what we perceive and what is to be reality are two very different things
reality are two very different things
reality are two very different things today you see me standing here at the
today you see me standing here at the
today you see me standing here at the age of 26 I’m the CEO and designer of my
age of 26 I’m the CEO and designer of my
age of 26 I’m the CEO and designer of my namesake clothing line marry young
namesake clothing line marry young
namesake clothing line marry young I also power a movement called the
I also power a movement called the
I also power a movement called the self-love Club we’re encouraged open and
self-love Club we’re encouraged open and
self-love Club we’re encouraged open and authentic conversation around body
authentic conversation around body
authentic conversation around body positivity self love and self care
positivity self love and self care
positivity self love and self care outside of work I’m very passionate
outside of work I’m very passionate
outside of work I’m very passionate about the creative community I encourage
about the creative community I encourage
about the creative community I encourage women to embrace themselves and to
women to embrace themselves and to
women to embrace themselves and to challenge themselves I also focus on my
challenge themselves I also focus on my
challenge themselves I also focus on my health and my fitness activities and
health and my fitness activities and
health and my fitness activities and really push myself to the limits this is
really push myself to the limits this is
really push myself to the limits this is what you see but ten years ago if you
what you see but ten years ago if you
what you see but ten years ago if you were to tell me this was my future I
were to tell me this was my future I
were to tell me this was my future I wouldn’t have believed you ten years ago
wouldn’t have believed you ten years ago
wouldn’t have believed you ten years ago this didn’t look like my life this
this didn’t look like my life this
this didn’t look like my life this didn’t seem something I could have when
didn’t seem something I could have when
didn’t seem something I could have when we look at our lives a lot of moments
we look at our lives a lot of moments
we look at our lives a lot of moments will happen that will change everything
will happen that will change everything
will happen that will change everything for me that day was November 3rd 2007 I
for me that day was November 3rd 2007 I
for me that day was November 3rd 2007 I was playing rugby in gym class I grew up
was playing rugby in gym class I grew up
was playing rugby in gym class I grew up with an older brother so I knew how to
with an older brother so I knew how to
with an older brother so I knew how to play and jump in there and so I did I
play and jump in there and so I did I
play and jump in there and so I did I got right in and I ended up taking a few
got right in and I ended up taking a few
got right in and I ended up taking a few heavy hits to the head and I got a
heavy hits to the head and I got a
heavy hits to the head and I got a concussion it was a grade one concussion
concussion it was a grade one concussion
concussion it was a grade one concussion so for those of you no that’s not the
so for those of you no that’s not the
so for those of you no that’s not the worst concussion you can get on a scale
worst concussion you can get on a scale
worst concussion you can get on a scale of concussions it was at the bottom I
of concussions it was at the bottom I
of concussions it was at the bottom I didn’t lose consciousness I knew who I
didn’t lose consciousness I knew who I
didn’t lose consciousness I knew who I was and I knew where I was these were
was and I knew where I was these were
was and I knew where I was these were all good signs in fact one in five
all good signs in fact one in five
all good signs in fact one in five students will actually get a concussion
students will actually get a concussion
students will actually get a concussion in the regular season and 90% of those
in the regular season and 90% of those
in the regular season and 90% of those concussions you won’t lose your
concussions you won’t lose your
concussions you won’t lose your consciousness and you won’t black out so
consciousness and you won’t black out so
consciousness and you won’t black out so I wasn’t rare by any means but what
I wasn’t rare by any means but what
I wasn’t rare by any means but what happened next was rare so I followed my
happened next was rare so I followed my
happened next was rare so I followed my doctor’s orders I didn’t do anything
doctor’s orders I didn’t do anything
doctor’s orders I didn’t do anything extensive for the next three weeks no
extensive for the next three weeks no
extensive for the next three weeks no gym class no extracurricular activities
gym class no extracurricular activities
gym class no extracurricular activities and I didn’t use my brain that intensely
and I didn’t use my brain that intensely
and I didn’t use my brain that intensely no heavy thinking realistically I just
