I never imagined that an oak tree a tire swing and my skull would dance together
swing and my skull would dance together
swing and my skull would dance together just three years into my life and set
just three years into my life and set
just three years into my life and set the stage for the development of my
the stage for the development of my
the stage for the development of my passion on March 5th
passion on March 5th
passion on March 5th 1985 in my grandma’s front yard
1985 in my grandma’s front yard
1985 in my grandma’s front yard swinging 15 feet from the air my head
swinging 15 feet from the air my head
swinging 15 feet from the air my head collided with the trunk of an oak tree
collided with the trunk of an oak tree
collided with the trunk of an oak tree and caused a closed headed traumatic
and caused a closed headed traumatic
and caused a closed headed traumatic brain injury it was three days later
brain injury it was three days later
brain injury it was three days later that the doctors diagnosed me with three
that the doctors diagnosed me with three
that the doctors diagnosed me with three epidural hematomas blood clots on the
epidural hematomas blood clots on the
epidural hematomas blood clots on the brain a temporal lobe skull fracture and
brain a temporal lobe skull fracture and
brain a temporal lobe skull fracture and my brainstem going just past midline I
my brainstem going just past midline I
my brainstem going just past midline I was wheeled into emergency surgery with
was wheeled into emergency surgery with
was wheeled into emergency surgery with a 50/50 shot of survival my parents
a 50/50 shot of survival my parents
a 50/50 shot of survival my parents being told that had the impact just been
being told that had the impact just been
being told that had the impact just been a few centimeters lower I would have
a few centimeters lower I would have
a few centimeters lower I would have died instantly
died instantly
died instantly 24 hours after that surgery was crucial
24 hours after that surgery was crucial
24 hours after that surgery was crucial in becoming the possibility that I would
in becoming the possibility that I would
in becoming the possibility that I would go into a vegetative state for life I’m
go into a vegetative state for life I’m
go into a vegetative state for life I’m very happy to say that that surgery was
very happy to say that that surgery was
very happy to say that that surgery was successful and I stand here before you a
successful and I stand here before you a
successful and I stand here before you a traumatic brain injury survivor I also
traumatic brain injury survivor I also
traumatic brain injury survivor I also grew up with a sister with a cognitive
grew up with a sister with a cognitive
grew up with a sister with a cognitive disability head Jacobo mentally
disability head Jacobo mentally
disability head Jacobo mentally handicapped and Heinz 57 were just a
handicapped and Heinz 57 were just a
handicapped and Heinz 57 were just a couple of the terms that were used to
couple of the terms that were used to
couple of the terms that were used to describe her due to the complexity of
describe her due to the complexity of
describe her due to the complexity of her condition obsessive-compulsive
her condition obsessive-compulsive
her condition obsessive-compulsive disorder with schizophrenic tendencies
disorder with schizophrenic tendencies
disorder with schizophrenic tendencies were also terms that crossed the lips of
were also terms that crossed the lips of
were also terms that crossed the lips of doctors who came into contact with her
doctors who came into contact with her
doctors who came into contact with her and don’t get me wrong she is a
and don’t get me wrong she is a
and don’t get me wrong she is a self-sufficient firecracker who will
self-sufficient firecracker who will
self-sufficient firecracker who will tell tell it like it is and very
tell tell it like it is and very
tell tell it like it is and very strongly I might add but growing up with
strongly I might add but growing up with
strongly I might add but growing up with a sibling or any family member for that
a sibling or any family member for that
a sibling or any family member for that matter with a disability gives you a
matter with a disability gives you a
matter with a disability gives you a whole different childhood and puts a
whole different childhood and puts a
whole different childhood and puts a completely different perspective in your
completely different perspective in your
completely different perspective in your of what’s important additionally to say
of what’s important additionally to say
of what’s important additionally to say that I have dealt with anxiety and
that I have dealt with anxiety and
that I have dealt with anxiety and depression in my life is an
depression in my life is an
depression in my life is an understatement
understatement
understatement growing up mental illness was on
growing up mental illness was on
growing up mental illness was on high-alert in my family and it only
high-alert in my family and it only
high-alert in my family and it only became more apparent as I got older
became more apparent as I got older
became more apparent as I got older despite that it was only a couple years
despite that it was only a couple years
despite that it was only a couple years ago at the age of 33 that I went in and
ago at the age of 33 that I went in and
ago at the age of 33 that I went in and had a formal psychiatric evaluation and
had a formal psychiatric evaluation and
had a formal psychiatric evaluation and was diagnosed with cyclical mood
was diagnosed with cyclical mood
was diagnosed with cyclical mood disorder and generalized anxiety
