tomorrow morning you wake up on the couch and you can’t see you stumble to
couch and you can’t see you stumble to
couch and you can’t see you stumble to the way to the restroom and you fumble
the way to the restroom and you fumble
the way to the restroom and you fumble let’s turn on a light switch and nothing
let’s turn on a light switch and nothing
let’s turn on a light switch and nothing seems to happen you struggled to look
seems to happen you struggled to look
seems to happen you struggled to look towards the mirror and you can’t see the
towards the mirror and you can’t see the
towards the mirror and you can’t see the mirror because neither of your eyelids
mirror because neither of your eyelids
mirror because neither of your eyelids will open unless you pry them open with
will open unless you pry them open with
will open unless you pry them open with your finger and then when you do you
your finger and then when you do you
your finger and then when you do you don’t see well because your eyeballs go
don’t see well because your eyeballs go
don’t see well because your eyeballs go in different directions
in different directions
in different directions so you’re seeing double of everything as
so you’re seeing double of everything as
so you’re seeing double of everything as you can imagine that was me
you can imagine that was me
you can imagine that was me well I was whisked away to the emergency
well I was whisked away to the emergency
well I was whisked away to the emergency room at Riverside Methodist Hospital
room at Riverside Methodist Hospital
room at Riverside Methodist Hospital where the doctor came in and showed me
where the doctor came in and showed me
where the doctor came in and showed me this MRI and he said mr. Wagner I’m
this MRI and he said mr. Wagner I’m
this MRI and he said mr. Wagner I’m sorry but you’re gonna have to have
sorry but you’re gonna have to have
sorry but you’re gonna have to have brain surgery and there’s a chance that
brain surgery and there’s a chance that
brain surgery and there’s a chance that you won’t live it appears as though one
you won’t live it appears as though one
you won’t live it appears as though one of the cavernous malformations in your
of the cavernous malformations in your
of the cavernous malformations in your brainstem has bled and it’s bled putting
brainstem has bled and it’s bled putting
brainstem has bled and it’s bled putting pressure on the nerves that control your
pressure on the nerves that control your
pressure on the nerves that control your vision the problem only is going to get
vision the problem only is going to get
vision the problem only is going to get worse and become more frequent
worse and become more frequent
worse and become more frequent later that month I was flown to Phoenix
later that month I was flown to Phoenix
later that month I was flown to Phoenix Arizona to have brain surgery by the
Arizona to have brain surgery by the
Arizona to have brain surgery by the world’s best doctor on April 1st no
world’s best doctor on April 1st no
world’s best doctor on April 1st no foolin I had brain surgery to give me
foolin I had brain surgery to give me
foolin I had brain surgery to give me hope and that doctor gave me hope I’m
hope and that doctor gave me hope I’m
hope and that doctor gave me hope I’m here to tell you I was walking the hall
here to tell you I was walking the hall
here to tell you I was walking the hall the same afternoon that I had surgery
the same afternoon that I had surgery
the same afternoon that I had surgery what’s even more than that the next day
what’s even more than that the next day
what’s even more than that the next day after I had surgery I was discharged
after I had surgery I was discharged
after I had surgery I was discharged after having brain surgery they gave me
after having brain surgery they gave me
after having brain surgery they gave me a bottle of extra strength tylenol how
a bottle of extra strength tylenol how
a bottle of extra strength tylenol how does that happen well the next six
does that happen well the next six
does that happen well the next six months for me were the darkest months of
months for me were the darkest months of
months for me were the darkest months of my life because my eyelids still didn’t
my life because my eyelids still didn’t
my life because my eyelids still didn’t come open
come open
come open this has become my new normal you know I
this has become my new normal you know I
this has become my new normal you know I used to look every day and it was a dark
used to look every day and it was a dark
used to look every day and it was a dark day that I looked at with only these
day that I looked at with only these
day that I looked at with only these eyelashes separating my vision and it
eyelashes separating my vision and it
eyelashes separating my vision and it was the hardest time of my life so that
was the hardest time of my life so that
was the hardest time of my life so that at that point I had physical blindness
at that point I had physical blindness
at that point I had physical blindness maybe you some of your friends might say
maybe you some of your friends might say
maybe you some of your friends might say well that he’s winking at me but I am a
well that he’s winking at me but I am a
well that he’s winking at me but I am a nice guy but no I’m not winking at you
nice guy but no I’m not winking at you
nice guy but no I’m not winking at you some of your friends might also say that