no heavy thinking realistically I just
no heavy thinking realistically I just took it easy a but it’s all pretty good
took it easy a but it’s all pretty good
took it easy a but it’s all pretty good the headaches started to subside the
the headaches started to subside the
the headaches started to subside the nausea the dizziness started to fade
nausea the dizziness started to fade
nausea the dizziness started to fade away and I started to come back to
away and I started to come back to
away and I started to come back to myself a little bit and feel more normal
myself a little bit and feel more normal
myself a little bit and feel more normal then four weeks after the concussion I
then four weeks after the concussion I
then four weeks after the concussion I woke up to something I had never
woke up to something I had never
woke up to something I had never experienced before this was a feeling
experienced before this was a feeling
experienced before this was a feeling that I never knew
that I never knew
that I never knew I woke up with a migraine I had
I woke up with a migraine I had
I woke up with a migraine I had headaches before I knew what a headache
headaches before I knew what a headache
headaches before I knew what a headache was and I knew what that felt like but a
was and I knew what that felt like but a
was and I knew what that felt like but a migraine was different this migraine
migraine was different this migraine
migraine was different this migraine losted eight months this was eight
losted eight months this was eight
losted eight months this was eight months every single day with this pain a
months every single day with this pain a
months every single day with this pain a few days into the migraine all of my
few days into the migraine all of my
few days into the migraine all of my symptoms came back with a vengence the
symptoms came back with a vengence the
symptoms came back with a vengence the dizziness became severe vertigo that
dizziness became severe vertigo that
dizziness became severe vertigo that even when I was sitting down I couldn’t
even when I was sitting down I couldn’t
even when I was sitting down I couldn’t tell it was up or down everything was
tell it was up or down everything was
tell it was up or down everything was spinning my visual site was actually
spinning my visual site was actually
spinning my visual site was actually affected I would see strobe lights going
affected I would see strobe lights going
affected I would see strobe lights going off my peripherals everywhere the ground
off my peripherals everywhere the ground
off my peripherals everywhere the ground was constantly shaking moving through
was constantly shaking moving through
was constantly shaking moving through the day became such a challenge that I
the day became such a challenge that I
the day became such a challenge that I couldn’t figure out where I was going
couldn’t figure out where I was going
couldn’t figure out where I was going what I was doing and how to even move
what I was doing and how to even move
what I was doing and how to even move through my life next my cognitive skills
through my life next my cognitive skills
through my life next my cognitive skills were affected I was unable to read and
were affected I was unable to read and
were affected I was unable to read and write the way that I used to so imagine
write the way that I used to so imagine
write the way that I used to so imagine this at age 16 in grade 11 unable to
this at age 16 in grade 11 unable to
this at age 16 in grade 11 unable to read and write a simple question like
read and write a simple question like
read and write a simple question like what is the date was really hard for me
what is the date was really hard for me
what is the date was really hard for me to understand simple just a few words
to understand simple just a few words
to understand simple just a few words something we are asked every single day
something we are asked every single day
something we are asked every single day for me I would have to break it down a
for me I would have to break it down a
for me I would have to break it down a word by word what what is what is the
word by word what what is what is the
word by word what what is what is the what is the date if I was able to even
what is the date if I was able to even
what is the date if I was able to even understand what the sentence was it
understand what the sentence was it
understand what the sentence was it could take me up to two or three minutes
could take me up to two or three minutes
could take me up to two or three minutes to understand it answering the question
to understand it answering the question
to understand it answering the question was even harder you would see words that
was even harder you would see words that
was even harder you would see words that would blend together a word that I
would blend together a word that I
would blend together a word that I didn’t mean to be there would suddenly
didn’t mean to be there would suddenly
didn’t mean to be there would suddenly show up and none of it made sense and I
