[Applause] Wow
Wow I haven’t even started yet Wow
Wow I haven’t even started yet Wow hello everyone before I do get started I
hello everyone before I do get started I
hello everyone before I do get started I wanted to address the elephant in the
wanted to address the elephant in the
wanted to address the elephant in the room I know what a lot of you may have
room I know what a lot of you may have
room I know what a lot of you may have been thinking when you saw me walk
been thinking when you saw me walk
been thinking when you saw me walk across the stage and it’s fine I get it
across the stage and it’s fine I get it
across the stage and it’s fine I get it all the time uh so here it is no I’m not
all the time uh so here it is no I’m not
all the time uh so here it is no I’m not single sorry sorry sorry
single sorry sorry sorry
single sorry sorry sorry [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] Wow no I’m glad we I’m glad we got that
Wow no I’m glad we I’m glad we got that
Wow no I’m glad we I’m glad we got that one off our chest all right now we can
one off our chest all right now we can
one off our chest all right now we can now we can get gone right now what you
now we can get gone right now what you
now we can get gone right now what you may not have noticed is I have a
may not have noticed is I have a
may not have noticed is I have a physical disability called cerebral
physical disability called cerebral
physical disability called cerebral palsy for those of you who do not know
palsy for those of you who do not know
palsy for those of you who do not know what that is cerebral palsy is a
what that is cerebral palsy is a
what that is cerebral palsy is a condition that is marked by impaired
condition that is marked by impaired
condition that is marked by impaired muscle coordination and/or other
muscle coordination and/or other
muscle coordination and/or other disabilities typically caused by brain
disabilities typically caused by brain
disabilities typically caused by brain damage before or at birth thankfully for
damage before or at birth thankfully for
damage before or at birth thankfully for me it really only affects my right leg
me it really only affects my right leg
me it really only affects my right leg so when I was 22 months old my parents
so when I was 22 months old my parents
so when I was 22 months old my parents took me to the doctor to find out why
took me to the doctor to find out why
took me to the doctor to find out why this wasn’t happening like why you know
this wasn’t happening like why you know
this wasn’t happening like why you know I I’m not the oldest in the family and
I I’m not the oldest in the family and
I I’m not the oldest in the family and they wanted to know why and the doctor
they wanted to know why and the doctor
they wanted to know why and the doctor examined me and said oh your son has CP
examined me and said oh your son has CP
examined me and said oh your son has CP oh sorry um CP is is this missing
oh sorry um CP is is this missing
oh sorry um CP is is this missing explained that he explained the
explained that he explained the
explained that he explained the condition and then he basically told my
condition and then he basically told my
condition and then he basically told my parents that I would never run I would
parents that I would never run I would
parents that I would never run I would never walk jump swim climb ride a bike
never walk jump swim climb ride a bike
never walk jump swim climb ride a bike name it basically anything physically
name it basically anything physically
name it basically anything physically fun so my parents were shocked at this
fun so my parents were shocked at this
fun so my parents were shocked at this news that they now have a son with a
news that they now have a son with a
news that they now have a son with a disability this is going to be a new
disability this is going to be a new
disability this is going to be a new challenge for the family right but as
challenge for the family right but as
challenge for the family right but as they got on the elevator to leave the
they got on the elevator to leave the
they got on the elevator to leave the office my dad turns to my mom and he
office my dad turns to my mom and he
office my dad turns to my mom and he says no my son will do all of those
says no my son will do all of those
says no my son will do all of those things and I have seven surgeries later
things and I have seven surgeries later
things and I have seven surgeries later I can run I can walk I can jump swim
I can run I can walk I can jump swim
I can run I can walk I can jump swim climb I can even ride a bike for about
climb I can even ride a bike for about
climb I can even ride a bike for about ten seconds before it all just kind of
ten seconds before it all just kind of
ten seconds before it all just kind of goes
goes
goes right but I I don’t want to make it
right but I I don’t want to make it
right but I I don’t want to make it sound like it’s a walk in the park it’s
sound like it’s a walk in the park it’s
sound like it’s a walk in the park it’s been really hard I fall over all of the
been really hard I fall over all of the
been really hard I fall over all of the time ten years ago I was falling several
time ten years ago I was falling several
