Question of the week: Do you base who you are on what you do or is what you do based on who you are?

One of my wife’s favorite singing groups is the Celtic Women so last Wednesday night I had the privilege to take her to see them in Portland, Oregon. I wasn’t as big of a fan as I am now. They were flawless, phenomenal, and very entertaining. I was most impressed by the violinist. She wore a dazzling floor length dress while she danced about the stage like a prancing deer. She spun in circles across the stage without missing a note. When she was finished the crowd rose to their feet with an applause.

As we left the coliseum my wife and I were in awe at the amazing talent of the Celtic Women. On the drive home my mind went back to the violinist and I made the comment, “What if she had not shared her God given talents with everyone in that room? So many people would have missed out on the blessing of her gift”. 

This experience caused me to reflect on my own unique abilities and how many times I was challenged to give up. I recall the difficulties I faced with the first time I wrote a letter with my mouth, the day I started college, the first stroke of my brush on a canvas, to the first speech I gave (all of which were extremely difficult for me to accomplish). There was plenty of times along the way that I was tempted to give up but this experience reminded me that I am unique as are all of you. Yes, there are better violinists and motivational speakers but we all have one thing in common, we are all unique!

I challenge you today to ask the question: Who am I? What is the legacy I want to leave behind? And what do I need to do to continue it or achieve it? I believe that you were fearfully and wonderfully designed for a purpose. Your life counts. You are a unique piece in the puzzle of life. My prayer for you is that you will forget about failures of the past, stop comparing yourself to others, release the fears you have to step out of your comfort zone, and be all you can be.

 Let’s go change the world.

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Hi, this is Ron Heagy with your Motivation Monday Message that is actually a question….

What are you willing to sacrifice to help another person? 

Being a quadriplegic, I am often totally dependent on others to meet my most basic physical needs.  I am always appreciative of the care giving and support I receive; however, this week my secretary Amanda took the term “dedicated” to a whole new level!

My wife Kelli was on a much needed R&R vacation so with a full day of important meetings scheduled for Wednesday, on Tuesday night I found myself praying for safety for Amanda that she would arrive on time to pick me up. 

The next day at 8:00 a.m. I was all dressed up and ready to go and all I needed was my driver.  I nervously sat in my wheelchair in the driveway and it kind of reminded me of when I was a kid and the anticipation I felt as I waited for the school bus on the first day of school.  At 8:10 I began to get nervous because there was no sign of Amanda, she had not called, and it was unlike her to be late. 

Suddenly she came flying down the drive way, got out of her car and quickly strapped my chair into the van. After a few minutes of silence and the anticipation of a lame excuse she said “I am so sorry I am late Ron, but you will never believe what I just did to get here!”   Evidently she had grabbed a cup of coffee and gone out the second floor balcony of her house to enjoy the start of a new day, but when the door shut behind her she realized that she was locked out! 

She did not have her phone with her and all she could think of was that if she did not leave to pick me up, that I would be stranded just like she was.  Amanda realized that she really only had two choices; she could wait for someone to come by the house to rescue her, or she could jump approximately 12 feet and land on gravel with her bare feet.    Attack

Believing

I realized, since she was sitting next to me that she chose the 2^nd option, “unbelievable.” It touched my heart that someone outside of my family cared enough about me to risk their life just so that I would not be left alone. I was so thankful for her efforts and even more thankful that God protected her. 

Amanda’s unselfish and heroic act made me stop to realize just how many wonderful people I have in my life.  I am truly grateful for each of you that have shared your time and resources to help me reach my goal of changing people’s lives.   

My challenge to you this week is to look deep inside and answer the question…. “What are you willing to sacrifice to make a difference?”  Amanda was willing to risk injury by jumping 12 ft off a porch, and one of my donor’s sacrifices a Starbucks coffee each week to support my ministry.  They are both heroes in my book and so are YOU!   

Have a great week and I challenge you to look for ways to change someone’s life and I promise it will change yours too!     

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Please follow me and PRAY for my Quad Squad this has never been done Thanks for believing in me! check this out now! www.thequadsquad.net

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Hello my friend! 

