there are more colors to life than just black and white all we need is a change
black and white all we need is a change
black and white all we need is a change in perspective perspective is not only a
in perspective perspective is not only a
in perspective perspective is not only a psychological thing but is tangible and
psychological thing but is tangible and
psychological thing but is tangible and can truly lead to different outcomes let
can truly lead to different outcomes let
can truly lead to different outcomes let me share my experience of how a
me share my experience of how a
me share my experience of how a life-threatening incident can be a life
life-threatening incident can be a life
life-threatening incident can be a life making incident like most others I was a
making incident like most others I was a
making incident like most others I was a regular flat entity of the human system
regular flat entity of the human system
regular flat entity of the human system needing a completely mundane student
needing a completely mundane student
needing a completely mundane student life running in an infinite cycle of
life running in an infinite cycle of
life running in an infinite cycle of home school in sports field very few
home school in sports field very few
home school in sports field very few fortunate ones get the opportunity to
fortunate ones get the opportunity to
fortunate ones get the opportunity to see life in its multi-dimensional form
see life in its multi-dimensional form
see life in its multi-dimensional form last year I became one of those chosen
last year I became one of those chosen
last year I became one of those chosen ones when I pushed way too far on my
ones when I pushed way too far on my
ones when I pushed way too far on my football axis and suffered a
football axis and suffered a
football axis and suffered a life-endangering brain hemorrhage what
life-endangering brain hemorrhage what
life-endangering brain hemorrhage what followed were a series of events that
followed were a series of events that
followed were a series of events that led me to see and experience the fourth
led me to see and experience the fourth
led me to see and experience the fourth angle of the triangle this was my and my
angle of the triangle this was my and my
angle of the triangle this was my and my family’s first experience of how
family’s first experience of how
family’s first experience of how perspective can truly change what
perspective can truly change what
perspective can truly change what becomes of you the doctors nearly lost
becomes of you the doctors nearly lost
becomes of you the doctors nearly lost me in the operation theatre
me in the operation theatre
me in the operation theatre but there was infinite belief in their
but there was infinite belief in their
but there was infinite belief in their capabilities in science and in faith and
capabilities in science and in faith and
capabilities in science and in faith and I pull through reflecting now would
I pull through reflecting now would
I pull through reflecting now would things have been different and they all
things have been different and they all
things have been different and they all looked at the situation from the
looked at the situation from the
looked at the situation from the negative side of the axis I believe most
negative side of the axis I believe most
negative side of the axis I believe most certainly yes
certainly yes
certainly yes in not in ways that would have made it
in not in ways that would have made it
in not in ways that would have made it possible for me to be standing here
possible for me to be standing here
possible for me to be standing here today
today
today and sharing it with you so here I was in
and sharing it with you so here I was in
and sharing it with you so here I was in the ICU with tens of tubes sticking out
the ICU with tens of tubes sticking out
the ICU with tens of tubes sticking out of my body
of my body
of my body having no speech left-side paralysis
having no speech left-side paralysis
having no speech left-side paralysis neither left oriented sight nor a
neither left oriented sight nor a
neither left oriented sight nor a feeling that there is a left world out
feeling that there is a left world out
feeling that there is a left world out there or a world left out there tall
there or a world left out there tall
there or a world left out there tall wondering how I reacted to this was I
wondering how I reacted to this was I
wondering how I reacted to this was I over went afraid feeling helpless
over went afraid feeling helpless
over went afraid feeling helpless hopeless handicapped for the first few
hopeless handicapped for the first few
hopeless handicapped for the first few minutes it did rattle me up a little but
minutes it did rattle me up a little but
minutes it did rattle me up a little but as is natural to every ardent sports
as is natural to every ardent sports
as is natural to every ardent sports person this soon began to look like just
person this soon began to look like just
person this soon began to look like just another challenge for me to overcome in
another challenge for me to overcome in
another challenge for me to overcome in gain victory over to pick yourself up
gain victory over to pick yourself up
gain victory over to pick yourself up dust yourself up and get back on the
dust yourself up and get back on the
