when I was about seven years old I found the key to success in a pizza box I just
the key to success in a pizza box I just
the key to success in a pizza box I just didn’t know it at the time because I’ve
didn’t know it at the time because I’ve
didn’t know it at the time because I’ve been disabled my entire life I’ve held
been disabled my entire life I’ve held
been disabled my entire life I’ve held myself to a different standard than that
myself to a different standard than that
myself to a different standard than that of an able-bodied person this made me
of an able-bodied person this made me
of an able-bodied person this made me feel like an alien I wasn’t your average
feel like an alien I wasn’t your average
feel like an alien I wasn’t your average able-bodied person and I wasn’t your
able-bodied person and I wasn’t your
able-bodied person and I wasn’t your average disabled person I’m here to talk
average disabled person I’m here to talk
average disabled person I’m here to talk to you today about power of perspective
to you today about power of perspective
to you today about power of perspective now perspective in your life can affect
now perspective in your life can affect
now perspective in your life can affect everything and by everything I mean
everything and by everything I mean
everything and by everything I mean everyday obstacles everyday life and
everyday obstacles everyday life and
everyday obstacles everyday life and everything today I’m gonna give you a
everything today I’m gonna give you a
everything today I’m gonna give you a universal key to unlock happiness and
universal key to unlock happiness and
universal key to unlock happiness and success in your life that is perspective
success in your life that is perspective
success in your life that is perspective now the definition of perspective is a
now the definition of perspective is a
now the definition of perspective is a simple one it’s a point of view or a way
simple one it’s a point of view or a way
simple one it’s a point of view or a way of looking at something but it can also
of looking at something but it can also
of looking at something but it can also relate to your everyday life for example
relate to your everyday life for example
relate to your everyday life for example let’s imagine for a second that you’re
let’s imagine for a second that you’re
let’s imagine for a second that you’re in your favorite restaurant it’s late
in your favorite restaurant it’s late
in your favorite restaurant it’s late evening just sat down at your table and
evening just sat down at your table and
evening just sat down at your table and you notice there’s a person in that
you notice there’s a person in that
you notice there’s a person in that restaurant a disabled person in that
restaurant a disabled person in that
restaurant a disabled person in that restaurant and they’re having to be fed
restaurant and they’re having to be fed
restaurant and they’re having to be fed now a person could walk by and think to
now a person could walk by and think to
now a person could walk by and think to themselves wow I really feel bad for
themselves wow I really feel bad for
themselves wow I really feel bad for this person for this disabled person
this person for this disabled person
this person for this disabled person they’re out in a public setting and
they’re out in a public setting and
they’re out in a public setting and they’re having to be fed in front of
they’re having to be fed in front of
they’re having to be fed in front of everybody or instead a person can walk
everybody or instead a person can walk
everybody or instead a person can walk by and think wow there’s a person in
by and think wow there’s a person in
by and think wow there’s a person in this restaurant not a disabled person a
this restaurant not a disabled person a
this restaurant not a disabled person a person in this restaurant and they have
person in this restaurant and they have
person in this restaurant and they have extra challenges and they have someone
extra challenges and they have someone
extra challenges and they have someone in their life that’s considers them an
in their life that’s considers them an
in their life that’s considers them an equal and is willing to help them with
equal and is willing to help them with
equal and is willing to help them with their everyday challenges that they have
their everyday challenges that they have
their everyday challenges that they have it’s all perspective it’s all the way
it’s all perspective it’s all the way
it’s all perspective it’s all the way you look at it now with perspective as
you look at it now with perspective as
you look at it now with perspective as simple as it is it’s all also very
simple as it is it’s all also very
simple as it is it’s all also very complex and powerful it can change your
complex and powerful it can change your
complex and powerful it can change your life with just a simple thought
perspective instead of being able
perspective instead of being able instead of just getting by in life it’s
instead of just getting by in life it’s
instead of just getting by in life it’s perspective that’ll help you succeed now
perspective that’ll help you succeed now
perspective that’ll help you succeed now I want to share a short story about how
I want to share a short story about how
I want to share a short story about how perspective perspective was introduced
perspective perspective was introduced
perspective perspective was introduced in my life now like I said earlier I’ve
in my life now like I said earlier I’ve
in my life now like I said earlier I’ve been disabled my entire life and when I
been disabled my entire life and when I
