A book recommendation from Tommy.
Please read this article written by Tommy. There is a message here for everyone guaranteed to make you pause and reflect but also a chance to help someone that needs our help.
“In Pursuit of Excellence and Self-Fulfillment”
Dr. Judd Biasiotto
You all have seen me write many motivational articles together with Dr. Judd Biasiotto. Judd has been an inspiration to me both athletically and personally. His friendship and kindness is unmatched in my eyes. I can't remember a time when I have spoken to Judd when he wasn't thinking about someone else's well being instead of his own.
I asked him to speak to one of our Broker Institutes and didn't find out until that day that he was suffering from Prostate cancer himself. He has undergone treatment and is doing fine. You know what else? During that time he was training for the National Body Building Championships and continued to train and eventually won the National Title in his class and took second in the overall where he competed with men from 21 to 65 with has age being 52. That is phenomenal and all during the time he suffering with Prostate cancer.
I tell you this only to get an idea of what Judd is all about. This article is not about Judd however it's about a man named Kenny Blanchard who is a quadriplegic as a result of a motorcycle accident at 17. Judd is donating the proceeds of his book to the purchase of a specially fitted van so Kenny can drive. Kenny Blanchard is a student at Albany State University in Georgia where Dr. Biasiotto is a professor.
In a recent article in Powerlfiting Magazine Judd discusses how it was for Kenny in the beginning after the accident and how it is now. “For most men such an ordeal would be devastating. At first it was for Kenny. He told me that initially he was mad at everyone, especially god. He didn't understand why he had to bear such a cross. “I hated the world and everything in it.” he told me. “I was totally lost, but my parents refused to let me die emotionally. They taught me to appreciate myself as I am and my life for what it is. I've learned from experience that when tragedy strikes you're either going to be positive and enthusiastic about life or you're going to sit around and be filled with self pity. Self pity is the greatest form of self destruction. There is point in being preoccupied with something that can't be controlled. Conversely, it only makes sense to be occupied with something you can control…like the present. That's where I live in the present, among my friends and loved ones”. Today Kenny is one of the happiest, most content guys you would ever want to meet. I'm serious! I see him every day and he is never without a smile or a kind word for someone else. He is an absolute treasure.
Nikos Kazanetzakis says a beautiful thing: “You have your brush, you have your colors, you paint paradise, then in you go.” Paradise is what I choose to paint, but if you prefer to paint yourself a nightmare, go ahead. However take credit for the fact that YOU painted the nightmare; no one else did. Sure, life is hard, but it's also great. No one can protect us against apin or sadness, but through such experiences we can learn what love is, what compassion is, and what life is all about. Sometimes you hae to experience sorrow to understand what happiness is all about and sometimes you have to experience defeat to appreciate victory. And sometimes you have to looik at death to understand life. Experiences make us grow. Life is not easy, but it's worth it if you're willing to live it fully. And you can't do that by “half Stepping it.”
When disaster strikes, you have a choice to either give up or go ahead. The real champions of life go forward, despite being afraid or blocked by obstacles. They do what has to be done, no matter how hopeless things look or how overwhelming the odds. Against them. They are aware that fighting back may not always restore things to normal, but that trying always makes things better and provides immense self-satisfaction. They are disciples of the classic slogan “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
Blanchard is 38, is working toward a psychology degree that he hopes to achieve by 2001. Because of trouble getting around town he said, someday he would like to have his own vehicle specially fitted for a quadriplegic but for financial reasons it simply is not in the cards. A newspaper in Georgia wrote “He (Blanchard) was taken back when Biasiotto, a world record holder in powerlifting and a bodybuilder offered to donate all the profits from his book, which is a compilation of inspirational stories and speeches Biasiotte gives worldwide.” You will remember Judd wrote the article “Fun Vs Happiness” that I got so many calls about. I can't tell you how many reprints we sent out. The cost of the van to help Kenny Balnchard drive costs around $30,000.
Here are the specifics on the book. Call 1-800-431-1579 hours 8AM to 5PM. Book name is “In Pursuit of Excellence and self-fulfillment” by Dr. Judd Biasiotto. Cost is $19.95 plus $4.95 shipping and handling. Credit cards are accepted. You can also go to book-clearing-house.com and order on line. Mail orders can be placed by writing to Kenny's Van Fund 3209 Jacqueline Dr. Albany, Ga. 31705. If you are interested in Dr. Judd for a speaking engagement use the same mailing address.
Everyone has enjoyed the articles Dr. Judd B. and I have done together. You will surely enjoy this book and the proceeds are for a worthy cause. I'd love to see everyone help in this fund. It's also a nice timely Christmas present for your kids who are in school as well as anyone who enjoys motivational articles as much as I do. You are all the greatest clients a person could have. You don't realize it but in the past you have had a major effect on helping small companies we have discussed in this report. We even kept one company which was a one man operation, in business. Give Kenny a hand. Tom Dorsey
|