show up and none of it made sense and I
show up and none of it made sense and I couldn’t understand why this was
couldn’t understand why this was
couldn’t understand why this was happening I didn’t know what was going
happening I didn’t know what was going
happening I didn’t know what was going on this affected me every single day on
on this affected me every single day on
on this affected me every single day on top of that I was struggling with
top of that I was struggling with
top of that I was struggling with speaking you know that feeling when you
speaking you know that feeling when you
speaking you know that feeling when you have a word on the tip of your tongue
have a word on the tip of your tongue
have a word on the tip of your tongue and you can feel it you know it and you
and you can feel it you know it and you
and you can feel it you know it and you just can’t say it
just can’t say it
just can’t say it that was me every single day to the
that was me every single day to the
that was me every single day to the point where I was unable to have proper
point where I was unable to have proper
point where I was unable to have proper conversations this was the new normal
conversations this was the new normal
conversations this was the new normal for me as this progressed I started to
for me as this progressed I started to
for me as this progressed I started to see different doctors and it was finally
see different doctors and it was finally
see different doctors and it was finally diagnosed with post concussion syndrome
diagnosed with post concussion syndrome
diagnosed with post concussion syndrome I believe it or not a lot of people
I believe it or not a lot of people
I believe it or not a lot of people actually have post concussion syndrome
actually have post concussion syndrome
actually have post concussion syndrome with around 50% of patients having these
with around 50% of patients having these
with around 50% of patients having these symptoms up to three months after the
symptoms up to three months after the
symptoms up to three months after the concussion and another ten to 15% having
concussion and another ten to 15% having
concussion and another ten to 15% having those lasts for over one year
those lasts for over one year
those lasts for over one year I was the 10 to 15% my symptoms lasted
I was the 10 to 15% my symptoms lasted
I was the 10 to 15% my symptoms lasted nearly seven years this wasn’t something
nearly seven years this wasn’t something
nearly seven years this wasn’t something I was prepared for this wasn’t something
I was prepared for this wasn’t something
I was prepared for this wasn’t something that I knew was going to happen as I was
that I knew was going to happen as I was
that I knew was going to happen as I was moving through this the first year was
moving through this the first year was
moving through this the first year was the hardest I was prescribed a lot of
the hardest I was prescribed a lot of
the hardest I was prescribed a lot of different medication to deal with this
different medication to deal with this
different medication to deal with this pain the dizziness the nausea everything
pain the dizziness the nausea everything
pain the dizziness the nausea everything that I was feeling I had to have
that I was feeling I had to have
that I was feeling I had to have different medications to control this
different medications to control this
different medications to control this first year was a blur for me I don’t
first year was a blur for me I don’t
first year was a blur for me I don’t remember most of it I don’t remember who
remember most of it I don’t remember who
remember most of it I don’t remember who I was in that year actually when I speak
I was in that year actually when I speak
I was in that year actually when I speak to my mom about it she’ll often recall
to my mom about it she’ll often recall
to my mom about it she’ll often recall seeing her daughter my body my
seeing her daughter my body my
seeing her daughter my body my personality and everything but something
personality and everything but something
personality and everything but something was missing
was missing
was missing I was emotionless my personality was
I was emotionless my personality was
I was emotionless my personality was muted and I was distant
muted and I was distant
muted and I was distant there is one memory I have of that year
there is one memory I have of that year
there is one memory I have of that year when I was 16 standing in front of my
when I was 16 standing in front of my
when I was 16 standing in front of my mirror at home looking at myself and
mirror at home looking at myself and
mirror at home looking at myself and feeling so lost what I saw wasn’t who I
feeling so lost what I saw wasn’t who I
feeling so lost what I saw wasn’t who I was my physical appearance had changed I
was my physical appearance had changed I
was my physical appearance had changed I had gained away from the medication so
had gained away from the medication so
had gained away from the medication so what I saw wasn’t who I knew and then my