been disabled my entire life and when I was younger
was younger
was younger instead of getting around you know in
instead of getting around you know in
instead of getting around you know in the house instead of getting around in a
the house instead of getting around in a
the house instead of getting around in a big bulky wheelchair following me around
big bulky wheelchair following me around
big bulky wheelchair following me around you know a little kid big wheelchair I
you know a little kid big wheelchair I
you know a little kid big wheelchair I had what was like a kid’s pedal bike
had what was like a kid’s pedal bike
had what was like a kid’s pedal bike without pedals on it
without pedals on it
without pedals on it I have limited mobility in my hips so I
I have limited mobility in my hips so I
I have limited mobility in my hips so I was able to move around the house in it
was able to move around the house in it
was able to move around the house in it and one weekend I spent over at my
and one weekend I spent over at my
and one weekend I spent over at my brother’s house and he was entertaining
brother’s house and he was entertaining
brother’s house and he was entertaining some guests so I pretty much stayed out
some guests so I pretty much stayed out
some guests so I pretty much stayed out of the way and went to bed early well
of the way and went to bed early well
of the way and went to bed early well the next morning I woke up that was
the next morning I woke up that was
the next morning I woke up that was hungry so I get up and I get on my
hungry so I get up and I get on my
hungry so I get up and I get on my scooter and I started looking around the
scooter and I started looking around the
scooter and I started looking around the house for something to eat so I head to
house for something to eat so I head to
house for something to eat so I head to the kitchen and sitting there looking
the kitchen and sitting there looking
the kitchen and sitting there looking around I’m like okay the house is
around I’m like okay the house is
around I’m like okay the house is completely quiet everybody’s asleep
completely quiet everybody’s asleep
completely quiet everybody’s asleep there’s nobody up there’s nobody here to
there’s nobody up there’s nobody here to
there’s nobody up there’s nobody here to help me get some food what am I going to
help me get some food what am I going to
help me get some food what am I going to do so what I do is going to go into the
do so what I do is going to go into the
do so what I do is going to go into the kitchen and I notice there’s this pizza
kitchen and I notice there’s this pizza
kitchen and I notice there’s this pizza box there and it was a little bit out of
box there and it was a little bit out of
box there and it was a little bit out of my reach and
my reach and
my reach and there’s nothing around I was looking
there’s nothing around I was looking
there’s nothing around I was looking around there’s nothing nothing for me to
around there’s nothing nothing for me to
around there’s nothing nothing for me to grab there’s no way for me to get this
grab there’s no way for me to get this
grab there’s no way for me to get this pizza box and like I said earlier it was
pizza box and like I said earlier it was
pizza box and like I said earlier it was really quiet everybody was asleep there
really quiet everybody was asleep there
really quiet everybody was asleep there was nobody around so I was thinking to
was nobody around so I was thinking to
was nobody around so I was thinking to myself how am I going to be able to get
myself how am I going to be able to get
myself how am I going to be able to get this pizza so I looked around and in
this pizza so I looked around and in
this pizza so I looked around and in front of the fridge on the front of the
front of the fridge on the front of the
front of the fridge on the front of the refrigerator strapped to the front of it
refrigerator strapped to the front of it
refrigerator strapped to the front of it was one of those old magnetic can
was one of those old magnetic can
was one of those old magnetic can openers and I was like all right but I
openers and I was like all right but I
openers and I was like all right but I probably get that so I try to reach for
probably get that so I try to reach for
probably get that so I try to reach for and it’s quite a bit out of my reach but
and it’s quite a bit out of my reach but
and it’s quite a bit out of my reach but underneath that magnetic can opener was
underneath that magnetic can opener was
underneath that magnetic can opener was a menu or like a brochure for a local
a menu or like a brochure for a local
a menu or like a brochure for a local restaurant like long maybe I can grab
restaurant like long maybe I can grab
restaurant like long maybe I can grab that brochure pull it grab it with my
that brochure pull it grab it with my
that brochure pull it grab it with my mouth pull it down and I get it and open
mouth pull it down and I get it and open
mouth pull it down and I get it and open this pizza box I mean I’m hungry so
this pizza box I mean I’m hungry so
this pizza box I mean I’m hungry so that’s what I did I went over to the
that’s what I did I went over to the
that’s what I did I went over to the went over to the refrigerator as close
went over to the refrigerator as close
went over to the refrigerator as close as I could to it it’s reaching as far as
as I could to it it’s reaching as far as
as I could to it it’s reaching as far as I could and I was able to grab the
I could and I was able to grab the
I could and I was able to grab the corner of the of the menu underneath the