some of your friends might also say that
some of your friends might also say that they have fashion blindness I have
they have fashion blindness I have
they have fashion blindness I have physical blindness they might have
physical blindness they might have
physical blindness they might have fashion blindness but we all have mental
fashion blindness but we all have mental
fashion blindness but we all have mental blindness
blindness
blindness we all are blind we just don’t know it
we all are blind we just don’t know it
we all are blind we just don’t know it that’s why it’s so important for us to
that’s why it’s so important for us to
that’s why it’s so important for us to understand what mental blindness is
understand what mental blindness is
understand what mental blindness is mental blindness is understanding that
mental blindness is understanding that
mental blindness is understanding that mental blindness is caused by blind
mental blindness is caused by blind
mental blindness is caused by blind spots and blind spots are those thoughts
spots and blind spots are those thoughts
spots and blind spots are those thoughts that sometimes get passed over when
that sometimes get passed over when
that sometimes get passed over when another thought or emotion is taking
another thought or emotion is taking
another thought or emotion is taking control in all this I’ve gone from a
control in all this I’ve gone from a
control in all this I’ve gone from a point of blindness to sight to vision
point of blindness to sight to vision
point of blindness to sight to vision and that is exactly the kind of process
and that is exactly the kind of process
and that is exactly the kind of process that I’d like to take you through today
that I’d like to take you through today
that I’d like to take you through today you know the great Harriet Tubman once
you know the great Harriet Tubman once
you know the great Harriet Tubman once said I freed a thousand slaves and I
said I freed a thousand slaves and I
said I freed a thousand slaves and I could have freed a thousand more if
could have freed a thousand more if
could have freed a thousand more if they’d only known that they were slaves
they’d only known that they were slaves
they’d only known that they were slaves well from my perspective I’ve helped
well from my perspective I’ve helped
well from my perspective I’ve helped thousands of people see but I could have
thousands of people see but I could have
thousands of people see but I could have helped thousands of people more see if
helped thousands of people more see if
helped thousands of people more see if they’d only known that they were blind
that’s why the first step in going from
that’s why the first step in going from blindness to sight division is to admit
blindness to sight division is to admit
blindness to sight division is to admit that you’re blind so think about how the
that you’re blind so think about how the
that you’re blind so think about how the world has been treating you differently
world has been treating you differently
world has been treating you differently maybe you’ve missed out on a recent job
maybe you’ve missed out on a recent job
maybe you’ve missed out on a recent job promotion or possibly have not gotten
promotion or possibly have not gotten
promotion or possibly have not gotten onto class cabinet and you thought you
onto class cabinet and you thought you
onto class cabinet and you thought you should have maybe you’re a beginning to
should have maybe you’re a beginning to
should have maybe you’re a beginning to question your purpose in the world
question your purpose in the world
question your purpose in the world why am I here well when I came back from
why am I here well when I came back from
why am I here well when I came back from Phoenix Arizona I questioned everything
Phoenix Arizona I questioned everything
Phoenix Arizona I questioned everything I had to even walking down this sidewalk
I had to even walking down this sidewalk
I had to even walking down this sidewalk I had to question because there were
I had to question because there were
I had to question because there were alleges and there were ups and downs and
alleges and there were ups and downs and
alleges and there were ups and downs and there were his people and it was just a
there were his people and it was just a
there were his people and it was just a mess
mess
mess it was really really difficult but once
it was really really difficult but once
it was really really difficult but once I admitted that I was blind that’s when
I admitted that I was blind that’s when
I admitted that I was blind that’s when I started to improve so think about that
I started to improve so think about that
I started to improve so think about that from your perspective sometimes you just
from your perspective sometimes you just
from your perspective sometimes you just need to admit that you’re blind and
need to admit that you’re blind and
need to admit that you’re blind and that’s when we go on from this point of
that’s when we go on from this point of
that’s when we go on from this point of having blindness and we go to sight
having blindness and we go to sight
having blindness and we go to sight having sight means identifying your
having sight means identifying your
having sight means identifying your blind spots so identifying your blind
blind spots so identifying your blind