what I saw wasn’t who I knew and then my
what I saw wasn’t who I knew and then my personality wasn’t there I didn’t feel
personality wasn’t there I didn’t feel
personality wasn’t there I didn’t feel like myself I didn’t know who I was
like myself I didn’t know who I was
like myself I didn’t know who I was anymore so what I looked at myself I
anymore so what I looked at myself I
anymore so what I looked at myself I felt two separate things my mind and my
felt two separate things my mind and my
felt two separate things my mind and my body were separate they didn’t work
body were separate they didn’t work
body were separate they didn’t work together my mind felt extremely betrayed
together my mind felt extremely betrayed
together my mind felt extremely betrayed by my body why was I in this pain I
by my body why was I in this pain I
by my body why was I in this pain I didn’t want this I don’t want this
didn’t want this I don’t want this
didn’t want this I don’t want this confusion this dizziness this nausea I
confusion this dizziness this nausea I
confusion this dizziness this nausea I didn’t want to be 16 and not know who I
didn’t want to be 16 and not know who I
didn’t want to be 16 and not know who I was and to be just moving through the
was and to be just moving through the
was and to be just moving through the world without any sense of care or any
world without any sense of care or any
world without any sense of care or any sense of direction I felt betrayed by
sense of direction I felt betrayed by
sense of direction I felt betrayed by myself this was the biggest challenge
myself this was the biggest challenge
myself this was the biggest challenge for me to move past that over the next
for me to move past that over the next
for me to move past that over the next two years I was able to lower down my
two years I was able to lower down my
two years I was able to lower down my medication and I was able to get down to
medication and I was able to get down to
medication and I was able to get down to one or two different medications a day
one or two different medications a day
one or two different medications a day at this time my migraines were about 20
at this time my migraines were about 20
at this time my migraines were about 20 to 25 days of a month now that sounds
to 25 days of a month now that sounds
to 25 days of a month now that sounds pretty horrendous imagine 20 days with a
pretty horrendous imagine 20 days with a
pretty horrendous imagine 20 days with a migraine for me this was my new normal
migraine for me this was my new normal
migraine for me this was my new normal and for me that was progress so when I
and for me that was progress so when I
and for me that was progress so when I was 18 I decided to move to Toronto five
was 18 I decided to move to Toronto five
was 18 I decided to move to Toronto five hours away from my hometown really
hours away from my hometown really
hours away from my hometown really exciting time going to school getting my
exciting time going to school getting my
exciting time going to school getting my post-secondary education I had a few
post-secondary education I had a few
post-secondary education I had a few friends in the city but I had no family
friends in the city but I had no family
friends in the city but I had no family the biggest struggle was actually to
the biggest struggle was actually to
the biggest struggle was actually to find a new doctor I was willing to find
find a new doctor I was willing to find
find a new doctor I was willing to find any doctor that was willing to try
any doctor that was willing to try
any doctor that was willing to try anything I wanted to try anything to get
anything I wanted to try anything to get
anything I wanted to try anything to get rid of this pain to solve what was going
rid of this pain to solve what was going
rid of this pain to solve what was going on so I visited numerous different
on so I visited numerous different
on so I visited numerous different doctors tried many different techniques
doctors tried many different techniques
doctors tried many different techniques and at the age of 22 I was still
and at the age of 22 I was still
and at the age of 22 I was still categorized as living in chronic pain
categorized as living in chronic pain
categorized as living in chronic pain with migraines anywhere from 15 to 25
with migraines anywhere from 15 to 25
with migraines anywhere from 15 to 25 days of a month this was out while I was
days of a month this was out while I was
days of a month this was out while I was in university working a part-time job
in university working a part-time job
in university working a part-time job and I had an internship so my doctor had
and I had an internship so my doctor had
and I had an internship so my doctor had an idea he explained to me about these
an idea he explained to me about these
an idea he explained to me about these neurons that we all have called
neurons that we all have called
neurons that we all have called nociceptors neurons what they do is they
nociceptors neurons what they do is they