corner of the of the menu underneath the
corner of the of the menu underneath the magnetic can opener and I started
magnetic can opener and I started
magnetic can opener and I started pulling on it started pulling down a
pulling on it started pulling down a
pulling on it started pulling down a little bit wiggling a little bit and of
little bit wiggling a little bit and of
little bit wiggling a little bit and of course what do you think happens the
course what do you think happens the
course what do you think happens the magazine almost falls I was like oh no
magazine almost falls I was like oh no
magazine almost falls I was like oh no my whole life is over I’m not going to
my whole life is over I’m not going to
my whole life is over I’m not going to be able to get this pizza this thing
be able to get this pizza this thing
be able to get this pizza this thing hits the ground I’m done so I was
hits the ground I’m done so I was
hits the ground I’m done so I was thinking to myself well maybe if I pull
thinking to myself well maybe if I pull
thinking to myself well maybe if I pull it at a certain angle go slower not pull
it at a certain angle go slower not pull
it at a certain angle go slower not pull on it as hard I can get it down and I
on it as hard I can get it down and I
on it as hard I can get it down and I can and get to this magnet can opener so
can and get to this magnet can opener so
can and get to this magnet can opener so I could get to this pizza box so that’s
I could get to this pizza box so that’s
I could get to this pizza box so that’s what I did I grabbed the corner over and
what I did I grabbed the corner over and
what I did I grabbed the corner over and I started pulling down and I was able
I started pulling down and I was able
I started pulling down and I was able finally able to get the can opener down
finally able to get the can opener down
finally able to get the can opener down to where I could reach it so I grabbed
to where I could reach it so I grabbed
to where I could reach it so I grabbed it with my mouth I pull the magnetic can
it with my mouth I pull the magnetic can
it with my mouth I pull the magnetic can opener off of this frigerator I go back
opener off of this frigerator I go back
opener off of this frigerator I go back over to where the pizza box is and first
over to where the pizza box is and first
over to where the pizza box is and first off I couldn’t reach the pizza box it
off I couldn’t reach the pizza box it
off I couldn’t reach the pizza box it was kind of far so I had to just kind of
was kind of far so I had to just kind of
was kind of far so I had to just kind of lean over and reach as far as I could
lean over and reach as far as I could
lean over and reach as far as I could and pull the pizza box closer with the
and pull the pizza box closer with the
and pull the pizza box closer with the can opener so I finally get it to where
can opener so I finally get it to where
can opener so I finally get it to where I could reach it and I put the can
I could reach it and I put the can
I could reach it and I put the can opener in
opener in
opener in side of the pizza box it’s not its
side of the pizza box it’s not its
side of the pizza box it’s not its intended use but it would work for me
intended use but it would work for me
intended use but it would work for me you know so I start wedging the the can
you know so I start wedging the the can
you know so I start wedging the the can opener in it and I get one side of the
opener in it and I get one side of the
opener in it and I get one side of the pizza box open and I turned the pizza
pizza box open and I turned the pizza
pizza box open and I turned the pizza around to the other side and I stick the
around to the other side and I stick the
around to the other side and I stick the can opener in that side and I start
can opener in that side and I start
can opener in that side and I start wedging it started opening it up guess
wedging it started opening it up guess
wedging it started opening it up guess what happens the first side of the pizza
what happens the first side of the pizza
what happens the first side of the pizza box falls down I was like what am I
box falls down I was like what am I
box falls down I was like what am I gonna do now how am I gonna do this so
gonna do now how am I gonna do this so
gonna do now how am I gonna do this so after a few trials what I ended up doing
after a few trials what I ended up doing
after a few trials what I ended up doing was wedges can opener in one side of the
was wedges can opener in one side of the
was wedges can opener in one side of the pizza box push it open leave the can
pizza box push it open leave the can
pizza box push it open leave the can opener in the box
opener in the box
opener in the box turn the pizza box around to the other
turn the pizza box around to the other
turn the pizza box around to the other side and then was my chin just slowly
side and then was my chin just slowly
side and then was my chin just slowly start pulling up on the other side and
start pulling up on the other side and
start pulling up on the other side and it started working I was like great at
it started working I was like great at
it started working I was like great at last finally I’m able to get this pizza
last finally I’m able to get this pizza
last finally I’m able to get this pizza box open and when I do that I look
box open and when I do that I look
box open and when I do that I look inside the pizza box and there was only
inside the pizza box and there was only
inside the pizza box and there was only a couple pieces of crust that yeah it’s
a couple pieces of crust that yeah it’s