time ten years ago I was falling several times a day now I fall maybe two to
times a day now I fall maybe two to
times a day now I fall maybe two to three times a week my grandpa taught me
three times a week my grandpa taught me
three times a week my grandpa taught me a very important lesson he would always
a very important lesson he would always
a very important lesson he would always tell me when I was little he’d say
tell me when I was little he’d say
tell me when I was little he’d say Matthew your disability is just a
Matthew your disability is just a
Matthew your disability is just a nuisance your CP is just a nuisance
nuisance your CP is just a nuisance
nuisance your CP is just a nuisance that’s all it is sudden he’d say and
that’s all it is sudden he’d say and
that’s all it is sudden he’d say and he’d put me in a headlock and he dig his
he’d put me in a headlock and he dig his
he’d put me in a headlock and he dig his tooth to my forehead he teased me just
tooth to my forehead he teased me just
tooth to my forehead he teased me just like grandpa’s tease your grandchildren
like grandpa’s tease your grandchildren
like grandpa’s tease your grandchildren me just like every one of the other
me just like every one of the other
me just like every one of the other grandchildren in the family the impact
grandchildren in the family the impact
grandchildren in the family the impact of that sentence on my life is
of that sentence on my life is
of that sentence on my life is indescribable what my parents and my
indescribable what my parents and my
indescribable what my parents and my grandpa were trying to teach me was that
grandpa were trying to teach me was that
grandpa were trying to teach me was that CP for me was a nuisance but it wasn’t
CP for me was a nuisance but it wasn’t
CP for me was a nuisance but it wasn’t me it wasn’t a part of my character my
me it wasn’t a part of my character my
me it wasn’t a part of my character my personality or who I fundamentally was
personality or who I fundamentally was
personality or who I fundamentally was it didn’t get to dictate outcomes it was
it didn’t get to dictate outcomes it was
it didn’t get to dictate outcomes it was simply the context within which I’d of
simply the context within which I’d of
simply the context within which I’d of my life so here’s my question how many
my life so here’s my question how many
my life so here’s my question how many of us have our own disabilities we’ll
of us have our own disabilities we’ll
of us have our own disabilities we’ll call them that we consider as part of
call them that we consider as part of
call them that we consider as part of our character let’s remind ourselves the
our character let’s remind ourselves the
our character let’s remind ourselves the definition of a disability a physical or
definition of a disability a physical or
definition of a disability a physical or mental condition that limits one’s
mental condition that limits one’s
mental condition that limits one’s movements senses or activities so that
movements senses or activities so that
movements senses or activities so that condition or that disability could just
condition or that disability could just
condition or that disability could just as easily be the belief that you don’t
as easily be the belief that you don’t
as easily be the belief that you don’t think you’re good enough maybe you come
think you’re good enough maybe you come
think you’re good enough maybe you come from a broken family maybe you didn’t
from a broken family maybe you didn’t
from a broken family maybe you didn’t have the same opportunities as somebody
have the same opportunities as somebody
have the same opportunities as somebody else whatever it is how have you allowed
else whatever it is how have you allowed
else whatever it is how have you allowed that disability to become a part of your
that disability to become a part of your
that disability to become a part of your character and more importantly how have
character and more importantly how have
character and more importantly how have you allowed that disability to inhibit
you allowed that disability to inhibit
you allowed that disability to inhibit what you really want to get out of life
so when we separate these obstacles or
so when we separate these obstacles or these challenges from our character and
these challenges from our character and
these challenges from our character and we consider them as nuisances we allow
we consider them as nuisances we allow
we consider them as nuisances we allow ourselves to see more clearly who we
ourselves to see more clearly who we
ourselves to see more clearly who we really are and that lets us dictate the
really are and that lets us dictate the
really are and that lets us dictate the outcome not the disability so here are
outcome not the disability so here are
outcome not the disability so here are some things that I’ve thought of that
some things that I’ve thought of that
some things that I’ve thought of that have helped me to do too
have helped me to do too
have helped me to do too separate the disability from my
separate the disability from my
separate the disability from my character and move forward
character and move forward
character and move forward the first is whenever I’m tempted to not
the first is whenever I’m tempted to not
the first is whenever I’m tempted to not do something because I don’t think I’m
