so I must admit that part of me is quite apprehensive because I’m about to share
apprehensive because I’m about to share
apprehensive because I’m about to share a very personal story with you however
a very personal story with you however
a very personal story with you however the other part of me has tremendous
the other part of me has tremendous
the other part of me has tremendous gratitude for being able to stand here
gratitude for being able to stand here
gratitude for being able to stand here before you and share my story at all
before you and share my story at all
before you and share my story at all because my life could have been so very
because my life could have been so very
because my life could have been so very different to start my talk I want to
different to start my talk I want to
different to start my talk I want to echo the words of Australian author
echo the words of Australian author
echo the words of Australian author Bevin Lee I am two of the most powerful
Bevin Lee I am two of the most powerful
Bevin Lee I am two of the most powerful words for what you put after them shapes
words for what you put after them shapes
words for what you put after them shapes your reality every single one of us here
your reality every single one of us here
your reality every single one of us here has our own story what is that story and
has our own story what is that story and
has our own story what is that story and what defining experiences have shaped
what defining experiences have shaped
what defining experiences have shaped your I am reality it’s these life
your I am reality it’s these life
your I am reality it’s these life experiences that have potential to teach
experiences that have potential to teach
experiences that have potential to teach us undeniably important lessons about
us undeniably important lessons about
us undeniably important lessons about the personal narratives that we create
the personal narratives that we create
the personal narratives that we create for ourselves
for ourselves
for ourselves however it’s these same life experiences
however it’s these same life experiences
however it’s these same life experiences that can cause us to tailspin out of
that can cause us to tailspin out of
that can cause us to tailspin out of control by disempowering our stories and
control by disempowering our stories and
control by disempowering our stories and crushing our natural-born right to live
crushing our natural-born right to live
crushing our natural-born right to live a genuinely happy and fulfilled
a genuinely happy and fulfilled
a genuinely happy and fulfilled existence in my own case growing up
existence in my own case growing up
existence in my own case growing up gripped by the claws of depression and
gripped by the claws of depression and
gripped by the claws of depression and addiction in a dysfunctional family
addiction in a dysfunctional family
addiction in a dysfunctional family environment made it nearly impossible to
environment made it nearly impossible to
environment made it nearly impossible to experience the joy and fulfillment that
experience the joy and fulfillment that
experience the joy and fulfillment that every young person deserves I often
every young person deserves I often
every young person deserves I often compare drug addiction and mental
compare drug addiction and mental
compare drug addiction and mental illness to a storm on the horizon often
illness to a storm on the horizon often
illness to a storm on the horizon often hitting at arbitrary times causing great
hitting at arbitrary times causing great
hitting at arbitrary times causing great turmoil for those who experience this
turmoil for those who experience this
turmoil for those who experience this type of life it can be a very painful
type of life it can be a very painful
type of life it can be a very painful existence that leaves you constantly
existence that leaves you constantly
existence that leaves you constantly asking yourself why does life have to be
asking yourself why does life have to be
asking yourself why does life have to be like this a question that I constantly
like this a question that I constantly
like this a question that I constantly asked myself while growing up based upon
asked myself while growing up based upon
asked myself while growing up based upon recent statistics 20 to 25 percent of
recent statistics 20 to 25 percent of
recent statistics 20 to 25 percent of the general population has either a
the general population has either a
the general population has either a direct or indirect experience
direct or indirect experience
direct or indirect experience with mental illness and addiction I am
with mental illness and addiction I am
with mental illness and addiction I am that statistic and seeing as we have
that statistic and seeing as we have
that statistic and seeing as we have about a hundred people in the audience
about a hundred people in the audience
about a hundred people in the audience here today that means that twenty to
here today that means that twenty to
here today that means that twenty to twenty-five of you know exactly what I’m
twenty-five of you know exactly what I’m
twenty-five of you know exactly what I’m talking about and I want to reflect on
talking about and I want to reflect on
talking about and I want to reflect on those numbers for a moment and ask are
