[Applause] [Music]
[Applause]
[Applause] there are moments in life that because
there are moments in life that because
there are moments in life that because of the circumstance we fail to see the
of the circumstance we fail to see the
of the circumstance we fail to see the beauty that surrounds us Manuela Alfredo
beauty that surrounds us Manuela Alfredo
beauty that surrounds us Manuela Alfredo Garcia Castilla known by many as papi
Garcia Castilla known by many as papi
Garcia Castilla known by many as papi was a sweet older fisherman from Mexico
was a sweet older fisherman from Mexico
was a sweet older fisherman from Mexico with twinkling mischievous eyes and a
with twinkling mischievous eyes and a
with twinkling mischievous eyes and a creased well-worn smile not too long ago
creased well-worn smile not too long ago
creased well-worn smile not too long ago he was sitting next to me on a winter
he was sitting next to me on a winter
he was sitting next to me on a winter day as was our tradition we had parked
day as was our tradition we had parked
day as was our tradition we had parked on the edge of a road that swings out on
on the edge of a road that swings out on
on the edge of a road that swings out on a hillside and overlooks the valley I
a hillside and overlooks the valley I
a hillside and overlooks the valley I call home in southwest Montana as it was
call home in southwest Montana as it was
call home in southwest Montana as it was cold outside we shared a warm bowl of
cold outside we shared a warm bowl of
cold outside we shared a warm bowl of soup as a good friend does papi listened
soup as a good friend does papi listened
soup as a good friend does papi listened patiently as I shared certain events in
patiently as I shared certain events in
patiently as I shared certain events in my life that I was struggling with the
my life that I was struggling with the
my life that I was struggling with the late afternoon Setting Sun started to
late afternoon Setting Sun started to
late afternoon Setting Sun started to paint every aspect of life in front of
paint every aspect of life in front of
paint every aspect of life in front of us in combinations of blue rose and
us in combinations of blue rose and
us in combinations of blue rose and dusty purple which are softer colors but
dusty purple which are softer colors but
dusty purple which are softer colors but perhaps because of the cold everything
perhaps because of the cold everything
perhaps because of the cold everything started to transform and shift into
started to transform and shift into
started to transform and shift into sharper crisp focus the view was turning
sharper crisp focus the view was turning
sharper crisp focus the view was turning into something altogether extraordinary
into something altogether extraordinary
into something altogether extraordinary from a place deep inside that place
from a place deep inside that place
from a place deep inside that place within all of us where emotions are born
within all of us where emotions are born
within all of us where emotions are born I started to cry now perhaps it was what
I started to cry now perhaps it was what
I started to cry now perhaps it was what we were discussing the awesome view and
we were discussing the awesome view and
we were discussing the awesome view and the emotions brought on by the tears but
the emotions brought on by the tears but
the emotions brought on by the tears but it turned into a moment that was
it turned into a moment that was
it turned into a moment that was altogether poetic and I let the tears
altogether poetic and I let the tears
altogether poetic and I let the tears just run through wet cheeks and wet eyes
just run through wet cheeks and wet eyes
just run through wet cheeks and wet eyes I said esto s mara-vee-oso
I said esto s mara-vee-oso
I said esto s mara-vee-oso – which papi calm Wayne kulich responded
– which papi calm Wayne kulich responded
– which papi calm Wayne kulich responded while twisting his moustache pero a
while twisting his moustache pero a
while twisting his moustache pero a momento en la vida en que por
momento en la vida en que por
momento en la vida en que por circumstance eeeh no vemos la baie Isaac
circumstance eeeh no vemos la baie Isaac
circumstance eeeh no vemos la baie Isaac in Australia there are moments in life
in Australia there are moments in life
in Australia there are moments in life that because of the circumstance we fail
that because of the circumstance we fail
that because of the circumstance we fail to see the beauty that surrounds us
on October 9th 2011 I was electrocuted
on October 9th 2011 I was electrocuted with 2400 volts from a neglected
with 2400 volts from a neglected
with 2400 volts from a neglected electrical junction box in the heart of
electrical junction box in the heart of
electrical junction box in the heart of the Montana mountains miles from help
the Montana mountains miles from help
the Montana mountains miles from help I was airlifted to the University of
I was airlifted to the University of
I was airlifted to the University of Utah burn trauma intensive care unit
Utah burn trauma intensive care unit
Utah burn trauma intensive care unit Salt Lake City the doctor on call that
Salt Lake City the doctor on call that
Salt Lake City the doctor on call that day and I quote said that when I arrived
day and I quote said that when I arrived
day and I quote said that when I arrived and I was wheeled in through those doors