do something because I don’t think I’m
do something because I don’t think I’m capable I have to ask myself Matthew how
capable I have to ask myself Matthew how
capable I have to ask myself Matthew how much of this is the CP talking versus
much of this is the CP talking versus
much of this is the CP talking versus just you how much of this is about fear
just you how much of this is about fear
just you how much of this is about fear uncertainty and doubt basically if it’s
uncertainty and doubt basically if it’s
uncertainty and doubt basically if it’s not about my right leg that I’m forced
not about my right leg that I’m forced
not about my right leg that I’m forced to face up to the fact that the reason
to face up to the fact that the reason
to face up to the fact that the reason that I’m not moving forward is because
that I’m not moving forward is because
that I’m not moving forward is because of me and that that self honesty that’s
of me and that that self honesty that’s
of me and that that self honesty that’s not easy and let’s face it I have a
not easy and let’s face it I have a
not easy and let’s face it I have a grade-a excuse to get out of pretty much
grade-a excuse to get out of pretty much
grade-a excuse to get out of pretty much anything even the dishes if I want just
anything even the dishes if I want just
anything even the dishes if I want just kidding no but you see I don’t allow
kidding no but you see I don’t allow
kidding no but you see I don’t allow myself to use that because it’s the easy
myself to use that because it’s the easy
myself to use that because it’s the easy way out and it’s that it’s that decency
way out and it’s that it’s that decency
way out and it’s that it’s that decency that that not a decency that honesty
that that not a decency that honesty
that that not a decency that honesty that have allowed me to move forward
that have allowed me to move forward
that have allowed me to move forward that lets me live such a happy life we
that lets me live such a happy life we
that lets me live such a happy life we all remember the power of looking under
all remember the power of looking under
all remember the power of looking under the bed to find there were no monsters
the bed to find there were no monsters
the bed to find there were no monsters it’s the same logic go look your monster
it’s the same logic go look your monster
it’s the same logic go look your monster in the face the second thing is about
in the face the second thing is about
in the face the second thing is about being able to separate your to extend
being able to separate your to extend
being able to separate your to extend the superpower vision beyond yourself
the superpower vision beyond yourself
the superpower vision beyond yourself and recognize when other people have
and recognize when other people have
and recognize when other people have determined that your disability is part
determined that your disability is part
determined that your disability is part of who you are this is what my parents
of who you are this is what my parents
of who you are this is what my parents did when the doctor said he’ll never do
did when the doctor said he’ll never do
did when the doctor said he’ll never do this he’ll never do that they separated
this he’ll never do that they separated
this he’ll never do that they separated the doctors opinions of my disability
the doctors opinions of my disability
the doctors opinions of my disability versus who I fundamentally was so you
versus who I fundamentally was so you
versus who I fundamentally was so you can see throughout my life I’ve been
can see throughout my life I’ve been
can see throughout my life I’ve been told I could never do something and yeah
told I could never do something and yeah
told I could never do something and yeah sure that’s one outcome but that’s all
sure that’s one outcome but that’s all
sure that’s one outcome but that’s all it is just one outcome there’s so many
it is just one outcome there’s so many
it is just one outcome there’s so many other alternatives remember when you’d
other alternatives remember when you’d
other alternatives remember when you’d associate the disability from who you
associate the disability from who you
associate the disability from who you are you dictate the outcomes so you can
are you dictate the outcomes so you can
are you dictate the outcomes so you can kind of use this as a fuel to prove
kind of use this as a fuel to prove
kind of use this as a fuel to prove other people but more importantly prove
other people but more importantly prove
other people but more importantly prove yourself wrong
yourself wrong
yourself wrong sure it’s easy to give in it’s tempting
sure it’s easy to give in it’s tempting
sure it’s easy to give in it’s tempting to want to just say oh I can’t do this
to want to just say oh I can’t do this
to want to just say oh I can’t do this but that lets the disability win before
but that lets the disability win before
but that lets the disability win before the fight even starts ask that question
the fight even starts ask that question
the fight even starts ask that question in your own life how much of me not
in your own life how much of me not
in your own life how much of me not moving forward is because of X reason
moving forward is because of X reason