those numbers for a moment and ask are
those numbers for a moment and ask are you that statistic or is somebody you
you that statistic or is somebody you
you that statistic or is somebody you know living that statistic every day for
know living that statistic every day for
know living that statistic every day for me growing up in this type of
me growing up in this type of
me growing up in this type of environment not only made me feel as
environment not only made me feel as
environment not only made me feel as though I was damaged goods because
though I was damaged goods because
though I was damaged goods because feelings of being cursed and that it was
feelings of being cursed and that it was
feelings of being cursed and that it was just a matter of time before drug
just a matter of time before drug
just a matter of time before drug addiction and mental illness would sink
addiction and mental illness would sink
addiction and mental illness would sink its claws into me my brother Kent an
its claws into me my brother Kent an
its claws into me my brother Kent an amazingly gifted musician died at 38
amazingly gifted musician died at 38
amazingly gifted musician died at 38 years old of an aneurysm which was
years old of an aneurysm which was
years old of an aneurysm which was brought on by years of drug abuse my
brought on by years of drug abuse my
brought on by years of drug abuse my brother Chris equally talented in his
brother Chris equally talented in his
brother Chris equally talented in his own ways suffered from major depression
own ways suffered from major depression
own ways suffered from major depression that he told nobody about for most of
that he told nobody about for most of
that he told nobody about for most of his life and just three short years ago
his life and just three short years ago
his life and just three short years ago in 2014 he couldn’t stand the suffering
in 2014 he couldn’t stand the suffering
in 2014 he couldn’t stand the suffering any longer and chose to commit suicide
as well to other family members have had
as well to other family members have had their ongoing issues with mental illness
their ongoing issues with mental illness
their ongoing issues with mental illness and alcoholism over the years and
and alcoholism over the years and
and alcoholism over the years and although there’s a certain heaviness
although there’s a certain heaviness
although there’s a certain heaviness that comes with discussing these things
that comes with discussing these things
that comes with discussing these things this is really a story of empowerment
this is really a story of empowerment
this is really a story of empowerment and today I want to share with you the
and today I want to share with you the
and today I want to share with you the three guiding principles that not only
three guiding principles that not only
three guiding principles that not only allowed me to thrive but gave me
allowed me to thrive but gave me
allowed me to thrive but gave me strength to move forward throughout my
strength to move forward throughout my
strength to move forward throughout my life and to face challenge and adversity
despite these disorders decimating more
despite these disorders decimating more than half of my family I am a survivor
than half of my family I am a survivor
than half of my family I am a survivor and two questions that I constantly
and two questions that I constantly
and two questions that I constantly grappled with while growing up were why
grappled with while growing up were why
grappled with while growing up were why is it that I never directly suffered
is it that I never directly suffered
is it that I never directly suffered from mental illness and addiction and
from mental illness and addiction and
from mental illness and addiction and what is it within myself that allowed me
what is it within myself that allowed me
what is it within myself that allowed me to move forward in my life in ways that
to move forward in my life in ways that
to move forward in my life in ways that my other family members
my other family members
my other family members couldn’t it took my own brush with
couldn’t it took my own brush with
couldn’t it took my own brush with mortality six years ago to be able to
mortality six years ago to be able to
mortality six years ago to be able to answer these questions and to truly
answer these questions and to truly
answer these questions and to truly reframe the narrative that I had created
reframe the narrative that I had created
reframe the narrative that I had created for myself and this near-death
for myself and this near-death
for myself and this near-death experience allowed me to finally
experience allowed me to finally
experience allowed me to finally understand that I was not defined by
understand that I was not defined by
understand that I was not defined by addiction and depression and a
addiction and depression and a
addiction and depression and a dysfunctional past but more so by my
dysfunctional past but more so by my
dysfunctional past but more so by my ability to put guiding principles into
ability to put guiding principles into
ability to put guiding principles into action in my life
action in my life
action in my life that allowed me to be resilient and to
that allowed me to be resilient and to
