since I was young my main goal was to be a righteous human being from about the
a righteous human being from about the
a righteous human being from about the age of 17 I wanted to be a combination
age of 17 I wanted to be a combination
age of 17 I wanted to be a combination of three people Jesus Christ because he
of three people Jesus Christ because he
of three people Jesus Christ because he was the truth Malcolm X because he
was the truth Malcolm X because he
was the truth Malcolm X because he changed for the better and Robin Hood
changed for the better and Robin Hood
changed for the better and Robin Hood because he was willing to help the poor
because he was willing to help the poor
because he was willing to help the poor little did I know my life had a
little did I know my life had a
little did I know my life had a different plan for me
different plan for me
different plan for me in July of 2006 at the age of 34 I had a
in July of 2006 at the age of 34 I had a
in July of 2006 at the age of 34 I had a stroke during the next year and a half
stroke during the next year and a half
stroke during the next year and a half going through examinations I became more
going through examinations I became more
going through examinations I became more frustrated and more afraid because I
frustrated and more afraid because I
frustrated and more afraid because I didn’t know what situation I was in my
didn’t know what situation I was in my
didn’t know what situation I was in my comprehension was terrible my reading
comprehension was terrible my reading
comprehension was terrible my reading memory and understanding was impaired I
felt helpless and depleted eventually I
felt helpless and depleted eventually I was sent to a hospital in London for
was sent to a hospital in London for
was sent to a hospital in London for more diagnosis I was told that I have a
more diagnosis I was told that I have a
more diagnosis I was told that I have a mental illness called sarcoidosis
mental illness called sarcoidosis
mental illness called sarcoidosis sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease
sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease
sarcoidosis is an inflammatory disease that affects different organs in the
that affects different organs in the
that affects different organs in the body my situation is very rare because
body my situation is very rare because
body my situation is very rare because only 1% of the people who have
only 1% of the people who have
only 1% of the people who have sarcoidosis deal with the situation I’m
sarcoidosis deal with the situation I’m
sarcoidosis deal with the situation I’m dealing with which is called neuro
dealing with which is called neuro
dealing with which is called neuro sarcoidosis which means that it directly
sarcoidosis which means that it directly
sarcoidosis which means that it directly infects my brain I was also told that
infects my brain I was also told that
infects my brain I was also told that there was no cure for it I was
there was no cure for it I was
there was no cure for it I was devastated then my family doctor
devastated then my family doctor
devastated then my family doctor suggested to get counseling from Mental
suggested to get counseling from Mental
suggested to get counseling from Mental Health Canadian Mental Health
Health Canadian Mental Health
Health Canadian Mental Health Association as I became more aware of my
Association as I became more aware of my
Association as I became more aware of my situation my counselor suggested to join
situation my counselor suggested to join
situation my counselor suggested to join mental health connections for more
mental health connections for more
mental health connections for more rehabilitation mental health connections
rehabilitation mental health connections
rehabilitation mental health connections is a support is a group that support
is a support is a group that support
is a support is a group that support people who have mental illnesses at that
people who have mental illnesses at that
people who have mental illnesses at that time I needed another outlet
time I needed another outlet
time I needed another outlet so I became a member of MHC a that’s a
so I became a member of MHC a that’s a
so I became a member of MHC a that’s a house connection sorry in time with
house connection sorry in time with
house connection sorry in time with support from different councilors I
support from different councilors I
support from different councilors I realized that I can change my situation
realized that I can change my situation
realized that I can change my situation which was good but my state was terrible
which was good but my state was terrible
which was good but my state was terrible my state of mind was terrible because my
my state of mind was terrible because my
my state of mind was terrible because my self-esteem and my confidence was low I
self-esteem and my confidence was low I
self-esteem and my confidence was low I was depressed and my interest and
was depressed and my interest and
was depressed and my interest and motivation was practically gone I found