a couple pieces of crust that yeah it’s okay laughs it wasn’t funny at the time
okay laughs it wasn’t funny at the time
okay laughs it wasn’t funny at the time but it’s hilarious now so that was
but it’s hilarious now so that was
but it’s hilarious now so that was horrible and detrimental to me but I
horrible and detrimental to me but I
horrible and detrimental to me but I learned something and I got a key to
learned something and I got a key to
learned something and I got a key to success that day what I learned is
success that day what I learned is
success that day what I learned is perspective because instead of getting a
perspective because instead of getting a
perspective because instead of getting a cold day old piece of pizza what I got
cold day old piece of pizza what I got
cold day old piece of pizza what I got was the cornerstone and foundation for
was the cornerstone and foundation for
was the cornerstone and foundation for success in life as it is for myself and
success in life as it is for myself and
success in life as it is for myself and that is perspective you know not that
that is perspective you know not that
that is perspective you know not that long ago a friend of mine introduced me
long ago a friend of mine introduced me
long ago a friend of mine introduced me to power soccer its wheelchair soccer
to power soccer its wheelchair soccer
to power soccer its wheelchair soccer it’s don’t let the name fool you it’s a
it’s don’t let the name fool you it’s a
it’s don’t let the name fool you it’s a blood sport okay I’ve got the injuries
blood sport okay I’ve got the injuries
blood sport okay I’ve got the injuries to prove it and some of which are still
to prove it and some of which are still
to prove it and some of which are still healing right now and when I met and got
healing right now and when I met and got
healing right now and when I met and got to know
to know
to know these other power soccer players and
these other power soccer players and
these other power soccer players and with playing with them on the teams and
with playing with them on the teams and
with playing with them on the teams and some of which had disabilities and some
some of which had disabilities and some
some of which had disabilities and some of them didn’t have disabilities it was
of them didn’t have disabilities it was
of them didn’t have disabilities it was open for anybody that wanted to play I
open for anybody that wanted to play I
open for anybody that wanted to play I realized that people are just people and
realized that people are just people and
realized that people are just people and I couldn’t believe that being disabled
I couldn’t believe that being disabled
I couldn’t believe that being disabled my entire life that I had segregated and
my entire life that I had segregated and
my entire life that I had segregated and differentiated between the two by
differentiated between the two by
differentiated between the two by limiting myself by limiting you know by
limiting myself by limiting you know by
limiting myself by limiting you know by that perspective by limiting myself I
that perspective by limiting myself I
that perspective by limiting myself I kept myself out of activities with other
kept myself out of activities with other
kept myself out of activities with other people that were disabled
people that were disabled
people that were disabled I was basically limiting my happiness I
I was basically limiting my happiness I
I was basically limiting my happiness I mean these these power soccer players
mean these these power soccer players
mean these these power soccer players they they have full lives they have they
they they have full lives they have they
they they have full lives they have they work they go to school they have jobs
work they go to school they have jobs
work they go to school they have jobs they have they’re married or have
they have they’re married or have
they have they’re married or have significant others in a way I had
significant others in a way I had
significant others in a way I had created my own pizza box and created my
created my own pizza box and created my
created my own pizza box and created my own obstacle that was horrible and
own obstacle that was horrible and
own obstacle that was horrible and detrimental to me this life changing
detrimental to me this life changing
detrimental to me this life changing perspective has changed my entire life
perspective has changed my entire life
perspective has changed my entire life since then I now that’s changed my
since then I now that’s changed my
since then I now that’s changed my vocation first off I I now work as a
vocation first off I I now work as a
vocation first off I I now work as a quality monitor for the city and I take
quality monitor for the city and I take
quality monitor for the city and I take services that are offered to people that
services that are offered to people that
services that are offered to people that are disabled and I evaluate how the
are disabled and I evaluate how the
are disabled and I evaluate how the services are being delivered it’s a lot
services are being delivered it’s a lot
services are being delivered it’s a lot of paperwork but I truly believe that
of paperwork but I truly believe that
of paperwork but I truly believe that what I’m doing is making a difference
what I’m doing is making a difference
what I’m doing is making a difference and this life changing perspective has
and this life changing perspective has
and this life changing perspective has also changed my schooling before I was
also changed my schooling before I was
also changed my schooling before I was going here at Grand Canyon University