dust yourself up and get back on the field a couple of seconds after
field a couple of seconds after
field a couple of seconds after regaining consciousness my father asked
regaining consciousness my father asked
regaining consciousness my father asked me how do you feel to which my reply
me how do you feel to which my reply
me how do you feel to which my reply almost reflexively was
with time I could see that the world
with time I could see that the world would never be the same again what most
would never be the same again what most
would never be the same again what most people would look at with pity and
people would look at with pity and
people would look at with pity and hopelessness or as week was what we as a
hopelessness or as week was what we as a
hopelessness or as week was what we as a humongous family of well-wishers
humongous family of well-wishers
humongous family of well-wishers spanning over countries and continents
spanning over countries and continents
spanning over countries and continents viewed as an opportunity this was going
viewed as an opportunity this was going
viewed as an opportunity this was going to be like a rebirth from the ashes a
to be like a rebirth from the ashes a
to be like a rebirth from the ashes a new meaning a new paradigm a new dawn
new meaning a new paradigm a new dawn
new meaning a new paradigm a new dawn these were my first few words after
these were my first few words after
these were my first few words after waking up in the ICU which were written
waking up in the ICU which were written
waking up in the ICU which were written down on a whiteboard since I could not
down on a whiteboard since I could not
down on a whiteboard since I could not speak for the first four months of my
speak for the first four months of my
speak for the first four months of my journey and they read I will be back
journey and they read I will be back
journey and they read I will be back soon and Here I am
[Applause]
[Applause] this was my opportunity to rewrite my
this was my opportunity to rewrite my
this was my opportunity to rewrite my life and personality right from scratch
life and personality right from scratch
life and personality right from scratch with a bit of effort I could mold myself
with a bit of effort I could mold myself
with a bit of effort I could mold myself into virtually anything in everything I
into virtually anything in everything I
into virtually anything in everything I wanted to be no doubt it was going to be
wanted to be no doubt it was going to be
wanted to be no doubt it was going to be a challenge but then again no pain no
a challenge but then again no pain no
a challenge but then again no pain no gain right of course one could also view
gain right of course one could also view
gain right of course one could also view this situation as a burden or in the
this situation as a burden or in the
this situation as a burden or in the most extreme of perspectives of course
most extreme of perspectives of course
most extreme of perspectives of course or a hindrance to normal life or even as
or a hindrance to normal life or even as
or a hindrance to normal life or even as an unnecessarily harsh experience to
an unnecessarily harsh experience to
an unnecessarily harsh experience to teach oneself something however for us
teach oneself something however for us
teach oneself something however for us faith in trust confidence in belief
faith in trust confidence in belief
faith in trust confidence in belief science in prayers presence in absence
science in prayers presence in absence
science in prayers presence in absence all gained a new meaning away from
all gained a new meaning away from
all gained a new meaning away from Oxford nearly a year in hospital five
Oxford nearly a year in hospital five
Oxford nearly a year in hospital five brain surgeries several seizures tons of
brain surgeries several seizures tons of
brain surgeries several seizures tons of procedures tens of super specialists
procedures tens of super specialists
procedures tens of super specialists hundreds of tests and meeting several
hundreds of tests and meeting several
hundreds of tests and meeting several fellow patients later I have come to
fellow patients later I have come to
fellow patients later I have come to realize that life is not only the
realize that life is not only the
realize that life is not only the positive and negative axis there is more
positive and negative axis there is more
positive and negative axis there is more to see and experience than what meets
to see and experience than what meets
to see and experience than what meets the eye to be standing here and doing
the eye to be standing here and doing
the eye to be standing here and doing this talk would not have been possible
this talk would not have been possible
this talk would not have been possible had I and we only see in the life and
had I and we only see in the life and
had I and we only see in the life and world in black and white so what did our
world in black and white so what did our
world in black and white so what did our different perspective enable us to do
different perspective enable us to do
different perspective enable us to do differently out of the tens of things
differently out of the tens of things
differently out of the tens of things which we did differently I have selected
which we did differently I have selected