motivation was practically gone I found
motivation was practically gone I found out at the same time I found out during
out at the same time I found out during
out at the same time I found out during that time my brothers and I went to a
that time my brothers and I went to a
that time my brothers and I went to a gathering to give condolence to a loved
gathering to give condolence to a loved
gathering to give condolence to a loved one one of the people that I haven’t
one one of the people that I haven’t
one one of the people that I haven’t seen in a long time told me you look
seen in a long time told me you look
seen in a long time told me you look like you ate somebody it was funny to
like you ate somebody it was funny to
like you ate somebody it was funny to the people who heard that comment but it
the people who heard that comment but it
the people who heard that comment but it wasn’t funny to me at that time my
wasn’t funny to me at that time my
wasn’t funny to me at that time my weight was 212 pounds before my stroke I
weight was 212 pounds before my stroke I
weight was 212 pounds before my stroke I weighed 145 pounds I was healthy I was
weighed 145 pounds I was healthy I was
weighed 145 pounds I was healthy I was fit I was sociable I was more content
fit I was sociable I was more content
fit I was sociable I was more content and I was working I eventually became
and I was working I eventually became
and I was working I eventually became the opposite person that I used to be I
the opposite person that I used to be I
the opposite person that I used to be I was more isolated ashamed of myself I
was more isolated ashamed of myself I
was more isolated ashamed of myself I was losing my will to live I felt like I
was losing my will to live I felt like I
was losing my will to live I felt like I was stuck this was the worst period of
was stuck this was the worst period of
was stuck this was the worst period of my life I wanted my situation to change
my life I wanted my situation to change
my life I wanted my situation to change but I didn’t know how to start the
but I didn’t know how to start the
but I didn’t know how to start the process with time and more counseling I
process with time and more counseling I
process with time and more counseling I realized that I had to accept the
realized that I had to accept the
realized that I had to accept the situation I was in and learned how to
situation I was in and learned how to
situation I was in and learned how to adapt
adapt
adapt I knew that overcoming adversity was
I knew that overcoming adversity was
I knew that overcoming adversity was going to be difficult for me because my
going to be difficult for me because my
going to be difficult for me because my lack of focus and my memory lapses I had
lack of focus and my memory lapses I had
lack of focus and my memory lapses I had to put more effort to rehabilitate
to put more effort to rehabilitate
to put more effort to rehabilitate myself I had to relearn some of the
myself I had to relearn some of the
myself I had to relearn some of the things that I knew from the past the
things that I knew from the past the
things that I knew from the past the most important thing that I learned was
most important thing that I learned was
most important thing that I learned was that my attitude affects my thoughts and
that my attitude affects my thoughts and
that my attitude affects my thoughts and my behavior
I realized that a negative attitude
I realized that a negative attitude would never give me a positive life I
would never give me a positive life I
would never give me a positive life I know I had to become more optimistic my
know I had to become more optimistic my
know I had to become more optimistic my attitude became more optimistic when I
attitude became more optimistic when I
attitude became more optimistic when I started thinking things that I was
started thinking things that I was
started thinking things that I was grateful for it reminded me how lucky I
grateful for it reminded me how lucky I
grateful for it reminded me how lucky I was to be alive
was to be alive
was to be alive I started thinking more of what I have
I started thinking more of what I have
I started thinking more of what I have than what I don’t have I also got back
than what I don’t have I also got back
than what I don’t have I also got back to reading positive quotes the quotes
to reading positive quotes the quotes
to reading positive quotes the quotes that I wrote were very powerful to me
that I wrote were very powerful to me
that I wrote were very powerful to me because it’s like the quotes were
because it’s like the quotes were
because it’s like the quotes were particularly talking to me so I started
particularly talking to me so I started
particularly talking to me so I started creating artful signs of quotes because
creating artful signs of quotes because
creating artful signs of quotes because they gave me inspiration and clarity and
they gave me inspiration and clarity and
they gave me inspiration and clarity and increased my focus also the quotes help
