My relentless determination to deliver value has been documented in many publications, books, articles, videos and by nomination of Hewlett- Packard, and Nationally recognized recipient of Employee of the Year awarded by The Careers and the disABLED Magazine.

• Extremely adaptable, able to handle immediate drastic and critical changes.

- Went from going into a coma in May 1999, losing all vision instantly, in hospital for 7 months, having to learn how to do everything all over again and returning to work in May of 2000, took extreme dedication to re-skill myself, will, desire and passion to succeed.

If we review past life experiences, translating into transferable skills, we can leverage to find exciting, rewarding and gratifying opportunities.

Do you have any tips to help us discover transferable skills from our life’s experience and articulate into words? Any techniques to increase success of describing skills to people who do not understand the value of utilizing the differences, and abilities of the disabled and others who are perceived to be different?

We look forward to hearing your thoughts, ideas, success stories and best practices to help educate all to acknowledge our valuable unique transferable skills.

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Valuing Abilities

In today’s world with cost cutting initiatives, the demand is to do more in less time, often sacrificing quality for quantity to achieve quick profit over sustainable profit. In this environment, it is easy for some people to be pushed aside. Have you noticed this trend in your organization?  Unfortunately, pushing people aside, commonly happens, because it is the easy thing to do. Some decision-makers do not have knowledge about those put at risk by their actions. I'm not suggesting it's personal, but rather than taking time to truly understanding the differences, skills, and value each individual employees brings, some are routinely pushed aside in cost-cutting initiatives; their valuable skills and contributions are discounted by lack of knowledge and understanding.

One demographic facing such challenges, in my opinion, is people with disabilities. They are often seen only for being disabled, which overshadows the abilities, value, and skills they possess. I believe during these challenging times, it is even more critical to educate leaders and decision-makers, who do not understand the value of utilizing the differences in everybody. Why? Vast pools of talent, innovative advances, and significant profits will be lost when we need them most!

One challenge the disabled face is those needing to be educated about the abilities of the disabled, choose the easy way out. It does take a little extra effort. Educating themselves is not important enough to put out the effort to gain accurate assess an individuals value and level of skills. People with disabilities are seen only for their disability, which overshadows their abilities.

Some of my observations that work against valuing abilities:

• Inaccessible tools lead to job retention, attraction and promotional opportunity challenges.

• Lack of knowledge about assistive technology and how it works and interacts with technologies by individuals who might be trying to help.

• When you’re in the minority, your voice is often squelched out and disregarded as inaccurate by the majority.

• Fear of the unknown and working with people who are perceived to be different.

How can we overcome the discrepancy of full inclusion? Get to know people for the value and skills they bring. Build considerations for people with disabilities into cost-cutting initiatives. Demonstrate the importance of taking the time to accept and understand the differences in everyone as a benefit and not a hindrance.

Do you have any ideas of how to educate the people who do not have time or feel it is important?
Do you have any thoughts to help others value the abilities of the disabled and others who are perceived to be different?

We look forward to hearing your thoughts, ideas, success stories and best practices to help educate all to acknowledge and value the abilities in everyone.

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Embrace the Gift of Positivity

It is hard to believe we have already traveled through ½ of the year. I hope you have found your journey filled with excitement, joy, friendship, love and any difficulties you may have experienced has not stifled your positive attitude, energy for life and pursuit towards your goals. With the challenges many have during these uncertain economic times it is easy to fall into negative feelings and attitudes.  When we see and hear about all of the humanity injustices, our world resources being depleted and degraded, lack of jobs, the gap between the rich and the poor / middle class growing, causing many individuals to slip into poverty and become homeless and hungry can make one become negative. Extreme immediate changes in one’s life causes some to go into “Fight or Flight” mode and act and engage in battles for their own survival. Several feel this is the only way to act to survive. A few will even emotionally abuse the disabled and others in these trying times to get ahead. Some of the people who may make hurtful comments   may not be acting in such a way if times were not so challenging and difficult, in my opinion.

I hope you have accomplished positive work in these difficult times. With a positive attitude, courage and believing in your skills, talents and letting your inner beliefs and passions hold true, you can make a difference! 