and I was wheeled in through those doors
and I was wheeled in through those doors I was a bag of bones with a heartbeat I
I was a bag of bones with a heartbeat I
I was a bag of bones with a heartbeat I would spend the next five days fighting
would spend the next five days fighting
would spend the next five days fighting for my life this image was taken on day
for my life this image was taken on day
for my life this image was taken on day nine moments after being told by my
nine moments after being told by my
nine moments after being told by my surgeon that despite valiant efforts
surgeon that despite valiant efforts
surgeon that despite valiant efforts there was an infection present in the
there was an infection present in the
there was an infection present in the damaged tissue of my left hand and there
damaged tissue of my left hand and there
damaged tissue of my left hand and there was a high risk that that infection
was a high risk that that infection
was a high risk that that infection could run up my arm to my heart and then
could run up my arm to my heart and then
could run up my arm to my heart and then that could kill me I opted for surgery
that could kill me I opted for surgery
that could kill me I opted for surgery and became an amputee in total I spent
and became an amputee in total I spent
and became an amputee in total I spent 50 days in ICU over the course of two
50 days in ICU over the course of two
50 days in ICU over the course of two years of intensive plastic surgery and
years of intensive plastic surgery and
years of intensive plastic surgery and physical rehabilitation I would tally 21
physical rehabilitation I would tally 21
physical rehabilitation I would tally 21 surgeries today just over six years from
surgeries today just over six years from
surgeries today just over six years from that event in my life and I find I am
that event in my life and I find I am
that event in my life and I find I am still working on the emotional and
still working on the emotional and
still working on the emotional and psychological parts of recovery my life
psychological parts of recovery my life
psychological parts of recovery my life had clearly just been flipped upside
had clearly just been flipped upside
had clearly just been flipped upside down and yet Here I am smiling
down and yet Here I am smiling
down and yet Here I am smiling ear-to-ear
ear-to-ear
ear-to-ear practically grinning so I’m often asked
practically grinning so I’m often asked
practically grinning so I’m often asked Eduardo in the wake of such a disaster
Eduardo in the wake of such a disaster
Eduardo in the wake of such a disaster how is it that you remain so positive
how is it that you remain so positive
how is it that you remain so positive and I think about Poppy’s quote there
and I think about Poppy’s quote there
and I think about Poppy’s quote there are moments in life that because of the
are moments in life that because of the
are moments in life that because of the circumstance we fail to see the beauty
circumstance we fail to see the beauty
circumstance we fail to see the beauty that surrounds us now it could have been
that surrounds us now it could have been
that surrounds us now it could have been the painkillers I was on all of them
but I believe I knew what top he knew
but I believe I knew what top he knew that the spark of the human heartbeat is
that the spark of the human heartbeat is
that the spark of the human heartbeat is the birthplace of happiness and I was
the birthplace of happiness and I was
the birthplace of happiness and I was still alive now I invite everybody to
still alive now I invite everybody to
still alive now I invite everybody to find your pulse that rhythmic beat below
find your pulse that rhythmic beat below
find your pulse that rhythmic beat below your fingertips represents the greatest
your fingertips represents the greatest
your fingertips represents the greatest gift on earth life and surely that is
gift on earth life and surely that is
gift on earth life and surely that is reason to smile while in ICU I recall
reason to smile while in ICU I recall
reason to smile while in ICU I recall feeling empowered by the understanding
feeling empowered by the understanding
feeling empowered by the understanding that although I was bedridden at times
that although I was bedridden at times
that although I was bedridden at times bandaged head to toe unable to perform
bandaged head to toe unable to perform
bandaged head to toe unable to perform the simplest of tasks I still had
the simplest of tasks I still had
the simplest of tasks I still had abilities I could channel my attitude
abilities I could channel my attitude
abilities I could channel my attitude and express it through the light in my
and express it through the light in my
and express it through the light in my eyes and by doing so contribute to the
eyes and by doing so contribute to the
eyes and by doing so contribute to the room of professionals family friends
room of professionals family friends
room of professionals family friends working their tails off around me all of
working their tails off around me all of
working their tails off around me all of a sudden I had a job to do I could
a sudden I had a job to do I could
a sudden I had a job to do I could contribute my contribution was no longer
contribute my contribution was no longer
contribute my contribution was no longer gauged by maximum output but rather just
gauged by maximum output but rather just