nociceptors neurons what they do is they actually detect signals of damage or
actually detect signals of damage or
actually detect signals of damage or potential damage and then they let your
potential damage and then they let your
potential damage and then they let your your action potential know and it will
your action potential know and it will
your action potential know and it will actually signal to your brain that
actually signal to your brain that
actually signal to your brain that you’re in pain so if you’re playing
you’re in pain so if you’re playing
you’re in pain so if you’re playing soccer and you scrape your knee the air
soccer and you scrape your knee the air
soccer and you scrape your knee the air action potential will allow your brain
action potential will allow your brain
action potential will allow your brain to know that you’ve scraped your knee so
to know that you’ve scraped your knee so
to know that you’ve scraped your knee so therefore you know your knee is bleeding
therefore you know your knee is bleeding
therefore you know your knee is bleeding or it’s hurt sometimes when you’re
or it’s hurt sometimes when you’re
or it’s hurt sometimes when you’re playing soccer or your adrenaline will
playing soccer or your adrenaline will
playing soccer or your adrenaline will carry you through and you won’t actually
carry you through and you won’t actually
carry you through and you won’t actually feel that so you’ll be playing it all
feel that so you’ll be playing it all
feel that so you’ll be playing it all something in the game you realize wow my
something in the game you realize wow my
something in the game you realize wow my knee really hurts that’s because the
knee really hurts that’s because the
knee really hurts that’s because the adrenaline actually washed away those
adrenaline actually washed away those
adrenaline actually washed away those potential actions so for me my doctor
potential actions so for me my doctor
potential actions so for me my doctor said that my body may have been actually
said that my body may have been actually
said that my body may have been actually sending these messages of pain when
sending these messages of pain when
sending these messages of pain when there was no damage so there was such
there was no damage so there was such
there was no damage so there was such strong pain waves my body that they
strong pain waves my body that they
strong pain waves my body that they might have been firing even when nothing
might have been firing even when nothing
might have been firing even when nothing was happening and no damage was being
was happening and no damage was being
was happening and no damage was being done so what his approach was was to
done so what his approach was was to
done so what his approach was was to stop all those pain waves and how he did
stop all those pain waves and how he did
stop all those pain waves and how he did this was he took general anaesthetic a
this was he took general anaesthetic a
this was he took general anaesthetic a small amount of freezing it’s a small
small amount of freezing it’s a small
small amount of freezing it’s a small needle and he inserted on every
needle and he inserted on every
needle and he inserted on every vertebrae down my neck and into my
vertebrae down my neck and into my
vertebrae down my neck and into my shoulders an order to freeze any pain I
shoulders an order to freeze any pain I
shoulders an order to freeze any pain I did this three times the first time I
did this three times the first time I
did this three times the first time I did it I was so confused after I had it
did it I was so confused after I had it
did it I was so confused after I had it done that I had to take a cab home I was
done that I had to take a cab home I was
done that I had to take a cab home I was stuck in my bed for two days I could
stuck in my bed for two days I could
stuck in my bed for two days I could barely move I didn’t understand what was
barely move I didn’t understand what was
barely move I didn’t understand what was happening to my body the second time I
happening to my body the second time I
happening to my body the second time I knew a little bit more and you what to
knew a little bit more and you what to
knew a little bit more and you what to expect and by the third time I knew what
expect and by the third time I knew what
expect and by the third time I knew what was happening but there was no progress
was happening but there was no progress
was happening but there was no progress nothing changed
nothing changed
nothing changed the pain was still there I was just as
the pain was still there I was just as
the pain was still there I was just as dizzy I didn’t understand why it wasn’t
dizzy I didn’t understand why it wasn’t
dizzy I didn’t understand why it wasn’t working so this is what I went back to
working so this is what I went back to
working so this is what I went back to my doctor and we
my doctor and we
my doctor and we down and he said he had a solution he
down and he said he had a solution he
down and he said he had a solution he told me to quit that I should quit