It may be hard to break out of a negative frame of mind if your negative thoughts get a tight stranglehold on your inner beliefs in yourself. One good way to keep positive in what seems like challenges is to look at the difficulties and obstacles from another perspective.

An immediate way I can ground myself is to ride on paratransit. Paratransit is a service to drive the disabled who cannot drive themselves, provided in some areas. I am completely blind and ride paratransit to get to some locations. When I ride paratransit I ride with many people with a broad range of disabilities. Just the other day on the way to work I was sitting in the back seat. I was the only person in the car and was holding a pleasant conversation with the driver when it was time to pick up another passenger. When the driver helped the passenger get in next to me, I cheerfully greeted the person as I looked towards their face, with a heartfelt “hello, how are you today?” I did not hear an answer, so I asked again. The driver then told me the person sitting directly next to me cannot speak. I thought to myself as I looked towards this person, I wonder if they had any expression on their face of acknowledgment of what I had said. Since all I can see is blackness, I had no idea if they were even looking towards me as I attempted to greet them. Before I reached my destination this person got out of the car with help from the driver, without my being able to communicate with them, for whatever reason, I never knew why this person could not speak. These true to life, real experiences always make me think about what priorities should be most important in my life and what should be valued. This experience brought back memories of when I did not have the ability to speak for a while after I lost my vision. I wondered if this person’s lack of ability to speak was permanent or temporary.

Let’s work together to fight off negative attitudes, incorrect perceptions and thoughts that will hinder our ability and others to do work at our best potential. If I was not open to considering the possibilities of others, I might assume incorrectly, just because I could not communicate with the person I rode with on paratransit they were not capable of positive work, but in reality they could have been ingenious and were on their way to work to do very valuable, creative and important work that benefits all of us. Try not to let the distractions of the challenges make you lose your focus on what you really value. Do not stifle and blow out the flame of the positive energy of people you do not understand. We need all of the positive people working together to solve our complex problems we currently have.   I hope with the help of other positive and courageous people we can all draw from our strengths to help us pursue our goals and dreams in these extraordinarily challenging times. I believe positive energy can flow through virtual connections.

Has anyone noticed increased challenges for the disabled during these challenging times? Does anyone want to share your accomplishments this year,that you are grateful for? Any lessons learned? Anything you need help with during these difficult times?

Remember we are all extraordinary people. No verbal words or misinterpretations can tear down our true inner souls. They can only put superficial wounds in our outer body that will hurt terribly at times, although these assaults should not be treated as fatal and bring us down. Embrace the gift of positivity!!

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Cherish Connections to Loved Ones

 After many lengthy, exhausting and stressful days and nights at the hospital my wife Kathy would call our home phone. She would let the phone ring, and ring until no one answered and the answering machine picked up and played the recorded away message. Kathy listened to my recorded voice speak “Bill and Kathy are away and please leave a message”. She held the telephone receiver to her ear with love, companionship, sorrow and fear in her heart and tears in her eyes.  She felt some relief pulse through her weakened body and mind while my recorded voice brought back memories of better times. Although Kathy liked to listen to my voice, hearing my familiar voice stirred up thoughts of sadness and the uncertainty and loneliness that was now apart of her daily life. This recorded voice of mine was the only connection back to the happy reality Kathy once knew when she had the opportunity to listen to my real voice any time.

While Kathy listened to the recorded voice, I was in a coma hooked to a respirator and other life support devices.  Nobody knew if I would ever awaken. Kathy cherished her only connection to my voice on our answering machine and the reality she once knew.

With many prayers from all over the world, determination and faith, I awakened from a 3 month long coma, completely blind and unable to speak.  After learning to talk with a Tracheostomy by holding a special device to block the hole in my throat Kathy once again was able to listen to me speak to her with love and companionship in my real voice.
I truly hope nobody ever takes for granted the simple things in life that can go away immediately and forever, such as listening to a love one speak to you. I understand some with certain disabilities may not be able to speak and others cannot hear voices due to hearing impairments and can relate by replacing the ability to hear or speak with other communication methods one might use. 