that allowed me to be resilient and to persevere I would not be standing here
persevere I would not be standing here
persevere I would not be standing here before you today had physical activity
before you today had physical activity
before you today had physical activity in sport not played such a critical role
in sport not played such a critical role
in sport not played such a critical role in my life while growing up and it’s
in my life while growing up and it’s
in my life while growing up and it’s this first guiding principle that not
this first guiding principle that not
this first guiding principle that not only provided me with an escape but also
only provided me with an escape but also
only provided me with an escape but also gave me specific goals and a purpose
gave me specific goals and a purpose
gave me specific goals and a purpose worth pursuing as well its physical
worth pursuing as well its physical
worth pursuing as well its physical activity and sport that is directly
activity and sport that is directly
activity and sport that is directly responsible for changing the neuro
responsible for changing the neuro
responsible for changing the neuro chemistry of my brain as an avid runner
chemistry of my brain as an avid runner
chemistry of my brain as an avid runner I have always used running to think
I have always used running to think
I have always used running to think deeply and to reflect about my life and
deeply and to reflect about my life and
deeply and to reflect about my life and my work without question running has
my work without question running has
my work without question running has given me health and happiness but it’s
given me health and happiness but it’s
given me health and happiness but it’s through running that I have had the
through running that I have had the
through running that I have had the courage to face some very difficult
courage to face some very difficult
courage to face some very difficult moments when my brother Chris took his
moments when my brother Chris took his
moments when my brother Chris took his own life in 2014 I vividly remember the
own life in 2014 I vividly remember the
own life in 2014 I vividly remember the email that my sister sent me informing
email that my sister sent me informing
email that my sister sent me informing me of his death there was no suicide
me of his death there was no suicide
me of his death there was no suicide note saying sorry or explaining his pain
note saying sorry or explaining his pain
note saying sorry or explaining his pain there was only the belongings that he
there was only the belongings that he
there was only the belongings that he left behind my wife and boys joined me
left behind my wife and boys joined me
left behind my wife and boys joined me on the trip back to Canada to attend his
on the trip back to Canada to attend his
on the trip back to Canada to attend his memorial service and in the initial days
memorial service and in the initial days
memorial service and in the initial days after Chris’s death those dreaded cursed
after Chris’s death those dreaded cursed
after Chris’s death those dreaded cursed feelings returned to my life with a
feelings returned to my life with a
feelings returned to my life with a vengeance causing me to grapple with his
vengeance causing me to grapple with his
vengeance causing me to grapple with his overwhelming fear and sadness however on
overwhelming fear and sadness however on
overwhelming fear and sadness however on the day after returning to Canada I
the day after returning to Canada I
the day after returning to Canada I chose to lace up my running shoes and go
chose to lace up my running shoes and go
chose to lace up my running shoes and go for a long run in the cold and snow and
for a long run in the cold and snow and
for a long run in the cold and snow and my brother’s apartment building was
my brother’s apartment building was
my brother’s apartment building was located about a kilometer from my wife’s
located about a kilometer from my wife’s
located about a kilometer from my wife’s family’s home but on that morning
family’s home but on that morning
family’s home but on that morning I couldn’t bring myself to run past his
I couldn’t bring myself to run past his
I couldn’t bring myself to run past his building so I chose to run in the
building so I chose to run in the
building so I chose to run in the opposite direction instead and I ran
opposite direction instead and I ran
opposite direction instead and I ran hard and fast with thoughts such as I am
hard and fast with thoughts such as I am
hard and fast with thoughts such as I am a failure as a brother racing through my
a failure as a brother racing through my
a failure as a brother racing through my mind I could have done more I could have
mind I could have done more I could have
mind I could have done more I could have reached out to him and I could have
reached out to him and I could have
reached out to him and I could have prevented this from happening I ran
prevented this from happening I ran
prevented this from happening I ran through tremendous guilt
through tremendous guilt
through tremendous guilt I ran to to grieve I ran for solace I
I ran to to grieve I ran for solace I
I ran to to grieve I ran for solace I ran through incredible frustration and
ran through incredible frustration and