told me to quit that I should quit
told me to quit that I should quit school that I should quit my part-time
school that I should quit my part-time
school that I should quit my part-time job I should quit my internship and I
job I should quit my internship and I
job I should quit my internship and I should focus solely on my recovery and
should focus solely on my recovery and
should focus solely on my recovery and that should be all of my attention is
that should be all of my attention is
that should be all of my attention is getting better so for me when I heard
getting better so for me when I heard
getting better so for me when I heard that that was terrifying I was 23 in my
that that was terrifying I was 23 in my
that that was terrifying I was 23 in my third year of university I had already
third year of university I had already
third year of university I had already worked so hard to move to Toronto to
worked so hard to move to Toronto to
worked so hard to move to Toronto to pursue my education to have a life to
pursue my education to have a life to
pursue my education to have a life to build my future to have someone to tell
build my future to have someone to tell
build my future to have someone to tell me to quit and stop everything it was
me to quit and stop everything it was
me to quit and stop everything it was gut-wrenching
gut-wrenching
gut-wrenching so I found myself at a fork in the road
so I found myself at a fork in the road
so I found myself at a fork in the road to the right I could do what my doctor
to the right I could do what my doctor
to the right I could do what my doctor said I could quit I could move home to
said I could quit I could move home to
said I could quit I could move home to my small town where with my mom and
my small town where with my mom and
my small town where with my mom and focus on my health and focus on my
focus on my health and focus on my
focus on my health and focus on my recovery but I knew in my gut that if I
recovery but I knew in my gut that if I
recovery but I knew in my gut that if I were to do that I wouldn’t have the
were to do that I wouldn’t have the
were to do that I wouldn’t have the strength to move back to Toronto that I
strength to move back to Toronto that I
strength to move back to Toronto that I already put so much on the line to come
already put so much on the line to come
already put so much on the line to come here and pursue my education that I
here and pursue my education that I
here and pursue my education that I wouldn’t be able to do that up for a
wouldn’t be able to do that up for a
wouldn’t be able to do that up for a second time so the other path was to
second time so the other path was to
second time so the other path was to change my mindset and to flip it these
change my mindset and to flip it these
change my mindset and to flip it these were my two paths that I had at 23 I had
were my two paths that I had at 23 I had
were my two paths that I had at 23 I had to decide I chose to change my mindset
to decide I chose to change my mindset
to decide I chose to change my mindset when it comes to changing your mindset
when it comes to changing your mindset
when it comes to changing your mindset I’m sure most of you have heard
I’m sure most of you have heard
I’m sure most of you have heard different lists you know five steps to
different lists you know five steps to
different lists you know five steps to be more positive the way to look at the
be more positive the way to look at the
be more positive the way to look at the world through brighter eyes this isn’t
world through brighter eyes this isn’t
world through brighter eyes this isn’t something that happens overnight I could
something that happens overnight I could
something that happens overnight I could admit that but it is something that is
admit that but it is something that is
admit that but it is something that is very powerful when I was growing up my
very powerful when I was growing up my
very powerful when I was growing up my parents always taught us to be thankful
parents always taught us to be thankful
parents always taught us to be thankful and grateful for the things we had we
and grateful for the things we had we
and grateful for the things we had we would always note the house our family
would always note the house our family
would always note the house our family our friends whatever it was and be very
our friends whatever it was and be very
our friends whatever it was and be very thankful for that
thankful for that
thankful for that and so I decided to take that one step
and so I decided to take that one step
and so I decided to take that one step further and I started a thankful journal
further and I started a thankful journal
further and I started a thankful journal for me I would write down anything I was
for me I would write down anything I was
for me I would write down anything I was thankful for whether that was the
thankful for whether that was the
thankful for whether that was the smallest thing of watching TV and
smallest thing of watching TV and