which we did differently I have selected six to share with you first we continue
six to share with you first we continue
six to share with you first we continue to actively involve several thousands of
to actively involve several thousands of
to actively involve several thousands of well-wishers all across the globe
well-wishers all across the globe
well-wishers all across the globe whether directly or indirectly related
whether directly or indirectly related
whether directly or indirectly related to me by distributing several hundreds
to me by distributing several hundreds
to me by distributing several hundreds of label pens each of these label pens
of label pens each of these label pens
of label pens each of these label pens signified the personality of the
signified the personality of the
signified the personality of the these were born quite proudly by every
these were born quite proudly by every
these were born quite proudly by every man every member of this family of
man every member of this family of
man every member of this family of well-wishers as a symbol of their
well-wishers as a symbol of their
well-wishers as a symbol of their support and our sincerest gratitude to
support and our sincerest gratitude to
support and our sincerest gratitude to them interestingly enough my father’s
them interestingly enough my father’s
them interestingly enough my father’s friend’s mother-in-law about 70 year old
friend’s mother-in-law about 70 year old
friend’s mother-in-law about 70 year old lady living in a remote village in
lady living in a remote village in
lady living in a remote village in Belgium wore her lip open quite proudly
Belgium wore her lip open quite proudly
Belgium wore her lip open quite proudly every day and used to go talk to her
every day and used to go talk to her
every day and used to go talk to her friends about how Smith is doing now and
friends about how Smith is doing now and
friends about how Smith is doing now and they in turn kept me in their well
they in turn kept me in their well
they in turn kept me in their well wishes and positive positive thoughts
wishes and positive positive thoughts
wishes and positive positive thoughts even though none of them have ever met
even though none of them have ever met
even though none of them have ever met me or even seen me second we continued
me or even seen me second we continued
me or even seen me second we continued to maintain a lively atmosphere or an
to maintain a lively atmosphere or an
to maintain a lively atmosphere or an atmosphere full of life we made it a
atmosphere full of life we made it a
atmosphere full of life we made it a point to celebrate each and every
point to celebrate each and every
point to celebrate each and every special occasion there was on the
special occasion there was on the
special occasion there was on the calendar be it my birthday others
calendar be it my birthday others
calendar be it my birthday others birthdays festivals or even a winning
birthdays festivals or even a winning
birthdays festivals or even a winning football or cricket we celebrated
football or cricket we celebrated
football or cricket we celebrated everything in whatever small or big way
everything in whatever small or big way
everything in whatever small or big way we could because after all what is life
we could because after all what is life
we could because after all what is life but the celebration of its spirit third
but the celebration of its spirit third
but the celebration of its spirit third we were always positive and looked ahead
we were always positive and looked ahead
we were always positive and looked ahead because we strongly believed that the
because we strongly believed that the
because we strongly believed that the road to recovery had only one way and
road to recovery had only one way and
road to recovery had only one way and that was getting better
that was getting better
that was getting better I remember the doctors used to ask me
I remember the doctors used to ask me
I remember the doctors used to ask me every day how are you feeling today and
every day how are you feeling today and
every day how are you feeling today and my reply to them on every day was I am
my reply to them on every day was I am
my reply to them on every day was I am fine and this was when almost nothing
fine and this was when almost nothing
fine and this was when almost nothing was working
the third was keeping the humor and
the third was keeping the humor and going strong on the wit even if it
going strong on the wit even if it
going strong on the wit even if it wasn’t the best of it after one of my
wasn’t the best of it after one of my
wasn’t the best of it after one of my seizures my sister asked me how did it
seizures my sister asked me how did it
seizures my sister asked me how did it feel and my reply to her was it felt
feel and my reply to her was it felt
feel and my reply to her was it felt like an internal earthquake nothing much
like an internal earthquake nothing much
like an internal earthquake nothing much even when I was getting diplopia which
even when I was getting diplopia which
even when I was getting diplopia which meant seeing double we used to joke that
meant seeing double we used to joke that
meant seeing double we used to joke that now instead of a $1 bill I would see 2
now instead of a $1 bill I would see 2
now instead of a $1 bill I would see 2 $1 bills so hey I was getting rich