moving forward is because of X reason versus me just being afraid right
versus me just being afraid right
versus me just being afraid right remember the monster under the bed so
remember the monster under the bed so
remember the monster under the bed so now if you follow my points one and two
now if you follow my points one and two
now if you follow my points one and two you separate yourself from your
you separate yourself from your
you separate yourself from your disability and you separate other
disability and you separate other
disability and you separate other people’s opinions about you as well
people’s opinions about you as well
people’s opinions about you as well guess what you’re gonna fail ha no you
guess what you’re gonna fail ha no you
guess what you’re gonna fail ha no you aren’t expecting that were you
aren’t expecting that were you
aren’t expecting that were you but I mean I’m not I’m not selling you a
but I mean I’m not I’m not selling you a
but I mean I’m not I’m not selling you a fairy tale here and I don’t mean you’re
fairy tale here and I don’t mean you’re
fairy tale here and I don’t mean you’re going to fail completely I just mean
going to fail completely I just mean
going to fail completely I just mean maybe the first couple of times
maybe the first couple of times
maybe the first couple of times hopefully followed by some success may
hopefully followed by some success may
hopefully followed by some success may be a great story for the grandchildren
be a great story for the grandchildren
be a great story for the grandchildren maybe a lesson learned it’s important I
maybe a lesson learned it’s important I
maybe a lesson learned it’s important I manage your expectations here I’ve
manage your expectations here I’ve
manage your expectations here I’ve fallen a lot I know you’re not you’re
fallen a lot I know you’re not you’re
fallen a lot I know you’re not you’re not just going to go out and get all
not just going to go out and get all
not just going to go out and get all this success
this success
this success I can promise you a couple of practice
I can promise you a couple of practice
I can promise you a couple of practice runs and then hopefully some success so
runs and then hopefully some success so
runs and then hopefully some success so I mentioned I noticed because I fail a
I mentioned I noticed because I fail a
I mentioned I noticed because I fail a ton that’s because I have and there’s no
ton that’s because I have and there’s no
ton that’s because I have and there’s no greater parallel to failing in life than
greater parallel to failing in life than
greater parallel to failing in life than actually falling down I mean physically
actually falling down I mean physically
actually falling down I mean physically falling down see the reality is when
falling down see the reality is when
falling down see the reality is when somebody with CP we fall all the time
somebody with CP we fall all the time
somebody with CP we fall all the time unless you’re in a wheelchair and we get
unless you’re in a wheelchair and we get
unless you’re in a wheelchair and we get really good at it
really good at it
really good at it but when you take an able body adult we
but when you take an able body adult we
but when you take an able body adult we fall over our natural instinct is to get
fall over our natural instinct is to get
fall over our natural instinct is to get up as quick as we can and oh that didn’t
up as quick as we can and oh that didn’t
up as quick as we can and oh that didn’t happen
happen
happen why do we do that usually it’s shame its
why do we do that usually it’s shame its
why do we do that usually it’s shame its embarrassment because we’re expecting
embarrassment because we’re expecting
embarrassment because we’re expecting we’re not supposed to fall over anymore
we’re not supposed to fall over anymore
we’re not supposed to fall over anymore we’re grown adults and that’s our
we’re grown adults and that’s our
we’re grown adults and that’s our problem is our expectation is just that
problem is our expectation is just that
problem is our expectation is just that but when you take somebody with CP the
but when you take somebody with CP the
but when you take somebody with CP the expectation is the opposite we fall all
expectation is the opposite we fall all
expectation is the opposite we fall all the time and guess what we’re really
the time and guess what we’re really
the time and guess what we’re really good at it we follow her like pros an
good at it we follow her like pros an
good at it we follow her like pros an example of this an example of this is
example of this an example of this is
example of this an example of this is when I’m holding my 10 month old niece
when I’m holding my 10 month old niece
when I’m holding my 10 month old niece with both hands K without my arms I’m
with both hands K without my arms I’m
with both hands K without my arms I’m very vulnerable to falling over okay
very vulnerable to falling over okay
very vulnerable to falling over okay there’s all these other children running
there’s all these other children running
there’s all these other children running throughout the house and I’m recognizing
throughout the house and I’m recognizing
throughout the house and I’m recognizing that it’s only a matter of time before