I feel like I was the lucky one at times being in a coma and having been oblivious to all of the uncertainty and sadness that stirred around me as my family and friends wondered if I would live or die. I personally think it would be very difficult to only have a recording of Kathy’s voice to listen to as my only connection to her. I cannot imagine how she felt having to rely on a recording to bring back memories of me. I also cannot fathom how she took care of me daily in the hospital, took care of the house we live in, all of our household needs, taking care of our pets and everything else while going through such stress, fear, loneliness and uncertainty.

Our wedding anniversary is this month; and Kathy and I will celebrate our love together. I was in a coma for our 12th wedding anniversary. Later I was told  Kathy was all dressed up nicely in a dress, jewelry  and heels as she visited me as I laid there hooked to the world and in my hospital gown; very lovely looking couple.:)   I do not plan on missing this year’s anniversary!!

Cherish every day. We never know when the voice of life might be distinguished forever.

Does anyone have a simple gift that means so much?  Any other stories of how you stay connected to loved ones? I hope we take the time to cherish life’s simplest gifts and stay connected to each other before we loose the chance. 
 
We all look forward to hearing from you.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author

Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Mothers Day - Mothers with Special Abilities

In the US and some other countries we celebrate Mothers Day. I wish all the mothers and their families a very rewarding and joyful Mothers day. I believe Mothers who have disabilities, or care for children with disabilities have special talents of caring and an encouraging mind-set of positive determination we can all learn from.

I believe you will find the mothers in Mothers with Disabilities: Physical limitations are no limitations to loving and nurturing a child by Mary Hill beneficial and inspiring.

Just a couple of points from Physical limitations are no limitations to loving and nurturing a child.

• For mothers who have disabilities, parenting a young child presents unique challenges—and brings very special rewards for mother and child alike.

• According to Through the Looking Glass (TLG), a Berkeley, California-based nonprofit organization focusing on assisting families in which one or more members has a disability, nearly nine million parents in the United States have a disability.

Have you integrated your disability, or your family member’s disability into your way of life and are a successful mother? Can you share what you learned and your experiences with others to help our readers who might be just learning how to be successful at being a mother with a disability, or caring for a child with a disability?

Do you have questions for others?

Happy Mothers Day!!

　

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Adaptability and Attitude is Crucial for Success

Have you ever awoke and found yourself unexpectedly in complete darkness and discovered you were forced to immediately change the way you do everything in your life, including the way you work?

I recently had an opportunity to participate in an interview that was published in Careers and the disABLED that some might enjoy and find useful in their professional and personal life. In addition to my interview, you can read about other positive individuals that are truly making a difference in the world they live in.

The interview with me has dialogue on the value of networking, reskilling techniques, ideas for selling oneself, proper attitude for success, and other valuable lessons to be successful in what ever a person chooses to accomplish in life. A positive attitude and willingness to accept unexpected changes can help us during hard times. Adaptability and re-skilling to accommodate change is an especially critical and necessary skill needed to resolve the complex social, humanitarian, ethical, environmental and business challenges we are facing with so much uncertainty, and in some cases, fear in the world today. Accepting change, help and holding determination in our hearts and having the courage to walk alone at times in uncharted territory with self confidence is necessary so we don’t slow down any transformation we might be going through in our fast paced world.

I sincerely hope none of you have to overcome going into a coma for three months, loss of all vision, give up the ability to look into people’s eyes, and see the person looking back with thought and meaning in their bright eyes and expression on their face. Also, never again being able to look at a computer monitor with one’s physical eyes, while using a computer and other challenges I briefly talk about overcoming in the interview in the Winter edition of the Careers and the disABLED publication.

This publication is shared electronically with the permission from CAREERS & the disABLED -Equal Opportunity Publications.

 

What did you learn from the interview that you can use in your life? Any suggestions to help us handle critical changes with a positive attitude and willingness to accept unexpected challenges? I wish you the very best in overcoming what at first looks to be insurmountable barriers so when you come through your struggles you can be even more productive, have the ability to help others, and yourself more successfully than you ever dreamed could be possible. We all look forward to hearing from you.