Summer is my favorite time of year!  We have been camping, swimming and whatever else we can enjoy in the sun. There is no doubt, I am solar powered. If I had my way I would live in Arizona or Hawaii but my lovely wife appreciates more of the cooler weather plus Oregon is absolutely beautiful all year around. We love the trees, flowers, mountains, beautiful rivers, and the amazing west coast. Gracie, my five year old, loves the outdoors too and we have been doing some fun planting together.  

The sunshine is a blessing because even though I try to always be “Mr. Positive Attitude”, some days the clouds still roll in.   Does that ever happen to you??  Or is it just me??  J 

The economic challenges Kelli and I face with 24 hour a day caregiver needs for myself  and also raising four kids can be challenging, but challenges have only made me stronger. It is in the toughest times that positive light can shine the brightest. I think the following story demonstrates this fact and I hope it inspires you as much as it did me. 

I received a call from Carl, the school counselor at an elementary school with approximately 300 fourth and fifth graders. Carl informed me that there was a young man in a wheelchair who had muscular dystrophy.  The boy’s prognosis wasn’t good, and he was told that he may not live to see his 21^st birthday.

As you might imagine, this devastating news caused him to go into a deep depression. He stopped caring about school and saw no reason to be excited about life. It was Carl’s hope that I might be able to put on a school assembly and spend some time with the boy. 

Two weeks later I rolled into an energetic gym filled with kids.  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my little buddy in his wheelchair, but he wouldn’t even look at me. Students and staff were moved from laughter to tears as they listened to my true stories.  When I was finished, they lined up to view my paintings and I signed some autographs but my mind was focused on trying to find my little buddy. 

I did not see him in the crowd and just when I got discouraged by thinking he had already left, the young man gently bumped my wheelchair with his wheelchair and he asked; “Mr. Heagy would you please spend some time with me?”  I felt a lump in my throat as I looked at this young man’s great big smile and I said “you bet, let’s roll!”  J 

As we were starting to leave, his aid reminded him that it was time for him to go to his special anticipated launch of the rocket he had made in class.  I can’t describe how it warmed my heart to hear the boy say, “thanks … but spending time with Ron is much more important then the rocket!”  

It was great to get to know him better and I even learned that he is an inspiring artist.  I was truly amazed at the detail of his beautiful pencil sketches. He wanted to give me one of his drawings but I asked him if I could buy it instead for $20.00?   A smile as big as Texas came over his face and he looked up at me from his chair and said; “Mr. Heagy you are my new hero!”

Before I left, my little buddy gave me his home phone number and asked me to call his mother because he was now more worried about her than being depressed himself.  Mothers and fathers that care for their children with disabilities need support, so I was happy to call his Mom. If you know of someone with these challenges, I ask you to give them a call. It will be a huge blessing to know that someone cares, and it will also bless you more than you can imagine!

Some of you may want to ask this question; “Ron if you have financial needs, why did you give that boy so many free gifts and $20 for his picture?”    I have three answers:

1)       The smile on his face was priceless!

2)       Buying the drawing gave him a purpose.

3)       I have friends that give me gifts each month and I try to “pay it forward.” 

In summary, if I was in 4^th grade, I honestly do not think I would put spending time with someone like me as more important than launching rockets.  When he chose me, it turned my financial clouds back into sunshine.    When you chose me, it allowed me the opportunity to meet this young man and change his life.  Thank YOU for making this story possible!     

Ron Heagy

PS  Even $5 a month makes a huge difference if you have an army.  J http://rollonron.com/give-now/ 

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Jason a 26 year old close friend of mine was on my heart this last week,. My day was a bit crazy so I tried to ignore the voice in my head telling me to call him!  Moments later  I dialed the phone, Jason what's up? I could hear in his voice the presence of doom and dispair. This is one of those times  when you do whatever it takes to be with your friend, so I encouraged him to meet me in my office. The following story we wrote together on that very day, Wow! and i almost let it slip by…

Hope is a bright shining light which keeps darkness at bay, Hope is the gentle cold breeze on a hot summer day…

My mentor Ron, 30 years ago was an all-star football player, dreams of the NFL, 6 ft 3 in 205 lbs of pure muscle, couldn’t be stopped. Girl friends, cool cars, fast motorcycles, popular, good looking, had everything in life going for him. Then he decided to go surfing the day before his 18th birthday, looking out into the California Ocean he saw a wave crashing in, feeling invincible, he said to himself that’s my wave! He ran, dove into the wave and hit his head on a sandbar, his neck went back into his shoulder blades and (cressh), body went limp… floating motionless out to sea he prayed “ God I'm too young to die.”…….