increased my focus also the quotes help
increased my focus also the quotes help me to change my perception creating art
me to change my perception creating art
me to change my perception creating art form of the quotes I write are enjoyable
form of the quotes I write are enjoyable
form of the quotes I write are enjoyable and therapeutic to me by continually
and therapeutic to me by continually
and therapeutic to me by continually getting the support and the lessons I
getting the support and the lessons I
getting the support and the lessons I received from my counselor and from MHC
received from my counselor and from MHC
received from my counselor and from MHC I noticed that I was recovering later a
I noticed that I was recovering later a
I noticed that I was recovering later a fry a friend of mine gave me an
fry a friend of mine gave me an
fry a friend of mine gave me an opportunity to become a volunteer at 10
opportunity to become a volunteer at 10
opportunity to become a volunteer at 10 friends diner to help and develop and
friends diner to help and develop and
friends diner to help and develop and maintain their vegetable garden which
maintain their vegetable garden which
maintain their vegetable garden which provides food for the diner’s kitchen to
provides food for the diner’s kitchen to
provides food for the diner’s kitchen to feed their clients and for other
feed their clients and for other
feed their clients and for other charitable organizations at that time I
charitable organizations at that time I
charitable organizations at that time I didn’t know that 10 friends diner was a
didn’t know that 10 friends diner was a
didn’t know that 10 friends diner was a restaurant that has a staff of employees
restaurant that has a staff of employees
restaurant that has a staff of employees with different mental illnesses the
with different mental illnesses the
with different mental illnesses the diner gives the employees an opportunity
diner gives the employees an opportunity
diner gives the employees an opportunity to gain self-esteem and satisfaction by
to gain self-esteem and satisfaction by
to gain self-esteem and satisfaction by learning skills and being part of part
learning skills and being part of part
learning skills and being part of part of us association that helps themselves
of us association that helps themselves
of us association that helps themselves and others by being a boss and Friends
and others by being a boss and Friends
and others by being a boss and Friends diner my feeling of satisfaction
diner my feeling of satisfaction
diner my feeling of satisfaction increased because it reminded me that
increased because it reminded me that
increased because it reminded me that you can get a lot from giving I also
you can get a lot from giving I also
you can get a lot from giving I also became a member of the board of
became a member of the board of
became a member of the board of directions I’ve been a member of ten
directions I’ve been a member of ten
directions I’ve been a member of ten Friends diner for over two years and I
Friends diner for over two years and I
Friends diner for over two years and I continue to be a member as long as we
continue to be a member as long as we
continue to be a member as long as we stay united lately
stay united lately
stay united lately that thing to change has become easier
that thing to change has become easier
that thing to change has become easier because my tolerance has increased by
because my tolerance has increased by
because my tolerance has increased by accepting things that I can’t control
accepting things that I can’t control
accepting things that I can’t control controlling myself is difficult enough
controlling myself is difficult enough
controlling myself is difficult enough so why should I add other problems that
so why should I add other problems that
so why should I add other problems that I don’t need I realized that I needed
I don’t need I realized that I needed
I don’t need I realized that I needed goals I knew that I didn’t have goals I
goals I knew that I didn’t have goals I
goals I knew that I didn’t have goals I wouldn’t have much also I knew that my
wouldn’t have much also I knew that my
wouldn’t have much also I knew that my goals had to be realistic
goals had to be realistic
goals had to be realistic to achieve my goals I must have more
to achieve my goals I must have more
to achieve my goals I must have more self-awareness and discipline as long as
self-awareness and discipline as long as
self-awareness and discipline as long as I continue to be my best friend I will
I continue to be my best friend I will
I continue to be my best friend I will have a better chance to achieve my goals
have a better chance to achieve my goals
have a better chance to achieve my goals my main goal is to live a happy life for
my main goal is to live a happy life for
my main goal is to live a happy life for as long as I live I know that I can if I
as long as I live I know that I can if I
as long as I live I know that I can if I can’t avoid death but I can make death
can’t avoid death but I can make death