blind spots so identifying your blind spots seems kind of simple but it’s not
spots seems kind of simple but it’s not
spots seems kind of simple but it’s not you can’t identify your own blind spots
you can’t identify your own blind spots
you can’t identify your own blind spots on your own that would be analogous to
on your own that would be analogous to
on your own that would be analogous to me identifying that these pants match
me identifying that these pants match
me identifying that these pants match this shirt I just can’t see it so I told
this shirt I just can’t see it so I told
this shirt I just can’t see it so I told you you can’t identify your own blind
you you can’t identify your own blind
you you can’t identify your own blind spots but you can’t aid in the discovery
spots but you can’t aid in the discovery
spots but you can’t aid in the discovery when you aid in the discovery you can do
when you aid in the discovery you can do
when you aid in the discovery you can do things like meditation or journaling and
things like meditation or journaling and
things like meditation or journaling and that’s really self reflection so I break
that’s really self reflection so I break
that’s really self reflection so I break that up into three areas it’s self
that up into three areas it’s self
that up into three areas it’s self reflection Pro reflection and feedback
reflection Pro reflection and feedback
reflection Pro reflection and feedback self reflection we just talked about Pro
self reflection we just talked about Pro
self reflection we just talked about Pro reflection is all about seeking outside
reflection is all about seeking outside
reflection is all about seeking outside counsel there is no shame no shame at
counsel there is no shame no shame at
counsel there is no shame no shame at all in seeking outside counsel because
all in seeking outside counsel because
all in seeking outside counsel because they are the ones that are gonna be able
they are the ones that are gonna be able
they are the ones that are gonna be able to offer you that advice that’s gonna be
to offer you that advice that’s gonna be
to offer you that advice that’s gonna be life-changing and then there’s feedback
life-changing and then there’s feedback
life-changing and then there’s feedback it could be positive feedback and it
it could be positive feedback and it
it could be positive feedback and it could be negative feedback you can have
could be negative feedback you can have
could be negative feedback you can have a non verbal or verbal feedback all of
a non verbal or verbal feedback all of
a non verbal or verbal feedback all of those things Nate didn’t need to be
those things Nate didn’t need to be
those things Nate didn’t need to be taken into consideration as you go
taken into consideration as you go
taken into consideration as you go through that well when I was walking
through that well when I was walking
through that well when I was walking down the sidewalk in Columbus Ohio they
down the sidewalk in Columbus Ohio they
down the sidewalk in Columbus Ohio they have these things called truncated domes
have these things called truncated domes
have these things called truncated domes how many of you know what a truncated
how many of you know what a truncated
how many of you know what a truncated dome is
dome is
dome is I remember I can’t see so I’m gonna
I remember I can’t see so I’m gonna
I remember I can’t see so I’m gonna guess a very low portion the numbers low
guess a very low portion the numbers low
guess a very low portion the numbers low a truncated dome is those things that
a truncated dome is those things that
a truncated dome is those things that they have on the sidewalk there you are
they have on the sidewalk there you are
they have on the sidewalk there you are elevating on the sidewalk or you’re
elevating on the sidewalk or you’re
elevating on the sidewalk or you’re going down on the sidewalk and it helps
going down on the sidewalk and it helps
going down on the sidewalk and it helps you to identify your blind spot huh
you to identify your blind spot huh
you to identify your blind spot huh identify your blind spot this is where
identify your blind spot this is where
identify your blind spot this is where we go to the next part the next part is
we go to the next part the next part is
we go to the next part the next part is having a vision and this is really what
having a vision and this is really what
having a vision and this is really what it’s all about because I’ll tell you I
it’s all about because I’ll tell you I
it’s all about because I’ll tell you I used to be a guy that laughed at other
used to be a guy that laughed at other
used to be a guy that laughed at other people’s problems I was always so
people’s problems I was always so
people’s problems I was always so incredulous why they were so deep in
incredulous why they were so deep in
incredulous why they were so deep in thought it just never made sense to me
thought it just never made sense to me
thought it just never made sense to me but come to find out that was a blind
but come to find out that was a blind
but come to find out that was a blind spot that was my blind spot and then all
spot that was my blind spot and then all
spot that was my blind spot and then all this happened six and a half years ago
this happened six and a half years ago
this happened six and a half years ago and life changed for me forever having
and life changed for me forever having