Hope comes when you least expect it

Ladies and gentlemen, 3 weeks ago I had everything. The most beautiful and amazing woman I have ever meet and we’re getting married on Aug 1st. A month long honeymoon in Australia planned. First year in toastmasters and I'm in the world championships. 100K a year job offer on the table at the age of 26. Paid speaking gigs in negotiation. I had two jobs. Lots of friends, I'm physically fit and of course I’m cute!… well that's what mama always told me…

Friends I had everything… 2 weeks before the wedding day, everything planned and paid for, my fiancé comes to my apt one day, looking absolutely stunning then I looked into her eyes, I could see something was wrong… “Baby, she says, I can’t go through with this…”  My legs went weak and I dropped to my knees. Tears pouring down my cheeks. The world had just collapsed. My heart was sick, I couldn't sleep, couldn't eat. I turned down the job offer. Told 400 people the wedding was off, and cancelled my World Championship Speech. I didn’t care about anything anymore. I lost all my hope for the future. My heart hit the sandbar of life, and I felt paralyzed floating motionless into the sea of despair…

Hope comes when you least expect it and when you most need it…

I get a call from my friend Ron he says, come on over I’d like to have a word with you. When I got to his house I fell on the floor, tears in my eyes I said, it hurts so bad I don’t know if I can make it through. He said I’ve got a story for you man… “When I was floating out into the ocean my little brother swam in and saved my paralyzed body from drowning. At that point I had lost it all. Parlayed from the neck down my hopes and dreams were shattered. Then one day I meet a young man His head and body strapped to a wheelchair.

I said to this kid, hey how you doing man, my names Ron what your name? He sat there motionless, drool coming out of his mouth, tubes in his neck, breathing through machines – cuuugh-… His mom standing behind him spoke up, his name’s Kevin. Looking into Kevin’s eyes, and I saw so much life. I said, how bad is it Kevin? His mom replied, he’s was paralyzed from the noise down at birth. Never tasted a candy bar, never drank a coke, never told his mom he loves her. Instantly my attitude changed, I said to his mom, what’s the one the he’s always wanted to do… I'm gonna make it happen. Go to Disneyland? You tell me what Kevin dreams of. She looked at me and said, the one thing Kevin wishes he could do, is smile…how much is that worth…?

Hope comes when you least expect it, and when you most need it, and often times from an unexpected source…

I sat up after the story, wiping the tears from my eyes, and said. So hope comes to us, when we reach out and give out. Ron looked at me and said, “Jason, never underestimate the power you have to change somebody's life.” I jumped up off the ground, got onto a computer and along with Ron I wrote this very speech. I called the governor of our toastmasters district, Kathy, and said, can I still speak? She said, you betcha you can!. 

There’s a great hope in life, and it’s not in football, or relationships or weddings, it’s not in honeymoons, or Australia, money or a new job,   fancy cars or even the American dream. Real hope is found in the heart, and it comes out, when we give it out. Even if it's just a smile. The apostle Paul, wrote these words from inside prison walls… “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

Friends who’s waiting for you to bring a little hope into their life? Are you willing to give out, a little hope? Hope comes when we least expect it, and when we most need it, there's someone in your life waiting to receive it. Ladies and gentlemen, give a little hope. My hope, is that I gave you hope, and that makes me… smile

Thought from roll on Ron:

Friends, I encourage you to take some time to write down your story today.

We all have a unique story that can help somebody through the tough times… not to mention what putting it on paper could do for you.

Now roll on and make it a good day, your life truly matters!

JOIN MY QUAD SQUAD TEAM TODAY FOR AS LITTLE AS $5 A MONTH AND I'LL SEND YOU A FREE SMILIEY PAL ON WHEELS  HELP ME PASS A SMILE ON! 

Blessings,

Ron Heagy

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