smallest thing of watching TV and enjoying it or laughing with my friends
enjoying it or laughing with my friends
enjoying it or laughing with my friends it didn’t always have to be related to
it didn’t always have to be related to
it didn’t always have to be related to my physical health but I always wrote
my physical health but I always wrote
my physical health but I always wrote down what I was thankful for God changed
down what I was thankful for God changed
down what I was thankful for God changed my outlook I stopped looking at the
my outlook I stopped looking at the
my outlook I stopped looking at the negative things the things I didn’t have
negative things the things I didn’t have
negative things the things I didn’t have the things that I was losing out on but
the things that I was losing out on but
the things that I was losing out on but rather the things I did have next I
rather the things I did have next I
rather the things I did have next I decided to use some positive self-talk I
decided to use some positive self-talk I
decided to use some positive self-talk I noticed the way that we speak to our
noticed the way that we speak to our
noticed the way that we speak to our friends we’re always encouraging them
friends we’re always encouraging them
friends we’re always encouraging them we’re building them up we’re supporting
we’re building them up we’re supporting
we’re building them up we’re supporting them but then when we speak to ourselves
them but then when we speak to ourselves
them but then when we speak to ourselves oftentimes we’re tearing ourselves down
oftentimes we’re tearing ourselves down
oftentimes we’re tearing ourselves down we’re not supporting ourselves we’re not
we’re not supporting ourselves we’re not
we’re not supporting ourselves we’re not saying anything positive to ourselves so
saying anything positive to ourselves so
saying anything positive to ourselves so I changed that I would stand in front of
I changed that I would stand in front of
I changed that I would stand in front of the mirror and speak to myself in third
the mirror and speak to myself in third
the mirror and speak to myself in third person to encourage myself now this is
person to encourage myself now this is
person to encourage myself now this is very strange trust me if you ever try
very strange trust me if you ever try
very strange trust me if you ever try this looking at yourself in the mirror
this looking at yourself in the mirror
this looking at yourself in the mirror and saying Mary your pain doesn’t define
and saying Mary your pain doesn’t define
and saying Mary your pain doesn’t define you
you
you Mary your body offers you more than pain
Mary your body offers you more than pain
Mary your body offers you more than pain it felt very strange but it worked I
it felt very strange but it worked I
it felt very strange but it worked I started to listen and believed what I
started to listen and believed what I
started to listen and believed what I was saying my body also started to
was saying my body also started to
was saying my body also started to listen lastly I looked at what my body
listen lastly I looked at what my body
listen lastly I looked at what my body and my mind could do these are our two
and my mind could do these are our two
and my mind could do these are our two most powerful tools that all of us
most powerful tools that all of us
most powerful tools that all of us possess and I decided to use those for
possess and I decided to use those for
possess and I decided to use those for the past seven years I was told not to
the past seven years I was told not to
the past seven years I was told not to workout not to increase my heartrate
workout not to increase my heartrate
workout not to increase my heartrate and to not jump bounce or move around to
and to not jump bounce or move around to
and to not jump bounce or move around to the point that I would actually get a
the point that I would actually get a
the point that I would actually get a migraine so what I decided to do was go
migraine so what I decided to do was go
migraine so what I decided to do was go to the gym I started working out I
to the gym I started working out I
to the gym I started working out I started with the smallest amount of
started with the smallest amount of
started with the smallest amount of workouts and trust me I was exhausted
workouts and trust me I was exhausted
workouts and trust me I was exhausted and eventually I started to go back and
and eventually I started to go back and
and eventually I started to go back and I start to feel stronger and my body
I start to feel stronger and my body
I start to feel stronger and my body started to feel more powerful because I
started to feel more powerful because I
started to feel more powerful because I was using it and because I recognized it
was using it and because I recognized it
was using it and because I recognized it as I was doing these three things my
as I was doing these three things my
as I was doing these three things my migraine started to soften they went
migraine started to soften they went