and life changed for me forever having gone through blindness having having
gone through blindness having having
gone through blindness having having gone through brain surgery has really
gone through brain surgery has really
gone through brain surgery has really allowed me it’s been a blessing for me
allowed me it’s been a blessing for me
allowed me it’s been a blessing for me but it’s allowed me to be able to
but it’s allowed me to be able to
but it’s allowed me to be able to understand a lot more than I ever have
understand a lot more than I ever have
understand a lot more than I ever have before now I’ve gone from that point of
before now I’ve gone from that point of
before now I’ve gone from that point of blindness to sight to vision I’ve
blindness to sight to vision I’ve
blindness to sight to vision I’ve embraced my own personal blindness and
embraced my own personal blindness and
embraced my own personal blindness and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to
I’ve been lucky enough to be able to
I’ve been lucky enough to be able to make every question mark a period
make every question mark a period
make every question mark a period because that’s where you grow you grow
because that’s where you grow you grow
because that’s where you grow you grow when you fall down you grow when you
when you fall down you grow when you
when you fall down you grow when you fail that’s where it’s all about its
fail that’s where it’s all about its
fail that’s where it’s all about its those obstacles in life where we have
those obstacles in life where we have
those obstacles in life where we have growth now speaking of questions when
growth now speaking of questions when
growth now speaking of questions when you have a question how many of you just
you have a question how many of you just
you have a question how many of you just google it just raise your hands I know I
google it just raise your hands I know I
google it just raise your hands I know I can’t see but I’m gonna say again
can’t see but I’m gonna say again
can’t see but I’m gonna say again probably half the yeah maybe anybody out
probably half the yeah maybe anybody out
probably half the yeah maybe anybody out there can agree with that okay so if you
there can agree with that okay so if you
there can agree with that okay so if you were to Google how do I overcome
were to Google how do I overcome
were to Google how do I overcome blindness you’re gonna get search
blindness you’re gonna get search
blindness you’re gonna get search results that will allow you to have
results that will allow you to have
results that will allow you to have miniature telescope inserted into your
miniature telescope inserted into your
miniature telescope inserted into your eye or potentially recover from
eye or potentially recover from
eye or potentially recover from cataracts but that’s not the kind of
cataracts but that’s not the kind of
cataracts but that’s not the kind of blindness that we’re talking about we’re
blindness that we’re talking about we’re
blindness that we’re talking about we’re talking about mental blindness isn’t
talking about mental blindness isn’t
talking about mental blindness isn’t that exciting
that exciting
that exciting yeah mental blindness that’s caused by
yeah mental blindness that’s caused by
yeah mental blindness that’s caused by mental blind spots so once you can admit
mental blind spots so once you can admit
mental blind spots so once you can admit to your blind identify your blind spots
to your blind identify your blind spots
to your blind identify your blind spots and then have a vision and then share
and then have a vision and then share
and then have a vision and then share that vision with someone else that is
that vision with someone else that is
that vision with someone else that is when magic happens that is when you’re
when magic happens that is when you’re
when magic happens that is when you’re able to share your vision with someone
able to share your vision with someone
able to share your vision with someone else that is when you’re able to join
else that is when you’re able to join
else that is when you’re able to join this movement that I’m starting the
this movement that I’m starting the
this movement that I’m starting the movement I’m starting is all about
movement I’m starting is all about
movement I’m starting is all about helping people to embrace their
helping people to embrace their
helping people to embrace their blindness
blindness
blindness think about that embrace your blindness
think about that embrace your blindness
think about that embrace your blindness because we all have blindness and then
because we all have blindness and then
because we all have blindness and then have a greater vision for your life when
have a greater vision for your life when
have a greater vision for your life when you think about vision you can also
you think about vision you can also
you think about vision you can also think about purpose I think the two go
think about purpose I think the two go
think about purpose I think the two go hand-in-hand and that’s what I’m here
hand-in-hand and that’s what I’m here
hand-in-hand and that’s what I’m here for today I’m hoping you all will join
for today I’m hoping you all will join
for today I’m hoping you all will join me in this movement thank you
me in this movement thank you
me in this movement thank you [Applause]
”
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