gauged by maximum output but rather just the effort and in my case effort was
the effort and in my case effort was
the effort and in my case effort was attitude the results of winning attitude
attitude the results of winning attitude
attitude the results of winning attitude had on the rim around me were real I
had on the rim around me were real I
had on the rim around me were real I turned to we and we became an ICU room
turned to we and we became an ICU room
turned to we and we became an ICU room that laughed loved shared talked about
that laughed loved shared talked about
that laughed loved shared talked about someone’s wild Saturday night kept it
someone’s wild Saturday night kept it
someone’s wild Saturday night kept it human and ultimately we triumphed we all
human and ultimately we triumphed we all
human and ultimately we triumphed we all have the power to choose our attitude no
have the power to choose our attitude no
have the power to choose our attitude no one can ever take that from us we can
one can ever take that from us we can
one can ever take that from us we can never forget that so what have I learned
never forget that so what have I learned
never forget that so what have I learned I believe we are here to thrive that is
I believe we are here to thrive that is
I believe we are here to thrive that is to live full and rich lives to take
to live full and rich lives to take
to live full and rich lives to take advantage of every opportunity in front
advantage of every opportunity in front
advantage of every opportunity in front of us I believe those precious moments
of us I believe those precious moments
of us I believe those precious moments on earth represent life’s greatest
on earth represent life’s greatest
on earth represent life’s greatest lessons
lessons
lessons those lessons come at us and granted
those lessons come at us and granted
those lessons come at us and granted they don’t all smell like roses
they don’t all smell like roses
they don’t all smell like roses sometimes they look like 2400 volts
sometimes they look like 2400 volts
sometimes they look like 2400 volts ripping through your body so what have I
ripping through your body so what have I
ripping through your body so what have I learned
learned
learned we are forged by fire we should in some
we are forged by fire we should in some
we are forged by fire we should in some if not every way become stronger once
if not every way become stronger once
if not every way become stronger once through any challenge this example is
through any challenge this example is
through any challenge this example is perhaps best seen in ourselves are we
perhaps best seen in ourselves are we
perhaps best seen in ourselves are we not a complex machine that adds on to
not a complex machine that adds on to
not a complex machine that adds on to its existence through experience and
its existence through experience and
its existence through experience and learning the strengths we develop in
learning the strengths we develop in
learning the strengths we develop in order to pioneer forward is perhaps best
order to pioneer forward is perhaps best
order to pioneer forward is perhaps best seen in ourselves take exercise through
seen in ourselves take exercise through
seen in ourselves take exercise through the continued use of specific muscles
the continued use of specific muscles
the continued use of specific muscles via targeted movements we stretch and
via targeted movements we stretch and
via targeted movements we stretch and tear our muscles we purposely expose our
tear our muscles we purposely expose our
tear our muscles we purposely expose our body to strain and fatigue why so that
body to strain and fatigue why so that
body to strain and fatigue why so that those muscles learn and develop to
those muscles learn and develop to
those muscles learn and develop to become stronger this example is seen in
become stronger this example is seen in
become stronger this example is seen in all facets of our human body our
all facets of our human body our
all facets of our human body our physical or psychological or mental or
physical or psychological or mental or
physical or psychological or mental or emotional when we let it and when we
emotional when we let it and when we
emotional when we let it and when we recognize it imagine a mental shift a
recognize it imagine a mental shift a
recognize it imagine a mental shift a daily physical act whereby we wake up
daily physical act whereby we wake up
daily physical act whereby we wake up and we walk out and we step into the
and we walk out and we step into the
and we walk out and we step into the world around us free of the damaging
world around us free of the damaging
world around us free of the damaging effects of labeling life’s experience as
effects of labeling life’s experience as
effects of labeling life’s experience as being positive or negative and instead
being positive or negative and instead
being positive or negative and instead we take advantage of everything as an
we take advantage of everything as an
we take advantage of everything as an opportunity to thrive imagine that world
opportunity to thrive imagine that world
opportunity to thrive imagine that world imagine if we shook free of our
imagine if we shook free of our
imagine if we shook free of our calcified layers of learned doubt and
calcified layers of learned doubt and
calcified layers of learned doubt and fear now I believe we can learn from the
fear now I believe we can learn from the