going here at Grand Canyon University
going here at Grand Canyon University for digital design go Lopes and now I am
for digital design go Lopes and now I am
for digital design go Lopes and now I am studying to be a vocational
studying to be a vocational
studying to be a vocational rehabilitation counselor and when I get
rehabilitation counselor and when I get
rehabilitation counselor and when I get my MA in counseling I’m going to be
my MA in counseling I’m going to be
my MA in counseling I’m going to be helping
helping
helping other people with disabilities find
other people with disabilities find
other people with disabilities find their vocation and find their purpose in
their vocation and find their purpose in
their vocation and find their purpose in life and improve their quality of life
life and improve their quality of life
life and improve their quality of life and I couldn’t be happier with the way
and I couldn’t be happier with the way
and I couldn’t be happier with the way things are going now and none of that
things are going now and none of that
things are going now and none of that would have been possible without simple
would have been possible without simple
would have been possible without simple change in perspective my struggle with
change in perspective my struggle with
change in perspective my struggle with this I realize now was internal it was
this I realize now was internal it was
this I realize now was internal it was something that I created on on my own
something that I created on on my own
something that I created on on my own and it was something simple as as
and it was something simple as as
and it was something simple as as perspective it was something simple as a
perspective it was something simple as a
perspective it was something simple as a way I was thinking in my mind you know
way I was thinking in my mind you know
way I was thinking in my mind you know we all have our own pizza box we all
we all have our own pizza box we all
we all have our own pizza box we all have struggles in life mine before when
have struggles in life mine before when
have struggles in life mine before when I was younger was an actual pizza box
I was younger was an actual pizza box
I was younger was an actual pizza box when I was older it was the way I
when I was older it was the way I
when I was older it was the way I defined myself in this world sometimes
defined myself in this world sometimes
defined myself in this world sometimes in life just like in my story when you
in life just like in my story when you
in life just like in my story when you accomplish one small step and you move
accomplish one small step and you move
accomplish one small step and you move on to the next the first might fall in
on to the next the first might fall in
on to the next the first might fall in on itself what you have to do is you
on itself what you have to do is you
on itself what you have to do is you have to figure out how to not only
have to figure out how to not only
have to figure out how to not only overcome but to succeed we all have
overcome but to succeed we all have
overcome but to succeed we all have walls we all have barriers in life we
walls we all have barriers in life we
walls we all have barriers in life we have to find a way to go over them and
have to find a way to go over them and
have to find a way to go over them and the key to that or the way to do that is
the key to that or the way to do that is
the key to that or the way to do that is through perspective I invite everyone
through perspective I invite everyone
through perspective I invite everyone here to look at your own pizza box don’t
here to look at your own pizza box don’t
here to look at your own pizza box don’t look at them as challenges or obstacles
look at them as challenges or obstacles
look at them as challenges or obstacles but look at them as something to
but look at them as something to
but look at them as something to overcome
overcome
overcome something that you can call a personal
something that you can call a personal
something that you can call a personal victory we don’t have you don’t have to
victory we don’t have you don’t have to
victory we don’t have you don’t have to be in a wheelchair to have your own
be in a wheelchair to have your own
be in a wheelchair to have your own pizza box whether it be work school
pizza box whether it be work school
pizza box whether it be work school personal prob projects or relationships
personal prob projects or relationships
personal prob projects or relationships we all have struggles we all have a
we all have struggles we all have a
we all have struggles we all have a pizza box what I want you to take away
pizza box what I want you to take away
pizza box what I want you to take away from this today
from this today
from this today is the power of perspective look at your
is the power of perspective look at your
is the power of perspective look at your own pizza box challenge your own
own pizza box challenge your own
own pizza box challenge your own perspective and find a way to overcome
perspective and find a way to overcome
perspective and find a way to overcome or exceed because I I don’t look at
or exceed because I I don’t look at
or exceed because I I don’t look at struggles in life as walls and barriers
struggles in life as walls and barriers
struggles in life as walls and barriers but I look at them as challenges waiting
but I look at them as challenges waiting
but I look at them as challenges waiting to be overcome that’s my perspective
to be overcome that’s my perspective
to be overcome that’s my perspective what’s your pizza box thank you
”
Be First to Comment