ran through incredible frustration and anger that made me want to scream and I
anger that made me want to scream and I
anger that made me want to scream and I ran in tears and after several
ran in tears and after several
ran in tears and after several kilometres I made the turn and I found
kilometres I made the turn and I found
kilometres I made the turn and I found myself heading directly back towards my
myself heading directly back towards my
myself heading directly back towards my brother’s building because I knew that I
brother’s building because I knew that I
brother’s building because I knew that I had to say goodbye to him in my own way
had to say goodbye to him in my own way
had to say goodbye to him in my own way and I soon found myself at the bottom of
and I soon found myself at the bottom of
and I soon found myself at the bottom of his apartment building drenched in sweat
his apartment building drenched in sweat
his apartment building drenched in sweat looking up at his balcony and it was in
looking up at his balcony and it was in
looking up at his balcony and it was in this moment that I was literally fell to
this moment that I was literally fell to
this moment that I was literally fell to my knees and was deeply grieving his
my knees and was deeply grieving his
my knees and was deeply grieving his loss and I told him how sorry I was that
loss and I told him how sorry I was that
loss and I told him how sorry I was that he had to go through such torment and
he had to go through such torment and
he had to go through such torment and pain in his life and I I told him that
pain in his life and I I told him that
pain in his life and I I told him that my life led me away from his and that I
my life led me away from his and that I
my life led me away from his and that I had to separate myself from his pain as
had to separate myself from his pain as
had to separate myself from his pain as an act of self-preservation to not only
an act of self-preservation to not only
an act of self-preservation to not only look after myself but to look after my
look after myself but to look after my
look after myself but to look after my beautiful family
beautiful family
beautiful family I prayed for in those moments I prayed
I prayed for in those moments I prayed
I prayed for in those moments I prayed for an understanding of why these things
for an understanding of why these things
for an understanding of why these things kept happening in my life into my family
but I made him a promise that I would
but I made him a promise that I would live a fulfilled life in his honor in
live a fulfilled life in his honor in
live a fulfilled life in his honor in the days and weeks following Chris’s
the days and weeks following Chris’s
the days and weeks following Chris’s death I thought about how I’d also run
death I thought about how I’d also run
death I thought about how I’d also run through the pain of my brother Kent’s
through the pain of my brother Kent’s
through the pain of my brother Kent’s death 15 years earlier at the time while
death 15 years earlier at the time while
death 15 years earlier at the time while my wife and I were living in herre Shima
my wife and I were living in herre Shima
my wife and I were living in herre Shima Japan my brother Ken had an aneurysm and
Japan my brother Ken had an aneurysm and
Japan my brother Ken had an aneurysm and was on life support for three days it
was on life support for three days it
was on life support for three days it was literally four days before Christmas
was literally four days before Christmas
was literally four days before Christmas all of the flights back to Canada were
all of the flights back to Canada were
all of the flights back to Canada were fully booked so I couldn’t be with Chris
fully booked so I couldn’t be with Chris
fully booked so I couldn’t be with Chris in sorry I couldn’t be with Kent in his
in sorry I couldn’t be with Kent in his
in sorry I couldn’t be with Kent in his final hours in the hospital my sister
final hours in the hospital my sister
final hours in the hospital my sister informed me that there was no hope and
informed me that there was no hope and
informed me that there was no hope and that the family has decided to had
that the family has decided to had
that the family has decided to had decided to pull the plug from his
decided to pull the plug from his
decided to pull the plug from his life-support machine they wanted my
life-support machine they wanted my
life-support machine they wanted my blessing and consent which of course I
blessing and consent which of course I
blessing and consent which of course I gave in that moment I didn’t give in to
gave in that moment I didn’t give in to
gave in that moment I didn’t give in to feelings of being cursed but instead
feelings of being cursed but instead
feelings of being cursed but instead laced up my running shoes and ran up the
laced up my running shoes and ran up the
laced up my running shoes and ran up the beautiful mountain that was behind our
beautiful mountain that was behind our
beautiful mountain that was behind our apartment it took me almost 40 minutes
apartment it took me almost 40 minutes
apartment it took me almost 40 minutes to reach the top of the mountain and as
to reach the top of the mountain and as