fear now I believe we can learn from the child on the day we are born that child
child on the day we are born that child
child on the day we are born that child knows intuition at the purest level and
knows intuition at the purest level and
knows intuition at the purest level and when we experience pain for the first
when we experience pain for the first
when we experience pain for the first time when our umbilical cord is cut from
time when our umbilical cord is cut from
time when our umbilical cord is cut from our mother we run with the experience of
our mother we run with the experience of
our mother we run with the experience of that pain and kicking and screaming we
that pain and kicking and screaming we
that pain and kicking and screaming we fight and are catalyzed for life ahead
fight and are catalyzed for life ahead
fight and are catalyzed for life ahead of us
of us
of us we learned from day one to fight not to
we learned from day one to fight not to
we learned from day one to fight not to lay down at the first sign of challenge
lay down at the first sign of challenge
lay down at the first sign of challenge I had just received the greatest
I had just received the greatest
I had just received the greatest ass-kicking of my life and lying on my
ass-kicking of my life and lying on my
ass-kicking of my life and lying on my back in the woods miles from help I
back in the woods miles from help I
back in the woods miles from help I returned to that primary place my eyes
returned to that primary place my eyes
returned to that primary place my eyes open there was no high or low
open there was no high or low
open there was no high or low there was no this is good or this is bad
there was no this is good or this is bad
there was no this is good or this is bad there was no this will be easier this
there was no this will be easier this
there was no this will be easier this will be hard there was just survival in
will be hard there was just survival in
will be hard there was just survival in our core it’s what we do best now I can
our core it’s what we do best now I can
our core it’s what we do best now I can thank the spirit the great indwelling
thank the spirit the great indwelling
thank the spirit the great indwelling life force for the clarity and focus I
life force for the clarity and focus I
life force for the clarity and focus I needed and like the newborn babe that
needed and like the newborn babe that
needed and like the newborn babe that takes its first breath of sweet air a
takes its first breath of sweet air a
takes its first breath of sweet air a hundred percent by its own efforts I
hundred percent by its own efforts I
hundred percent by its own efforts I summoned every ounce of moxie and I
summoned every ounce of moxie and I
summoned every ounce of moxie and I commanded myself get to your feet my
commanded myself get to your feet my
commanded myself get to your feet my next memory was a sound of dirt and
next memory was a sound of dirt and
next memory was a sound of dirt and rocks beneath my boots and I found
rocks beneath my boots and I found
rocks beneath my boots and I found myself walking down a dirt road in
myself walking down a dirt road in
myself walking down a dirt road in search of help the road I was on came
search of help the road I was on came
search of help the road I was on came out of the mountains and wound across
out of the mountains and wound across
out of the mountains and wound across the foothills of pine juniper sagebrush
the foothills of pine juniper sagebrush
the foothills of pine juniper sagebrush and native prairie grass ideal habitat
and native prairie grass ideal habitat
and native prairie grass ideal habitat for badgers and prairie dogs and Jack
for badgers and prairie dogs and Jack
for badgers and prairie dogs and Jack rabbits and other little creatures now
rabbits and other little creatures now
rabbits and other little creatures now my adult mind kicked in and told me that
my adult mind kicked in and told me that
my adult mind kicked in and told me that the quickest way to help was to draw a
the quickest way to help was to draw a
the quickest way to help was to draw a straight line from A to B and B
straight line from A to B and B
straight line from A to B and B represented the homes below me that was
represented the homes below me that was
represented the homes below me that was help that by doing so I would cut the
help that by doing so I would cut the
help that by doing so I would cut the corners of the winding road and by going
corners of the winding road and by going
corners of the winding road and by going offroad I’ve experienced a distance
offroad I’ve experienced a distance
offroad I’ve experienced a distance savings of about 75 percent one heck of
savings of about 75 percent one heck of
savings of about 75 percent one heck of a deal
a deal
a deal my compass north screamed no the
my compass north screamed no the
my compass north screamed no the intuitive wisdom within me knew that if
intuitive wisdom within me knew that if
intuitive wisdom within me knew that if I was to trip and fall or stumble even
I was to trip and fall or stumble even
I was to trip and fall or stumble even once
once
once on an unforeseen rocker hole I would not
on an unforeseen rocker hole I would not
on an unforeseen rocker hole I would not get up again and I would surely die it
get up again and I would surely die it
get up again and I would surely die it is human nurture not nature that we
is human nurture not nature that we
