The Power of Getting Back Up | Tyler Simmonds | TEDxMSVU

how many sports fans do we have in here

how many sports fans do we have in here hopefully a lot because

all right so when I was 8 years old I

all right so when I was 8 years old I started playing hockey my brothers

started playing hockey my brothers

started playing hockey my brothers played hockey Marcus and Cory who are in

played hockey Marcus and Cory who are in

played hockey Marcus and Cory who are in back and my dad played hockey and when I

back and my dad played hockey and when I

back and my dad played hockey and when I was 8 it was my turn I was so small but

was 8 it was my turn I was so small but

was 8 it was my turn I was so small but I was so fast I was like I remember the

I was so fast I was like I remember the

I was so fast I was like I remember the first team that I played for it we would

first team that I played for it we would

first team that I played for it we would call the Timbits

call the Timbits

call the Timbits and I was just that like I was a little

and I was just that like I was a little

and I was just that like I was a little tin bit skating around on the ice and I

tin bit skating around on the ice and I

tin bit skating around on the ice and I would always people don’t would always

would always people don’t would always

would always people don’t would always tell me that I was mighty that I was

tell me that I was mighty that I was

tell me that I was mighty that I was that I had courage because I would hit

that I had courage because I would hit

that I had courage because I would hit like the biggest guys on the ice and

like the biggest guys on the ice and

like the biggest guys on the ice and just fall down and then just get back up

just fall down and then just get back up

just fall down and then just get back up and it would happen over and over and

and it would happen over and over and

and it would happen over and over and over and I remember my dad telling me he

over and I remember my dad telling me he

over and I remember my dad telling me he said to me ty maybe you should learn how

said to me ty maybe you should learn how

said to me ty maybe you should learn how to stay on your skates but it’s ok if

to stay on your skates but it’s ok if

to stay on your skates but it’s ok if you keep falling down

you keep falling down

you keep falling down as long as you keep getting back up so I

as long as you keep getting back up so I

as long as you keep getting back up so I kept playing hockey all throughout

kept playing hockey all throughout

kept playing hockey all throughout junior high and that was me I was the

junior high and that was me I was the

junior high and that was me I was the guy who fell down a lot and I was mighty

guy who fell down a lot and I was mighty

guy who fell down a lot and I was mighty I would try and fight a lot I don’t do

I would try and fight a lot I don’t do

I would try and fight a lot I don’t do that anymore but and then in high school

that anymore but and then in high school

that anymore but and then in high school I started playing football and have you

I started playing football and have you

I started playing football and have you know anything about football the

know anything about football the

know anything about football the defensive back I play defensive back so

defensive back I play defensive back so

defensive back I play defensive back so I had to guard the wide receiver and a

I had to guard the wide receiver and a

I had to guard the wide receiver and a few fall down were you guarding the wide

few fall down were you guarding the wide

few fall down were you guarding the wide receiver then they’re going to get a

receiver then they’re going to get a

receiver then they’re going to get a touchdown

touchdown

touchdown so my coaches would get really mad at me

so my coaches would get really mad at me

so my coaches would get really mad at me because I had this problem where I kept

because I had this problem where I kept

because I had this problem where I kept falling down and I I remember I would

falling down and I I remember I would

falling down and I I remember I would like stand on a medicine ball and I

like stand on a medicine ball and I

like stand on a medicine ball and I would try and like I would stand on it

would try and like I would stand on it

would try and like I would stand on it for hours because I would try and come

for hours because I would try and come

for hours because I would try and come balanced and I got better at it but I

balanced and I got better at it but I

balanced and I got better at it but I was still that guy that fell down a lot

was still that guy that fell down a lot

was still that guy that fell down a lot and when I stopped playing sports I

and when I stopped playing sports I

and when I stopped playing sports I realized that I wasn’t just falling down

realized that I wasn’t just falling down

realized that I wasn’t just falling down on the ice or on the field I was falling