to reach the top of the mountain and as I would later find out my brother Kent
I would later find out my brother Kent
I would later find out my brother Kent had survived for 33 minutes before being
had survived for 33 minutes before being
had survived for 33 minutes before being taken off or after being taken off life
taken off or after being taken off life
taken off or after being taken off life support before taking his final breath
support before taking his final breath
support before taking his final breath and in a moment of beautiful serenity
and in a moment of beautiful serenity
and in a moment of beautiful serenity and peace I knew that I was saying
and peace I knew that I was saying
and peace I knew that I was saying goodbye to Kent on top of the mountain
goodbye to Kent on top of the mountain
goodbye to Kent on top of the mountain that morning and when I reflected back
that morning and when I reflected back
that morning and when I reflected back on Ken’s death I realized that it it was
on Ken’s death I realized that it it was
on Ken’s death I realized that it it was the first time that I had run to grieve
the first time that I had run to grieve
the first time that I had run to grieve and to face death and to say goodbye to
and to face death and to say goodbye to
and to face death and to say goodbye to somebody that I so dearly loved just as
somebody that I so dearly loved just as
somebody that I so dearly loved just as I said goodbye to my brother Chris 15
I said goodbye to my brother Chris 15
I said goodbye to my brother Chris 15 years later in 2014 and in my life I
years later in 2014 and in my life I
years later in 2014 and in my life I have learned that physical activity
have learned that physical activity
have learned that physical activity exercise in sport is not just about
exercise in sport is not just about
exercise in sport is not just about staying fit but has served so many more
staying fit but has served so many more
staying fit but has served so many more purposes in my life I am an avid runner
purposes in my life I am an avid runner
purposes in my life I am an avid runner but was involved in team sport from
but was involved in team sport from
but was involved in team sport from adolescents right through to the day I
adolescents right through to the day I
adolescents right through to the day I graduated from University I played
graduated from University I played
graduated from University I played competitive American football for 13
competitive American football for 13
competitive American football for 13 years and it was through this experience
years and it was through this experience
years and it was through this experience that I was able to form life lasting
that I was able to form life lasting
that I was able to form life lasting bonds with many of my teammates and
bonds with many of my teammates and
bonds with many of my teammates and coaches physical activity and sport
coaches physical activity and sport
coaches physical activity and sport without question has equipped me with my
without question has equipped me with my
without question has equipped me with my own suit of armor which has always
own suit of armor which has always
own suit of armor which has always protected me against my genetic
protected me against my genetic
protected me against my genetic predisposition to addiction and mental
predisposition to addiction and mental
predisposition to addiction and mental illness that has claimed family members
illness that has claimed family members
illness that has claimed family members that I love the research conclusively
that I love the research conclusively
that I love the research conclusively shows how our brain is flooded with
shows how our brain is flooded with
shows how our brain is flooded with endorphins and how neural connections
endorphins and how neural connections
endorphins and how neural connections are greatly strengthened through
are greatly strengthened through
are greatly strengthened through collectivities exercise matters as it
collectivities exercise matters as it
collectivities exercise matters as it reshapes our brains and leads to greater
reshapes our brains and leads to greater
reshapes our brains and leads to greater well-being you do not have to be an
well-being you do not have to be an
well-being you do not have to be an athlete to embrace physical activity you
athlete to embrace physical activity you
athlete to embrace physical activity you can garden you can walk you can run do
can garden you can walk you can run do
can garden you can walk you can run do yoga cycle whatever it is regardless of
yoga cycle whatever it is regardless of
yoga cycle whatever it is regardless of how you choose to move your body just
how you choose to move your body just
how you choose to move your body just know that it’s the physical activity
know that it’s the physical activity
know that it’s the physical activity itself that causes profound shifts in
itself that causes profound shifts in
itself that causes profound shifts in your brains neural chemistry not only
your brains neural chemistry not only
your brains neural chemistry not only did I reap the mental and physical
did I reap the mental and physical
did I reap the mental and physical benefits of exercise and sport but in
benefits of exercise and sport but in
benefits of exercise and sport but in looking back at my own life I realized