that it’s only a matter of time before
that it’s only a matter of time before the nieces and nephews decide they want
the nieces and nephews decide they want
the nieces and nephews decide they want to tackle the uncle and so I decide you
to tackle the uncle and so I decide you
to tackle the uncle and so I decide you know what I’m recognizing these are
know what I’m recognizing these are
know what I’m recognizing these are signs that I might fall over so I’m
signs that I might fall over so I’m
signs that I might fall over so I’m going to stand close to my my wife and
going to stand close to my my wife and
going to stand close to my my wife and if I’ve not when I’ve not if I fall over
if I’ve not when I’ve not if I fall over
if I’ve not when I’ve not if I fall over when I fall over I’m gonna pass this
when I fall over I’m gonna pass this
when I fall over I’m gonna pass this child right off and guess what that’s
child right off and guess what that’s
child right off and guess what that’s exactly what happened I was able to
exactly what happened I was able to
exactly what happened I was able to pretty much predict and plan that I was
pretty much predict and plan that I was
pretty much predict and plan that I was going to fall and I embraced it we can
going to fall and I embraced it we can
going to fall and I embraced it we can do this exact same thing when we fail in
do this exact same thing when we fail in
do this exact same thing when we fail in life embrace it it’s that simple just
life embrace it it’s that simple just
life embrace it it’s that simple just embrace it sure get upset if it helps
embrace it sure get upset if it helps
embrace it sure get upset if it helps get upset but here’s my top tip give
get upset but here’s my top tip give
get upset but here’s my top tip give yourself anywhere from 10 minutes to two
yourself anywhere from 10 minutes to two
yourself anywhere from 10 minutes to two days however long you want to give
days however long you want to give
days however long you want to give yourself a time limit to be upset
yourself a time limit to be upset
yourself a time limit to be upset go binge watch Netflix eat your favorite
go binge watch Netflix eat your favorite
go binge watch Netflix eat your favorite ice cream but after that time is up move
ice cream but after that time is up move
ice cream but after that time is up move on you see you can almost start to get
on you see you can almost start to get
on you see you can almost start to get more comfortable with this idea of
more comfortable with this idea of
more comfortable with this idea of failure the more it happens and you can
failure the more it happens and you can
failure the more it happens and you can almost start to plan for it it’s kind of
almost start to plan for it it’s kind of
almost start to plan for it it’s kind of a weird logic right but what’s your plan
a weird logic right but what’s your plan
a weird logic right but what’s your plan for when you fail I’m not talking about
for when you fail I’m not talking about
for when you fail I’m not talking about your plan B I’m talking about your plan
your plan B I’m talking about your plan
your plan B I’m talking about your plan your plan is how you are going to fail
your plan is how you are going to fail
your plan is how you are going to fail with grace AB recent mentor of mine put
with grace AB recent mentor of mine put
with grace AB recent mentor of mine put it this way if I have a fallback plan it
it this way if I have a fallback plan it
it this way if I have a fallback plan it means I’m going to
we expect to fail it becomes a lot
we expect to fail it becomes a lot easier to embrace when it knocks on our
easier to embrace when it knocks on our
easier to embrace when it knocks on our front door our fears our inhibitions and
front door our fears our inhibitions and
front door our fears our inhibitions and our doubts they do not dictate the
our doubts they do not dictate the
our doubts they do not dictate the outcome they do not dictate who we are
outcome they do not dictate who we are
outcome they do not dictate who we are we do maybe you’re just afraid you’re
we do maybe you’re just afraid you’re
we do maybe you’re just afraid you’re actually going to succeed I don’t know
actually going to succeed I don’t know
actually going to succeed I don’t know but what I do know is that you paint the
but what I do know is that you paint the
but what I do know is that you paint the picture of who you are not anybody else
picture of who you are not anybody else
picture of who you are not anybody else I’m going to leave you with this when we
I’m going to leave you with this when we
I’m going to leave you with this when we determine how we are going to fall with
determine how we are going to fall with
determine how we are going to fall with grace and we choose how we want to hit
grace and we choose how we want to hit
grace and we choose how we want to hit the ground you may actually find that
the ground you may actually find that
the ground you may actually find that the view from the landing is a far
the view from the landing is a far
the view from the landing is a far better view than the one from which you
better view than the one from which you
better view than the one from which you are standing thank
”
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