on the ice or on the field I was falling

on the ice or on the field I was falling down in my personal life I was falling

down in my personal life I was falling

down in my personal life I was falling down with relationships most importantly

down with relationships most importantly

down with relationships most importantly I was falling down

I was falling down

I was falling down into a deep depression and into deep

into a deep depression and into deep

into a deep depression and into deep anxiety and I talked to my doctors about

anxiety and I talked to my doctors about

anxiety and I talked to my doctors about this and my doctor said you have

this and my doctor said you have

this and my doctor said you have depression and you have social anxiety

depression and you have social anxiety

depression and you have social anxiety and this was hard for me to accept it

and this was hard for me to accept it

and this was hard for me to accept it was hard for me to deal with these

was hard for me to deal with these

was hard for me to deal with these labels it was I was like but I was still

labels it was I was like but I was still

labels it was I was like but I was still that guy that fell down and got back up

that guy that fell down and got back up

that guy that fell down and got back up so I was like I can do this I can get

so I was like I can do this I can get

so I was like I can do this I can get through this like I just got to keep

through this like I just got to keep

through this like I just got to keep going and just keep going and just keep

going and just keep going and just keep

going and just keep going and just keep figuring out different ways to get

figuring out different ways to get

figuring out different ways to get better so I remember I was put on

better so I remember I was put on

better so I remember I was put on different medications and I did

different medications and I did

different medications and I did different things like yoga meditation

different things like yoga meditation

different things like yoga meditation and for a long time I felt like it

and for a long time I felt like it

and for a long time I felt like it wasn’t getting better I felt like I

wasn’t getting better I felt like I

wasn’t getting better I felt like I couldn’t get back up like for so long I

couldn’t get back up like for so long I

couldn’t get back up like for so long I was the guy that just kept falling down

was the guy that just kept falling down

was the guy that just kept falling down and getting back up at this time I was

and getting back up at this time I was

and getting back up at this time I was like this isn’t working like all these

like this isn’t working like all these

like this isn’t working like all these things that I’m trying they’re not

things that I’m trying they’re not

things that I’m trying they’re not working so what do I do and I felt like

working so what do I do and I felt like

working so what do I do and I felt like I was in a dark pit and there was some

I was in a dark pit and there was some

I was in a dark pit and there was some light at the top of it and I would

light at the top of it and I would

light at the top of it and I would always climb to the top of the pit to

always climb to the top of the pit to

always climb to the top of the pit to the light and it was so much effort that

the light and it was so much effort that

the light and it was so much effort that I put into this it was so heard I had to

I put into this it was so heard I had to

I put into this it was so heard I had to do this over and over and over just keep

do this over and over and over just keep

do this over and over and over just keep crawling over to this dark pit until one

crawling over to this dark pit until one

crawling over to this dark pit until one day this pit just was completely dark

day this pit just was completely dark

day this pit just was completely dark and I didn’t see any more light and when

and I didn’t see any more light and when

and I didn’t see any more light and when I didn’t see any more light I said to

I didn’t see any more light I said to

I didn’t see any more light I said to myself that I can’t do this anymore and

myself that I can’t do this anymore and

myself that I can’t do this anymore and I remember I came home one day after

I remember I came home one day after

I remember I came home one day after work and I I went in my bedroom and I

work and I I went in my bedroom and I

work and I I went in my bedroom and I lay down and I put pills in my mouth and

lay down and I put pills in my mouth and

lay down and I put pills in my mouth and I swallowed them and there were other

I swallowed them and there were other

I swallowed them and there were other pills that I had just in case I could

pills that I had just in case I could

pills that I had just in case I could see a little bit of light just in case

see a little bit of light just in case

see a little bit of light just in case like I see a little bit of light

like I see a little bit of light

like I see a little bit of light I wouldn’t take those pills but if it

I wouldn’t take those pills but if it

I wouldn’t take those pills but if it stayed dark I was going to take them and

stayed dark I was going to take them and

stayed dark I was going to take them and I was going to end my life so when I lay

I was going to end my life so when I lay

I was going to end my life so when I lay down on that bed it was like an epiphany

down on that bed it was like an epiphany

down on that bed it was like an epiphany everything just came to me and I was

everything just came to me and I was

everything just came to me and I was thinking about all of the people that I

thinking about all of the people that I

thinking about all of the people that I motivated when I played sports because

motivated when I played sports because

motivated when I played sports because sports were was that was the big aspect

sports were was that was the big aspect

sports were was that was the big aspect of my life and I was thinking about

of my life and I was thinking about

of my life and I was thinking about those people that I motivated and those

those people that I motivated and those

those people that I motivated and those people that looked at me and they

people that looked at me and they

people that looked at me and they thought wow like this guy really doesn’t

thought wow like this guy really doesn’t

thought wow like this guy really doesn’t give up like there must be something to

give up like there must be something to

give up like there must be something to this like so I would motivate my

this like so I would motivate my

this like so I would motivate my teammates and even the opposing teams

teammates and even the opposing teams

teammates and even the opposing teams and it like they would be like this

and it like they would be like this

and it like they would be like this guy’s hitting me and then falling down

guy’s hitting me and then falling down

guy’s hitting me and then falling down and getting back up hitting me again

and getting back up hitting me again

and getting back up hitting me again falling back down like that was me

falling back down like that was me

falling back down like that was me though and I thought about what my dad

though and I thought about what my dad

though and I thought about what my dad said ty it’s okay to fall down just keep

said ty it’s okay to fall down just keep

said ty it’s okay to fall down just keep getting back up so I started to see a

getting back up so I started to see a

getting back up so I started to see a little bit of life while I was laying

little bit of life while I was laying

little bit of life while I was laying there and I was sick because I swallowed

there and I was sick because I swallowed

there and I was sick because I swallowed those pills in that same night I went to

those pills in that same night I went to

those pills in that same night I went to the hospital and I remember laying down

the hospital and I remember laying down

the hospital and I remember laying down on the hospital bed and my mom holding

on the hospital bed and my mom holding

on the hospital bed and my mom holding my hand and I was looking into her eyes

my hand and I was looking into her eyes

my hand and I was looking into her eyes and I was thinking to myself she doesn’t

and I was thinking to myself she doesn’t

and I was thinking to myself she doesn’t know what I just tried to do but I think