disorder and generalized anxiety
disorder and generalized anxiety disorder awesome and with that due to
disorder awesome and with that due to
disorder awesome and with that due to the fact that I was tired of feeling the
the fact that I was tired of feeling the
the fact that I was tired of feeling the way that I was and I needed to manage my
way that I was and I needed to manage my
way that I was and I needed to manage my condition I began medication I felt
condition I began medication I felt
condition I began medication I felt better I really did and with that
better I really did and with that
better I really did and with that medication I somehow knew that was only
medication I somehow knew that was only
medication I somehow knew that was only part of the equation I have been active
part of the equation I have been active
part of the equation I have been active my entire life
my entire life
my entire life heavy strength training being my primary
heavy strength training being my primary
heavy strength training being my primary focus there is nothing like being in a
focus there is nothing like being in a
focus there is nothing like being in a gym and throwing around weights in the
gym and throwing around weights in the
gym and throwing around weights in the triple digits and feeling the elevation
triple digits and feeling the elevation
triple digits and feeling the elevation in your mood that it brings but for me
in your mood that it brings but for me
in your mood that it brings but for me in addition to others that deal with
in addition to others that deal with
in addition to others that deal with mental illness and disability along with
mental illness and disability along with
mental illness and disability along with medication and therapy the gym exercise
medication and therapy the gym exercise
medication and therapy the gym exercise is my therapy when it comes to working
is my therapy when it comes to working
is my therapy when it comes to working with those with disability and
with those with disability and
with those with disability and limitation it’s very important that you
limitation it’s very important that you
limitation it’s very important that you understand that the capability to
understand that the capability to
understand that the capability to sustain consistency is knowing your why
sustain consistency is knowing your why
sustain consistency is knowing your why I have had the opportunity to witness
I have had the opportunity to witness
I have had the opportunity to witness amazing things with clientele that I
amazing things with clientele that I
amazing things with clientele that I have worked with to witness bodies
have worked with to witness bodies
have worked with to witness bodies moving faster standing longer sustaining
moving faster standing longer sustaining
moving faster standing longer sustaining endurance mines sharpen all from move
endurance mines sharpen all from move
endurance mines sharpen all from move is something that I have continually
is something that I have continually
is something that I have continually experienced in my work with athletes
experienced in my work with athletes
experienced in my work with athletes with kids with the elderly and seeing
with kids with the elderly and seeing
with kids with the elderly and seeing the positive effects that exercise
the positive effects that exercise
the positive effects that exercise brings the body’s ability to
brings the body’s ability to
brings the body’s ability to overcompensate for areas of weakness is
overcompensate for areas of weakness is
overcompensate for areas of weakness is incredible absolutely mind-blowing and
incredible absolutely mind-blowing and
incredible absolutely mind-blowing and when it comes to working with these
when it comes to working with these
when it comes to working with these individuals again I see it time and
individuals again I see it time and
individuals again I see it time and again that these individuals come out
again that these individuals come out
again that these individuals come out stronger with that if you are looking to
stronger with that if you are looking to
stronger with that if you are looking to incorporate any kind of exercise any
incorporate any kind of exercise any
incorporate any kind of exercise any kind of activity I need you to think of
kind of activity I need you to think of
kind of activity I need you to think of something that makes you happy something
something that makes you happy something
something that makes you happy something that you enjoy doing something that
that you enjoy doing something that
that you enjoy doing something that brings the life back into you especially
brings the life back into you especially
brings the life back into you especially if you are looking to incorporate
if you are looking to incorporate
if you are looking to incorporate exercise and activity into your life
exercise and activity into your life
exercise and activity into your life either for yourself or somebody that you
either for yourself or somebody that you
either for yourself or somebody that you know I need you to answer this one word
know I need you to answer this one word
know I need you to answer this one word question to think of this one word
question to think of this one word
question to think of this one word question and to answer it authentically
question and to answer it authentically
question and to answer it authentically that question is why when we figure out
that question is why when we figure out
that question is why when we figure out why we are to do something it brings in
why we are to do something it brings in
why we are to do something it brings in a completely different level of
a completely different level of