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Have Trust; Take Your Next Step

We all at times have to make difficult decisions that will significantly change our life and family and friends around us. Some times we are forced into actions. Other times we voluntarily make changes to seek out a more meaningful life where we can be respected for who we are, and our unique skills and passions are valued.

I use the analogy of our options in life as stepping stones. The stones are evenly placed with equal spaces between each one on the path of life as we move through our normal daily routines with no obstacles or unplanned events. Each step is easily reached with no effort. Most of the time the path is so easily walked upon, we can step from stone to stone without even realizing we are moving through life as the years pass.

At times we need to stretch our limit and experience some discomfort to reach the next stone when things are a little more difficult. Other times unexpected challenges will cause us to loose our balance and temporarily stumble as we attempt to step forward, making us feel a bit unsure of ourselves.

I believe to make a dramatic jump forward in our life, sometimes we have to leap through the air a little bit higher and leave the security of a solid stone, if the next stone is just out of reach. When this happens we need to leave the security and familiarity we know, leaving the ground and flying through the air to the next stone. Before anyone makes their leap, they should not hesitate, once they have made up their mind. Hesitation will drain their momentum causing them to fall short of their goal. The leap requires trust and confidence in a person’s abilities and skills. Such a leap into the unknown does not come without fear and anxiety. However, at times it must be done to realize our full potential in life. As we fly through the air in-between stones, wonderment might be dwelling on our minds, anticipating if the next stone we land on will be level, sturdy enough to hold us safely, and will have catapulted us to a place of joy and fulfillment. Instead of making the leap into the unknown, we could have taken the road of least resistance and found a closer stone to reach for. I understand that for some, if we are not forced into making the step into the unknown, the risk is not worth the potential benefits.

I hope you can trust your abilities, skills and your personal values to make such a leap without hesitation when you need to.

Is anyone taking a leap into the unknown? What made you make such a decision, instead of taking the road of least resistance? Do you have any tips to share to help others to trust themselves to take the leap with courage, faith and well being?

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Courage to Live and Create Meaning

Has anyone ever hit a roadblock that seems impenetrable? Have you been unable to sleep because the day’s challenges keep racing uncontrollably through your mind at lightning speed as you anticipate tackling challenges all over again the next day? Does your mind uncontrollably contemplate solutions, strategies and actions to solve your challenges as you try to force sleep? Does stress and anxiety ripple through your body?

I believe we can all help each other meet such challenges we face in an ever changing and complex world we live in.

Like others, I have faced many challenges, some small and some critical.

Skills learned during hard times can be transferable and leveraged to help us in our every day life. Have the attitude that such painful and uncomfortable learning’s are a blessing in disguise. We need to be observant as not to miss out on how we can gain knowledge from our difficulties and learn to live without fear.

With our shared experience, and lessons learned in handling such challenges we can help each other in our personal and professional lives.

A few key lessons learned from my experiences

Some thought they should unplug my life support when I was in a coma for 3 months.

• Trust your inner instinct, have faith like my wife Kathy, family and primary care doctor did when they decided not to end my life

• When you enable a life to live you never know how many others that life will have a meaningful impact on.

All medical specialists said I had no hope of ever walking again.

• Believe in yourself and do not fully rely on the opinions of others.

•Dare to live, have faith, take chances and do not believe all negative comments directed towards you.

I recently listened to the recording of an excellent dialogue: Putting Our Differences to Work: HARD TIMES: Gifts of INSIGHT hosted by Debbe Kennedy. Many insightful and passionate leaders discussed and shared valuable lessons about difficult times and the value of learning and accepting these as a new opportunity for a new beginning.

I hope we can all have the courage to live without fear and create meaning in our life.

How can we help each other confront and defeat our roadblocks, fear, challenges and other obstacles’ that prevent us from fully flourishing as the person we want to become? Any insight to help put our restless minds at peace when we try to regenerate in our daily needed sleep? Do you have a story to share with lessons learned?

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/