is human nurture not nature that we learn to love the things that are easy
learn to love the things that are easy
learn to love the things that are easy every influential piece of medium around
every influential piece of medium around
every influential piece of medium around us tells us daily to go looking for the
us tells us daily to go looking for the
us tells us daily to go looking for the easiest sweetest quickest dollop of
easiest sweetest quickest dollop of
easiest sweetest quickest dollop of cream we can find to this day I am
cream we can find to this day I am
cream we can find to this day I am impressed and still reminded by the
impressed and still reminded by the
impressed and still reminded by the truth of my next move I was walking to
truth of my next move I was walking to
truth of my next move I was walking to save my life every second past was a
save my life every second past was a
save my life every second past was a second I was that much closer to death I
second I was that much closer to death I
second I was that much closer to death I had miles left in front of me and I
had miles left in front of me and I
had miles left in front of me and I chose to walk the longer slower journey
so long as our heart continues to pulse
so long as our heart continues to pulse and fuel the unbelievable miracle that
and fuel the unbelievable miracle that
and fuel the unbelievable miracle that is the human body we will always have a
is the human body we will always have a
is the human body we will always have a choice and in that choice we are not
choice and in that choice we are not
choice and in that choice we are not powerless two months ago
powerless two months ago
powerless two months ago the world lost a very special man poppy
the world lost a very special man poppy
the world lost a very special man poppy or dad as I also called him was an
or dad as I also called him was an
or dad as I also called him was an architect of happiness he would walk
architect of happiness he would walk
architect of happiness he would walk into a room like this and he would light
into a room like this and he would light
into a room like this and he would light it up and he would light up others who
it up and he would light up others who
it up and he would light up others who he came into contact with in his death
he came into contact with in his death
he came into contact with in his death he left detailed instructions to guide
he left detailed instructions to guide
he left detailed instructions to guide us in the details of his passing his
us in the details of his passing his
us in the details of his passing his funeral his memorial together with the
funeral his memorial together with the
funeral his memorial together with the help of my family we executed his wishes
help of my family we executed his wishes
help of my family we executed his wishes we cooked meals from the heart his
we cooked meals from the heart his
we cooked meals from the heart his favorite dishes we sang songs like
favorite dishes we sang songs like
favorite dishes we sang songs like meheeco Lindo because they reminded us
meheeco Lindo because they reminded us
meheeco Lindo because they reminded us of his legacy and we told stories late
of his legacy and we told stories late
of his legacy and we told stories late into the night and early into the
into the night and early into the
into the night and early into the morning we danced like poppy danced
morning we danced like poppy danced
morning we danced like poppy danced because it brought us out of grief and
because it brought us out of grief and
because it brought us out of grief and elevated just enough so that we touch
elevated just enough so that we touch
elevated just enough so that we touch joy and it made the hell we were going
joy and it made the hell we were going
joy and it made the hell we were going through just this side of tolerable
through just this side of tolerable
through just this side of tolerable and so it was that when walking with my
and so it was that when walking with my
and so it was that when walking with my family I found that I was crumbling to
family I found that I was crumbling to
family I found that I was crumbling to pieces it was in the heat of that hell
pieces it was in the heat of that hell
pieces it was in the heat of that hell that I was forged into something
that I was forged into something
that I was forged into something stronger friends it is time to worry
stronger friends it is time to worry
stronger friends it is time to worry less about labeling the experience time
less about labeling the experience time
less about labeling the experience time to embrace the experience and be
to embrace the experience and be
to embrace the experience and be grateful for the opportunity to feel
grateful for the opportunity to feel
grateful for the opportunity to feel alive in all its many masks it is a
alive in all its many masks it is a
alive in all its many masks it is a beautiful beautiful world out there and
beautiful beautiful world out there and
beautiful beautiful world out there and regardless of the circumstance let us
regardless of the circumstance let us
regardless of the circumstance let us take both the negative and the positive
take both the negative and the positive
take both the negative and the positive and get charged thank you
and get charged thank you
and get charged thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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