looking back at my own life I realized
looking back at my own life I realized that the second guiding principle that
that the second guiding principle that
that the second guiding principle that allowed me to thrive in ways that my
allowed me to thrive in ways that my
allowed me to thrive in ways that my brothers couldn’t was that through
brothers couldn’t was that through
brothers couldn’t was that through physical activity and sport I was able
physical activity and sport I was able
physical activity and sport I was able to connect with others and it’s this
to connect with others and it’s this
to connect with others and it’s this element of human connection that remains
element of human connection that remains
element of human connection that remains critically important to me to this day
critically important to me to this day
critically important to me to this day and I have learned that every single
and I have learned that every single
and I have learned that every single person that we come across in life is
person that we come across in life is
person that we come across in life is present to teach us something about
present to teach us something about
present to teach us something about ourselves or the world in which we live
ourselves or the world in which we live
ourselves or the world in which we live regardless of who this person is or who
regardless of who this person is or who
regardless of who this person is or who these people are it’s this element of
these people are it’s this element of
these people are it’s this element of human connection that is critically
human connection that is critically
human connection that is critically important for our social and emotional
important for our social and emotional
important for our social and emotional well-being as it provides us with a
well-being as it provides us with a
well-being as it provides us with a powerful support network in both good
powerful support network in both good
powerful support network in both good times and bad and it’s through human
times and bad and it’s through human
times and bad and it’s through human connection and having support networks
connection and having support networks
connection and having support networks in place that is directly responsible
in place that is directly responsible
in place that is directly responsible for my third guiding principle that not
for my third guiding principle that not
for my third guiding principle that not only allowed me to find value within
only allowed me to find value within
only allowed me to find value within myself but you also have important
myself but you also have important
myself but you also have important mentors in my life when I most needed
mentors in my life when I most needed
mentors in my life when I most needed them and it’s these people who gave me a
them and it’s these people who gave me a
them and it’s these people who gave me a sense of hope who treated me with loving
sense of hope who treated me with loving
sense of hope who treated me with loving kindness who taught me very valuable
kindness who taught me very valuable
kindness who taught me very valuable lessons about life and helped to guide
lessons about life and helped to guide
lessons about life and helped to guide me through some very difficult moments
me through some very difficult moments
me through some very difficult moments and as I look out into the audience
and as I look out into the audience
and as I look out into the audience today and after hearing all of these
today and after hearing all of these
today and after hearing all of these speeches in the 60-second mini TED talks
speeches in the 60-second mini TED talks
speeches in the 60-second mini TED talks I see so many amazingly gifted and
I see so many amazingly gifted and
I see so many amazingly gifted and innovative minds here who are striving
innovative minds here who are striving
innovative minds here who are striving to impact the world and make a
to impact the world and make a
to impact the world and make a difference through their work you should
difference through their work you should
difference through their work you should all be very proud of yourself
all be very proud of yourself
all be very proud of yourself but I would ask you in this moment to
but I would ask you in this moment to
but I would ask you in this moment to reflect on your own life and to truly
reflect on your own life and to truly
reflect on your own life and to truly think about the human connections that
think about the human connections that
think about the human connections that you have built throughout your life and
you have built throughout your life and
you have built throughout your life and the mentors that you have had that have
the mentors that you have had that have
the mentors that you have had that have helped to guide you and support you so
helped to guide you and support you so
helped to guide you and support you so that you can live the life that you do
that you can live the life that you do
that you can live the life that you do and do the work that you do I feel so
and do the work that you do I feel so
and do the work that you do I feel so incredibly lucky to have identified what
incredibly lucky to have identified what
incredibly lucky to have identified what my three guiding principles are because