know what I just tried to do but I think

know what I just tried to do but I think she did know what I was trying to do

she did know what I was trying to do

she did know what I was trying to do because mom’s always known and I’ve

because mom’s always known and I’ve

because mom’s always known and I’ve looked into her eyes and I saw a pain

looked into her eyes and I saw a pain

looked into her eyes and I saw a pain and I saw a sadness in the first thing

and I saw a sadness in the first thing

and I saw a sadness in the first thing that came to my mind was mama I want to

that came to my mind was mama I want to

that came to my mind was mama I want to motivate people I want to be a public

motivate people I want to be a public

motivate people I want to be a public speaker even though I have social

speaker even though I have social

speaker even though I have social anxiety I want to stand in front of

anxiety I want to stand in front of

anxiety I want to stand in front of people

people

people like I am right now and talk to people

like I am right now and talk to people

like I am right now and talk to people and I looked at her and I saw that she

and I looked at her and I saw that she

and I looked at her and I saw that she believed in me so I saw even more light

believed in me so I saw even more light

believed in me so I saw even more light and I was like this is something I can

and I was like this is something I can

and I was like this is something I can do when I played football I remember I

do when I played football I remember I

do when I played football I remember I said to one of my teammates I’m like the

said to one of my teammates I’m like the

said to one of my teammates I’m like the master were falling down because that’s

master were falling down because that’s

master were falling down because that’s all that I do I just fall down and I get

all that I do I just fall down and I get

all that I do I just fall down and I get back up and keep falling down and I

back up and keep falling down and I

back up and keep falling down and I think that’s a bit negative

think that’s a bit negative

think that’s a bit negative so tonight I want to change that title

so tonight I want to change that title

so tonight I want to change that title too I’m a master at getting back up

too I’m a master at getting back up

too I’m a master at getting back up because in order to be a master at

because in order to be a master at

because in order to be a master at falling down you have to be a master at

falling down you have to be a master at

falling down you have to be a master at getting back up because I’m here today

getting back up because I’m here today

getting back up because I’m here today because I kept getting back up

and I want to leave you all with three

and I want to leave you all with three rules in a quote so there’s three rules

rules in a quote so there’s three rules

rules in a quote so there’s three rules to being a master at getting back up

to being a master at getting back up

to being a master at getting back up rule number one don’t you dare ever let

rule number one don’t you dare ever let

rule number one don’t you dare ever let anyone tell you that you’re not good

anyone tell you that you’re not good

anyone tell you that you’re not good enough because I felt like I wasn’t good

enough because I felt like I wasn’t good

enough because I felt like I wasn’t good enough in high school I would be the kid

enough in high school I would be the kid

enough in high school I would be the kid that sat in the back of the class now

that sat in the back of the class now

that sat in the back of the class now I’m the kid that stands in front of the

I’m the kid that stands in front of the

I’m the kid that stands in front of the class so don’t you ever let anyone tell

class so don’t you ever let anyone tell

class so don’t you ever let anyone tell you that there’s something that you

you that there’s something that you

you that there’s something that you cannot do rule number two never ever

cannot do rule number two never ever

cannot do rule number two never ever give up and I don’t just stand up here

give up and I don’t just stand up here

give up and I don’t just stand up here saying don’t ever give up

saying don’t ever give up

saying don’t ever give up I live it like my life is my message I’m

I live it like my life is my message I’m

I live it like my life is my message I’m here standing here in front of you all

here standing here in front of you all

here standing here in front of you all today because I didn’t give up

today because I didn’t give up

today because I didn’t give up rule number three be bold

rule number three be bold

rule number three be bold the reason why I can stand in front of

the reason why I can stand in front of

the reason why I can stand in front of all of you today with social anxiety is

all of you today with social anxiety is

all of you today with social anxiety is because I’m bold because I know what

because I’m bold because I know what

because I’m bold because I know what I’ve been through and I know I know that

I’ve been through and I know I know that

I’ve been through and I know I know that there is more I know that I can inspire

there is more I know that I can inspire

there is more I know that I can inspire I know that I have value so know that

I know that I have value so know that

I know that I have value so know that you have value don’t let anyone tell you

you have value don’t let anyone tell you

you have value don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t and the quote that I want

that you don’t and the quote that I want

that you don’t and the quote that I want to leave you all with is a quote by

to leave you all with is a quote by

to leave you all with is a quote by Nelson Nelson Mandela don’t judge me by

Nelson Nelson Mandela don’t judge me by

Nelson Nelson Mandela don’t judge me by my successes judge me by the amount of

my successes judge me by the amount of

my successes judge me by the amount of times I was able to fall down and get

times I was able to fall down and get

times I was able to fall down and get back up my name is Tyler Simmons and

back up my name is Tyler Simmons and

back up my name is Tyler Simmons and this this is the power of getting back

this this is the power of getting back

this this is the power of getting back up