migraine started to soften they went from 25 to 20 days a month down to 15 by
from 25 to 20 days a month down to 15 by
from 25 to 20 days a month down to 15 by the age of 24 I was no longer living in
the age of 24 I was no longer living in
the age of 24 I was no longer living in chronic pain this was the first time in
chronic pain this was the first time in
chronic pain this was the first time in my life that I had less than 10
my life that I had less than 10
my life that I had less than 10 migraines a month to the point where now
migraines a month to the point where now
migraines a month to the point where now I have less than one migraine a month
I have less than one migraine a month
I have less than one migraine a month it’s usually every second month so these
it’s usually every second month so these
it’s usually every second month so these three things really shifted my future
three things really shifted my future
three things really shifted my future these mindset changes were controlling
these mindset changes were controlling
these mindset changes were controlling what I was able to change in my life in
what I was able to change in my life in
what I was able to change in my life in order to move past that fork in the road
order to move past that fork in the road
order to move past that fork in the road I’m sure most of you have faced a fork
I’m sure most of you have faced a fork
I’m sure most of you have faced a fork in the road or maybe all the odds have
in the road or maybe all the odds have
in the road or maybe all the odds have been stacked against you and you felt at
been stacked against you and you felt at
been stacked against you and you felt at a loss what do you do where do you go
a loss what do you do where do you go
a loss what do you do where do you go who do you turn to but the thing to
who do you turn to but the thing to
who do you turn to but the thing to remember is you actually turn to
remember is you actually turn to
remember is you actually turn to yourself you look at your mindset what
yourself you look at your mindset what
yourself you look at your mindset what you’re able to do and you remember these
you’re able to do and you remember these
you’re able to do and you remember these three things to help
three things to help
three things to help you move past whatever is blocking your
you move past whatever is blocking your
you move past whatever is blocking your path so take a look at your life look at
path so take a look at your life look at
path so take a look at your life look at what you’re grateful for be thankful for
what you’re grateful for be thankful for
what you’re grateful for be thankful for it we’re all in here today this is an
it we’re all in here today this is an
it we’re all in here today this is an amazing experience we are all are
amazing experience we are all are
amazing experience we are all are pursuing our education something that
pursuing our education something that
pursuing our education something that not everyone our age gets to do in this
not everyone our age gets to do in this
not everyone our age gets to do in this world be very grateful for those things
world be very grateful for those things
world be very grateful for those things start speaking to yourself the way you
start speaking to yourself the way you
start speaking to yourself the way you would speak to your friends encourage
would speak to your friends encourage
would speak to your friends encourage yourself speak to yourself in third
yourself speak to yourself in third
yourself speak to yourself in third person if that helps but always have
person if that helps but always have
person if that helps but always have positive self-talk and affirmation and
positive self-talk and affirmation and
positive self-talk and affirmation and lastly know that your body and your mind
lastly know that your body and your mind
lastly know that your body and your mind are your most powerful tools that you
are your most powerful tools that you
are your most powerful tools that you have use those tools remember that they
have use those tools remember that they
have use those tools remember that they are yours to use for the your entire
are yours to use for the your entire
are yours to use for the your entire life and they are more powerful than you
life and they are more powerful than you
life and they are more powerful than you can ever imagine at the end of the day
can ever imagine at the end of the day
can ever imagine at the end of the day when you’re stuck and you’re trying to
when you’re stuck and you’re trying to
when you’re stuck and you’re trying to go up hill and you’re trying to push
go up hill and you’re trying to push
go up hill and you’re trying to push through and you’re looking to what’s
through and you’re looking to what’s
through and you’re looking to what’s next remember that your mindset can
next remember that your mindset can
next remember that your mindset can truly change your future thank you
truly change your future thank you
truly change your future thank you [Applause]
”
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