a completely different level of authenticity it gives us a completely
authenticity it gives us a completely
authenticity it gives us a completely different perspective on the tasks we
different perspective on the tasks we
different perspective on the tasks we are but about to embark on it brings new
are but about to embark on it brings new
are but about to embark on it brings new meaning to the workout clothing that we
meaning to the workout clothing that we
meaning to the workout clothing that we have bought to the exercise equipment
have bought to the exercise equipment
have bought to the exercise equipment that we have purchased to scheduling
that we have purchased to scheduling
that we have purchased to scheduling those activities on our calendar to
those activities on our calendar to
those activities on our calendar to figuring out exactly what it is we want
figuring out exactly what it is we want
figuring out exactly what it is we want to do no matter what you do in life it
to do no matter what you do in life it
to do no matter what you do in life it doesn’t matter if it’s activity it
doesn’t matter if it’s activity it
doesn’t matter if it’s activity it doesn’t matter if it’s exercise it
doesn’t matter if it’s exercise it
doesn’t matter if it’s exercise it doesn’t matter if it’s physical therapy
doesn’t matter if it’s physical therapy
doesn’t matter if it’s physical therapy it doesn’t matter if it’s a marathon it
it doesn’t matter if it’s a marathon it
it doesn’t matter if it’s a marathon it doesn’t matter if it’s just going up the
doesn’t matter if it’s just going up the
doesn’t matter if it’s just going up the stairs
stairs
stairs knowing your why is the ticket to
knowing your why is the ticket to
knowing your why is the ticket to success
success
success what kind of why am I talking about
what kind of why am I talking about
what kind of why am I talking about as you’re sitting before me you’re
as you’re sitting before me you’re
as you’re sitting before me you’re probably wondering Nikki thinking of a
probably wondering Nikki thinking of a
probably wondering Nikki thinking of a why is great but what does it exactly
why is great but what does it exactly
why is great but what does it exactly mean for me thinking of things not in
mean for me thinking of things not in
mean for me thinking of things not in the terms of Nikki I just want to be
the terms of Nikki I just want to be
the terms of Nikki I just want to be healthy it’s I want to be healthy so
healthy it’s I want to be healthy so
healthy it’s I want to be healthy so that I can walk my daughter down the
that I can walk my daughter down the
that I can walk my daughter down the aisle it’s not I want to lose weight
aisle it’s not I want to lose weight
aisle it’s not I want to lose weight it’s I want to lose weight so that my
it’s I want to lose weight so that my
it’s I want to lose weight so that my joints don’t hurt when I’m playing with
joints don’t hurt when I’m playing with
joints don’t hurt when I’m playing with my grandkids being as specific as
my grandkids being as specific as
my grandkids being as specific as possible in this why will bring a higher
possible in this why will bring a higher
possible in this why will bring a higher rate of success and a higher rate of
rate of success and a higher rate of
rate of success and a higher rate of meaning not only to the task at hand but
meaning not only to the task at hand but
meaning not only to the task at hand but your life and those that you affect Tony
your life and those that you affect Tony
your life and those that you affect Tony Robbins once said in order to achieve
Robbins once said in order to achieve
Robbins once said in order to achieve success you need to take massive action
success you need to take massive action
success you need to take massive action not only do we need to think about the
not only do we need to think about the
not only do we need to think about the why but we need to act on the why
why but we need to act on the why
why but we need to act on the why because that’s what ultimately brings us
because that’s what ultimately brings us
because that’s what ultimately brings us success choosing not only something that
success choosing not only something that
success choosing not only something that you want to work towards and achieve
you want to work towards and achieve
you want to work towards and achieve that’s wonderful but when you put
that’s wonderful but when you put
that’s wonderful but when you put meaning a why behind the work that’s
meaning a why behind the work that’s
meaning a why behind the work that’s when you are successful on a completely
when you are successful on a completely
when you are successful on a completely different level and that’s when you
different level and that’s when you
different level and that’s when you start to affect not only your brain and
start to affect not only your brain and
start to affect not only your brain and body on a psychological level not only
body on a psychological level not only
body on a psychological level not only are those neurological pathways firing
are those neurological pathways firing
are those neurological pathways firing and you feel better you get up and you
and you feel better you get up and you
and you feel better you get up and you have joy in the day but it also affects
have joy in the day but it also affects
have joy in the day but it also affects those around you you never know who
those around you you never know who
those around you you never know who you’re going to impact so here are five
you’re going to impact so here are five
you’re going to impact so here are five tangible takeaways that you can take
tangible takeaways that you can take
