The summer of 2003 was off to an interesting start. The car wreck happened late in May and while the original prognosis was a few weeks of recovery it would turn into 3 plus months of time, nothing but time. I have to share that I am extremely lucky to even be able to type this story up based on the injuries, although none life threatening it was a quite a list. The injuries, starting from the top were broken right eye socket, complete road rash (including glass, dirt, rocks, all that) all over my body with the worst of it down the right side of my face. I broke a bone in my right hand which was being held in place with three pins that reminded me of the main character in an old horror movie I was afraid of as a child (Hellraiser for those interested). My left arm took the most of the damage as it appears this arm "led the way" for my body to bend the door frame of my car and be ejected on impact.

Oh, quick side bar….. No I wasn't wearing a seatbelt and yes I wear it always now (even have the annoying "it's not on yet" beep in my car) yet it's important to note that for whatever reason I didn't but the belt on that day (which was not normal for me) and that little decision saved my life. There was about 4-6 inches between the driver seat and the dashboard after impact, I would have been cut in half So, I am not advocating for or against seatbelts yet it's important for where I'm going with this for you to know that something much bigger was in control that day.

So back to the list. My left arm was full of stitches, stables, and pins with very specific instructions which were followed to the letter. I remember being told I was a "miracle" walking into the rehab center, yet to me I was just pissed. It was 3 weeks after the wreck and I was over it, I wanted my freedom back (life is limited with both arms in casts that go from your middle knuckle to elbow). You see, the whole experience had still not really sunk in with me. The reason, lessons to learn and overall emotions that come with, dare I say the cliché term, "a near death experience". This day in rehab would be the reality check that showed me exactly how far I had to go.

The left arm was the culprit. The last few weeks I was still in tremendous pain due to my left wrist, all other broken bones were healed and the road rash was going away but not the pain in my left arm. The doctors, my family, everyone would explain to me "the level of damage" (like I didn't know and it wasn't attached to my body???). This day in rehab it all changed doing routine wrist movements it was determined that not only was there no X-ray taken on my left arm that night of the wreck, even worse my wrist bones were twisted together like when children cross their fingers in hopes of making a lie okay. Yes, that right! I thought I was only days away from my return to work only to find out another surgery, the most in depth of them all would be needed and add another 8-10 weeks on recovery.

The universe is funny like that, looking back I know that it was not my arm – it was me! I was trying to brush off the entire event like something that "just happened" rather than really reflecting on what this meant for me and why did I walk away (sure, maybe not the night but in the big scheme of things) when many, many others have lost their life in similar situations. It all hit me at once, all the emotions each one you can think of. I love that most people don't know what this experience is, I don't wish any of this on anyone, so here are some parts you may not understand. Sleep is the enemy, when you are on and off pain meds plus physically unable to move you no longer have a sleep schedule and you're awake…..always (or at least I was). I'm talking like awake enough to watch TVs debut then play in rerun hours later on the same channel. I loved to read yet remember, arms in casts no remote control channel flipping or holding books for me. I was going INSANE!!

Then, the spark happened!! My dearest best friend saved the day, as she did before with work returning from Austin. The save was an audio book on cassette tapes with a portable Walkman and head phones. Crazy to think that was 2003 yet still before mainstream exposure to digital books and music? So I started that very day my new audio The Art of Exceptional Living by Jim Rohn. I will never forget the opening……

"The greatest value in life is not what you GET. The greatest value in life is what you BECOME."

I finished all the tapes that night and started them again. The way he spoke, the pictures he painted and the connection I felt to the words changed me deeper than the car wreck…..suddenly, I was grateful for the wreck and the additional time from the missed broken bone because I had some real thinking to do. The equivalent term these days would be MIND BLOWN!! Jim Rohn helped me understand the car wreck and the importance of what "making it" meant.

The spark was lit!! Late in the evening, probably around time 3 or 4 of listening to the tapes again it hit me – I lived to help people. It was that easy, that simple. Some may say vague yet I could feel deep in my bones that I have a big purpose and the car wreck was my wake up to own it…..even though I had no clue what "it" was??? It was in these moments, full of scabs, casts, staples and stitches that I decided I would not only recovery 100% I would pursue my purpose of helping people BECOME all they are intended to be.

It's amazing to see the same still applies….even the impact of Jim Rohn. This audio is the only CDs in my car (who uses their CD player anymore?) because it was played on each journey to and from Austin, plus all of my digital subscriptions – IT'S REALLY THAT GOOD! Some people have a favorite movie they can watch over and over, The Art of Exceptional Living is that for me….well, and The Notebook – that's pretty good too!

PS - here is the Walkman for those that only know a world of digital files. Man the batteries and "tape jams" were a pain! Ha ha ha!!