can’t avoid death but I can make death wait by improving my health when the
wait by improving my health when the
wait by improving my health when the minor body is stressed or not at ease
minor body is stressed or not at ease
minor body is stressed or not at ease you will have a disease recently my
you will have a disease recently my
you will have a disease recently my health has improved by eating healthier
health has improved by eating healthier
health has improved by eating healthier drinking more water
drinking more water
drinking more water exercising my brain and my mind and my
exercising my brain and my mind and my
exercising my brain and my mind and my body today I don’t feel like I’m
body today I don’t feel like I’m
body today I don’t feel like I’m thirty-five forty-five years old I feel
thirty-five forty-five years old I feel
thirty-five forty-five years old I feel like I’m forty-five years young really
like I’m forty-five years young really
like I’m forty-five years young really it comes down to how much do I love
it comes down to how much do I love
it comes down to how much do I love myself for true love comes within I
myself for true love comes within I
myself for true love comes within I believe that nobody should love me more
believe that nobody should love me more
believe that nobody should love me more than I love myself I should love myself
than I love myself I should love myself
than I love myself I should love myself unconditionally the main reason why my
unconditionally the main reason why my
unconditionally the main reason why my life is more satisfying is because I
life is more satisfying is because I
life is more satisfying is because I have a stronger bond with my family just
have a stronger bond with my family just
have a stronger bond with my family just recently I really was reminded that I
recently I really was reminded that I
recently I really was reminded that I feel a lot more comfortable and we are
feel a lot more comfortable and we are
feel a lot more comfortable and we are compatible and I would continue to do my
compatible and I would continue to do my
compatible and I would continue to do my part to keep my family together now I
part to keep my family together now I
part to keep my family together now I truly believe that my tragedy was a
truly believe that my tragedy was a
truly believe that my tragedy was a blessing in disguise because dealing
blessing in disguise because dealing
blessing in disguise because dealing with the pressure to overcome the
with the pressure to overcome the
with the pressure to overcome the struggles of my life has made me
struggles of my life has made me
struggles of my life has made me stronger I’m more grateful I’m more
stronger I’m more grateful I’m more
stronger I’m more grateful I’m more humble I’m more compassionate and I’m
humble I’m more compassionate and I’m
humble I’m more compassionate and I’m more optimistic I know that the choices
more optimistic I know that the choices
more optimistic I know that the choices I make will control my destiny to make
I make will control my destiny to make
I make will control my destiny to make smart choices
smart choices
smart choices I have to think well to think well I
I have to think well to think well I
I have to think well to think well I have to continue to have to gain more
have to continue to have to gain more
have to continue to have to gain more knowledge understanding and wisdom for a
knowledge understanding and wisdom for a
knowledge understanding and wisdom for a long time I was losing the fight against
long time I was losing the fight against
long time I was losing the fight against neuro sarcoidosis because my ill was
neuro sarcoidosis because my ill was
neuro sarcoidosis because my ill was weak and I’m willing to sacrifice the
weak and I’m willing to sacrifice the
weak and I’m willing to sacrifice the greater good to win this fight as long
greater good to win this fight as long
greater good to win this fight as long as I stay grounded and do the best I can
as I stay grounded and do the best I can
as I stay grounded and do the best I can and accept my mistakes and my failures I
and accept my mistakes and my failures I
and accept my mistakes and my failures I will have no regrets I put a lot of
will have no regrets I put a lot of
will have no regrets I put a lot of energy to rehabilitate and discover my
energy to rehabilitate and discover my
energy to rehabilitate and discover my rediscover myself but I would not be the
rediscover myself but I would not be the
rediscover myself but I would not be the person I am today without the love and
person I am today without the love and
person I am today without the love and support that I received from many people
support that I received from many people
support that I received from many people it is very important to have people in
it is very important to have people in
it is very important to have people in my life that care thank you all
my life that care thank you all
my life that care thank you all [Applause]
”
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