tangible takeaways that you can take with you if you are looking to
with you if you are looking to
with you if you are looking to incorporate activity or exercise when
incorporate activity or exercise when
incorporate activity or exercise when dealing with chronic disease disability
dealing with chronic disease disability
dealing with chronic disease disability or limitation and my list is right here
or limitation and my list is right here
or limitation and my list is right here first off find support find somebody
first off find support find somebody
first off find support find somebody that supports you somebody that will
that supports you somebody that will
that supports you somebody that will stand by you and voice your intentions
stand by you and voice your intentions
stand by you and voice your intentions to them make sure that they remind
to them make sure that they remind
to them make sure that they remind you if you decide to slip off if you
you if you decide to slip off if you
you if you decide to slip off if you decide not today those people must be
decide not today those people must be
decide not today those people must be close to you a spouse a friend some
close to you a spouse a friend some
close to you a spouse a friend some family member a doctor are a great start
family member a doctor are a great start
family member a doctor are a great start secondly identify your why I’ve talked
secondly identify your why I’ve talked
secondly identify your why I’ve talked about that for the last eight minutes
about that for the last eight minutes
about that for the last eight minutes and so finding your why is so important
and so finding your why is so important
and so finding your why is so important not only should you find your why voice
not only should you find your why voice
not only should you find your why voice your why write it everywhere and paste
your why write it everywhere and paste
your why write it everywhere and paste it everywhere where you can see it to
it everywhere where you can see it to
it everywhere where you can see it to remind yourself of the commitment that
remind yourself of the commitment that
remind yourself of the commitment that you made third identify your way what is
you made third identify your way what is
you made third identify your way what is it that you like to do do you like to be
it that you like to do do you like to be
it that you like to do do you like to be outdoors do you like to be in the gym
outdoors do you like to be in the gym
outdoors do you like to be in the gym work to make the environment you are
work to make the environment you are
work to make the environment you are going to something you look forward to
going to something you look forward to
going to something you look forward to and something that you enjoy being in
and something that you enjoy being in
and something that you enjoy being in finally commit to action and expect
finally commit to action and expect
finally commit to action and expect setbacks committing to action work to
setbacks committing to action work to
setbacks committing to action work to make this a consistent behavior because
make this a consistent behavior because
make this a consistent behavior because it is then that that behavior that you
it is then that that behavior that you
it is then that that behavior that you once thought of will become habit it
once thought of will become habit it
once thought of will become habit it will be a behavior that you will
will be a behavior that you will
will be a behavior that you will incorporate lifelong and expect there to
incorporate lifelong and expect there to
incorporate lifelong and expect there to be setbacks know that the days that you
be setbacks know that the days that you
be setbacks know that the days that you don’t have the drive the perseverance
don’t have the drive the perseverance
don’t have the drive the perseverance the energy to go in and do that workout
the energy to go in and do that workout
the energy to go in and do that workout those days that you doubt your doubts
those days that you doubt your doubts
those days that you doubt your doubts and you fear your fears are they long
and you fear your fears are they long
and you fear your fears are they long gone are they in another dimension it
gone are they in another dimension it
gone are they in another dimension it seems it is on those days be kind to
seems it is on those days be kind to
seems it is on those days be kind to yourself be gentle with the thoughts
yourself be gentle with the thoughts
yourself be gentle with the thoughts that you are thinking work to commit to
that you are thinking work to commit to
that you are thinking work to commit to that exercise and activity anyway and
that exercise and activity anyway and
that exercise and activity anyway and know that you are doing the best you can
know that you are doing the best you can
know that you are doing the best you can with what you have
with what you have
with what you have keeping these steps in mind are crucial
keeping these steps in mind are crucial
keeping these steps in mind are crucial to being successful knowing your why
to being successful knowing your why
to being successful knowing your why puts meaning to that successful task
puts meaning to that successful task
puts meaning to that successful task make sure this is something that not
make sure this is something that not
make sure this is something that not only benefits you but those around you
only benefits you but those around you
only benefits you but those around you your mind body and spirit depend on it
your mind body and spirit depend on it
your mind body and spirit depend on it and you are worth it thank you
”
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