$1 bills so hey I was getting rich
$1 bills so hey I was getting rich overnight the fifth is not judging
overnight the fifth is not judging
overnight the fifth is not judging yourself for altered abilities the loss
yourself for altered abilities the loss
yourself for altered abilities the loss of some abilities is not a disability
of some abilities is not a disability
of some abilities is not a disability there is nothing lost and nothing gained
there is nothing lost and nothing gained
there is nothing lost and nothing gained yes I may have been an aids athlete in
yes I may have been an aids athlete in
yes I may have been an aids athlete in the past but if I cannot do it now it
the past but if I cannot do it now it
the past but if I cannot do it now it does not render my life meaningless and
does not render my life meaningless and
does not render my life meaningless and my current existence a lost cause I call
my current existence a lost cause I call
my current existence a lost cause I call this the law of conservation of
this the law of conservation of
this the law of conservation of abilities abilities can neither be
abilities abilities can neither be
abilities abilities can neither be [Applause]
abilities can neither be created nor
abilities can neither be created nor destroyed they can merely transform from
destroyed they can merely transform from
destroyed they can merely transform from one form to another
one form to another
one form to another [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] and finally sixth understanding that you
and finally sixth understanding that you
and finally sixth understanding that you are barely a speck of dust in the
are barely a speck of dust in the
are barely a speck of dust in the universe during my what seemed to be an
universe during my what seemed to be an
universe during my what seemed to be an eternally long stay in the hospital and
eternally long stay in the hospital and
eternally long stay in the hospital and met and made friends with many of my
met and made friends with many of my
met and made friends with many of my fellow patients being in that
fellow patients being in that
fellow patients being in that environment we realized that we were not
environment we realized that we were not
environment we realized that we were not only the only ones going through a
only the only ones going through a
only the only ones going through a difficult time and that each one of us
difficult time and that each one of us
difficult time and that each one of us is having his or her own share of
is having his or her own share of
is having his or her own share of difficult times to deal with and
difficult times to deal with and
difficult times to deal with and overcome we are but a small part of the
overcome we are but a small part of the
overcome we are but a small part of the big picture so why make a fuss about it
big picture so why make a fuss about it
big picture so why make a fuss about it take it easy to sum it up for you guys
take it easy to sum it up for you guys
take it easy to sum it up for you guys apart from the science skills positivity
apart from the science skills positivity
apart from the science skills positivity and all of that it was the ability to
and all of that it was the ability to
and all of that it was the ability to view things in a different perspective
view things in a different perspective
view things in a different perspective than the rest of the world that truly
than the rest of the world that truly
than the rest of the world that truly gave me that extra bit of what was
gave me that extra bit of what was
gave me that extra bit of what was required to be where I am be the person
required to be where I am be the person
required to be where I am be the person that I am and I am constantly becoming
that I am and I am constantly becoming
that I am and I am constantly becoming it is what enables me to share it on
it is what enables me to share it on
it is what enables me to share it on platforms such as this so that maybe the
platforms such as this so that maybe the
platforms such as this so that maybe the next time you find yourself stuck in a
next time you find yourself stuck in a
next time you find yourself stuck in a situation where every perspective around
situation where every perspective around
situation where every perspective around you tells you that it’s over and you
you tells you that it’s over and you
you tells you that it’s over and you should give up you can remember this and
should give up you can remember this and
should give up you can remember this and dine yourself differently so that you
dine yourself differently so that you
dine yourself differently so that you can have the courage to view life in its
can have the courage to view life in its
can have the courage to view life in its umpteenth dimension and take it that way
umpteenth dimension and take it that way
umpteenth dimension and take it that way after all life is not a one size fit all
after all life is not a one size fit all
after all life is not a one size fit all each one of us is meant to look at life
each one of us is meant to look at life
each one of us is meant to look at life in his or her own way in order to keep
in his or her own way in order to keep
in his or her own way in order to keep living life in its true nature
”
Be First to Comment