my three guiding principles are because
my three guiding principles are because some people go through their entire
some people go through their entire
some people go through their entire lives without ever reflecting on the
lives without ever reflecting on the
lives without ever reflecting on the strengths and blessings that have
strengths and blessings that have
strengths and blessings that have allowed them to achieve happiness joy
allowed them to achieve happiness joy
allowed them to achieve happiness joy and success but it took a near-death
and success but it took a near-death
and success but it took a near-death experience to give me this clarity and
experience to give me this clarity and
experience to give me this clarity and for me to understand what the guiding
for me to understand what the guiding
for me to understand what the guiding principles were that allowed me to move
principles were that allowed me to move
principles were that allowed me to move forward in my life I was almost killed
forward in my life I was almost killed
forward in my life I was almost killed in May of 2011 in an accident in pnom
in May of 2011 in an accident in pnom
in May of 2011 in an accident in pnom Penh Cambodia the ulnar artery and my
Penh Cambodia the ulnar artery and my
Penh Cambodia the ulnar artery and my left wrist was completely severed in the
left wrist was completely severed in the
left wrist was completely severed in the accident along with all of the nerves
accident along with all of the nerves
accident along with all of the nerves muscles tendons and ligaments you can
muscles tendons and ligaments you can
muscles tendons and ligaments you can imagine the fear that I had and
imagine the fear that I had and
imagine the fear that I had and realizing how serious of an injury this
realizing how serious of an injury this
realizing how serious of an injury this was I desperately tried to grab on to it
was I desperately tried to grab on to it
was I desperately tried to grab on to it the injury with my opposite hand and
the injury with my opposite hand and
the injury with my opposite hand and hold my my hand as high above my head as
hold my my hand as high above my head as
hold my my hand as high above my head as I could all that I could think about at
I could all that I could think about at
I could all that I could think about at the time were my two boys Eli and I who
the time were my two boys Eli and I who
the time were my two boys Eli and I who were five and seven and my beautiful
were five and seven and my beautiful
were five and seven and my beautiful wife Neela who’s sitting right there
wife Neela who’s sitting right there
wife Neela who’s sitting right there she’s been my biggest support for 20
she’s been my biggest support for 20
she’s been my biggest support for 20 years I guess I’m publicly professing my
years I guess I’m publicly professing my
years I guess I’m publicly professing my love for her in front of the cameras and
love for her in front of the cameras and
love for her in front of the cameras and all of you
but they were all that I could think
but they were all that I could think about as I went in search for help and
about as I went in search for help and
about as I went in search for help and with blood pouring down all over my head
with blood pouring down all over my head
with blood pouring down all over my head and body it was a desperate situation
and body it was a desperate situation
and body it was a desperate situation and I was rushed to a local medical
and I was rushed to a local medical
and I was rushed to a local medical facility that was ill-equipped to handle
facility that was ill-equipped to handle
facility that was ill-equipped to handle this situation
this situation
this situation and due to the extent of the seriousness
and due to the extent of the seriousness
and due to the extent of the seriousness of the of the arterial injury I needed a
of the of the arterial injury I needed a
of the of the arterial injury I needed a special surgeon and seeing as we are in
special surgeon and seeing as we are in
special surgeon and seeing as we are in Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia there was no surgeons that could be
there was no surgeons that could be
there was no surgeons that could be found after what seemed like an eternity
found after what seemed like an eternity
found after what seemed like an eternity this man my guardian angel entered my
this man my guardian angel entered my
this man my guardian angel entered my life dr. James Gallegly
life dr. James Gallegly
life dr. James Gallegly a retired Scottish orthopedic surgeon
a retired Scottish orthopedic surgeon
a retired Scottish orthopedic surgeon who ran a charity that did volunteer
who ran a charity that did volunteer
who ran a charity that did volunteer surgeries on landmine victims and kids
surgeries on landmine victims and kids
surgeries on landmine victims and kids born with birth defects how lucky was I
born with birth defects how lucky was I
born with birth defects how lucky was I I was soon in an old ambulance that was
I was soon in an old ambulance that was
I was soon in an old ambulance that was weaving its way through the crowded
weaving its way through the crowded
weaving its way through the crowded streets of pnom Penh and although I was
streets of pnom Penh and although I was
streets of pnom Penh and although I was a bit hazy and foggy from the medication
a bit hazy and foggy from the medication
a bit hazy and foggy from the medication and the injury I clearly remember the
and the injury I clearly remember the
and the injury I clearly remember the ambulance backing into his clinic and I
ambulance backing into his clinic and I
ambulance backing into his clinic and I saw an old looking dude with grey hair
saw an old looking dude with grey hair
saw an old looking dude with grey hair and a big bushy beard and I can recall
and a big bushy beard and I can recall
and a big bushy beard and I can recall thinking to myself oh my god Santa Claus
thinking to myself oh my god Santa Claus
thinking to myself oh my god Santa Claus is going to save my life dr. James was
is going to save my life dr. James was
is going to save my life dr. James was able to perform the emergency surgery
able to perform the emergency surgery
able to perform the emergency surgery and soon after that I returned back to
and soon after that I returned back to
and soon after that I returned back to Canada for three months of intensive
Canada for three months of intensive
Canada for three months of intensive rehabilitation on my left hand and
rehabilitation on my left hand and
rehabilitation on my left hand and although my left hand now only functions
although my left hand now only functions
although my left hand now only functions that 65 to 70 percent of what it once
that 65 to 70 percent of what it once
that 65 to 70 percent of what it once did I am eternally grateful for this
did I am eternally grateful for this
did I am eternally grateful for this experience because it has made me into a
experience because it has made me into a
experience because it has made me into a better person
better person
better person the lightning bolt shaped scars on my
the lightning bolt shaped scars on my
the lightning bolt shaped scars on my wrist will be with me for life and will
wrist will be with me for life and will
wrist will be with me for life and will always remind me that this indeed was my
always remind me that this indeed was my
always remind me that this indeed was my greatest gift because it allowed me to
greatest gift because it allowed me to
greatest gift because it allowed me to no longer run from a dysfunctional past
no longer run from a dysfunctional past
no longer run from a dysfunctional past and hide from it but to surrender myself
and hide from it but to surrender myself
and hide from it but to surrender myself to it and learn from it I no longer feel
to it and learn from it I no longer feel
to it and learn from it I no longer feel cursed nor do i define myself by the
cursed nor do i define myself by the
cursed nor do i define myself by the mental illness and addiction that has
mental illness and addiction that has
mental illness and addiction that has destroyed family members
destroyed family members
destroyed family members love but instead I choose to define
love but instead I choose to define
love but instead I choose to define myself by my ability to take action on
myself by my ability to take action on
myself by my ability to take action on the tools and strengths that I have
the tools and strengths that I have
the tools and strengths that I have worked so very very hard to develop
worked so very very hard to develop
worked so very very hard to develop within myself a much more empowering
within myself a much more empowering
within myself a much more empowering story to hold as my center point of
story to hold as my center point of
story to hold as my center point of reference and moving forward the rest of
reference and moving forward the rest of
reference and moving forward the rest of my life and very important lessons to
my life and very important lessons to
my life and very important lessons to pass on to my two boys as I stand here
pass on to my two boys as I stand here
pass on to my two boys as I stand here before you today I’m so very proud to
before you today I’m so very proud to
before you today I’m so very proud to say that I am a loving and kind father
say that I am a loving and kind father
say that I am a loving and kind father and husband I am a passionate educator I
and husband I am a passionate educator I
and husband I am a passionate educator I am strong and body mind and spirit and I
am strong and body mind and spirit and I
am strong and body mind and spirit and I am eternally grateful for being able to
am eternally grateful for being able to
am eternally grateful for being able to share my story with you this talk is
share my story with you this talk is
share my story with you this talk is dedicated to my brothers Kent and Chris
dedicated to my brothers Kent and Chris
dedicated to my brothers Kent and Chris as well as anybody else who is suffering
as well as anybody else who is suffering
as well as anybody else who is suffering or has suffered from mental illness may
or has suffered from mental illness may
or has suffered from mental illness may you find peace and happiness thank you
you find peace and happiness thank you
you find peace and happiness thank you everybody for your time and energy
everybody for your time and energy
everybody for your time and energy [Applause]
”
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