From Disaster to Triumph

U.S. swimmer Mallory Weggemann was paralyzed from the waist down in 2008 after a routine epidural injection went wrong. She returned to the pool and became a world champion, setting 15 records. Now 23, she had been targeting nine gold medals at London 2012 but her events were reduced after her classification was altered by the International Paralympic Committee. She writes for CNN about her journey to London 2012.
 
London, England (CNN) – When I think back on this past week and the roller-coaster of emotions I have experienced at the Paralympics, I realize that everything happens for a reason.

Hours before the London 2012 opening ceremonies I learned that my appeal to overturn my reclassification had been denied. In that moment I felt defeat.

I felt as though everything I had worked for the past four and a half years had been stripped from me, but it was then that I realized that the journey to get to this point wasn’t about the medals.
The reason why I got back in the water in April 2008 nearly four months after being paralyzed, the reason that I devoted my life to swimming for the past four years, the sacrifices I made, and the person I became, wasn’t about the medals.

I think it was easy for me to get lost in the numbers — the number of how many golds I could win — but when this happened it forced me to reflect on my journey and what got me to this point. I realized I did all of that to become the best possible swimmer, athlete and person I could be for this very moment, medals or no medals.

I poured my heart, soul, sweat and tears into these past four and a half years to challenge myself, to see just how far I can push my body, to move forward with life, and most importantly because I absolutely love to swim.

No matter what happens and what has happened, that is something that can’t be taken away from me. That is something that no-one can strip from me. The work that I have put into this, the passion that backs it, and who I have become throughout this journey all remains the same no matter what classification I am.

As I went into Sunday’s 50 meters freestyle, I knew what I had to do and I knew what I wanted. I had dreamed of that very moment for years and I wanted nothing more than to see our flag raised and hear the national anthem play.

I went into that race with some stiff competition. Competition I had never raced before. I sat in the ready room as a T10 complete paraplegic, no function from my belly button down, and I was up against girls who are single-arm amputees.

I sat there and watched them stretch their legs as I stretched my arms and I knew that it would be an uphill battle, but I also knew that nothing is impossible. As I got out to the blocks, everything from that point on became a blur up until the point when I hit the wall and turned to see my face on the big screen.

I had done it, I had won my first Paralympic gold medal and I had done it despite my reclassification and everything that had happened. In that very moment the journey that brought me there flashed before my eyes.

Everything I had dreamed of came true. I proved to myself that no obstacle is too big to overcome. No matter what happens we all have the ability to overcome, and on Sunday I pushed my body to new limits and showcased my ability.

SOURCE: CNN



 Listen to Mallory Weggemann’s interview on D-Talks Radio

If you would like to bring Mallory Weggemann to your next event, contact us!

Every 9 Seconds

Every 9 Seconds has a unique opportunity of bringing awareness through the incredible story of its founder, Brenda Clubine-Coolbaugh. She is the embodiment of survival and hope, and through the sharing of her journey is able to bring awareness to an entirely new level. As a survivor, she knows firsthand the complexities of abusive relationships. As an advocate, she knows how to inspire change and create awareness surrounding the ever growing epidemic of domestic violence.  
 

Brenda also brings a unique dynamic to her presentation through the documentary, Sin by Silence, which features her amazing journey from victim to survivor. Countless organizations have been utilizing the film as a tool to bring a new element to their events, while having Brenda speak afterward to help be the tie that brings hearts and minds together to bring about positive social change throughout communities. No one who witnesses an event with Brenda Clubine will ever be the same!

 

 

ABOUT THE FILM:

 Sin by Silence offers a unique gateway into the lives of women who are domestic violence’s worst-case scenarios: women who have killed their abusive husbands. Inside California’s oldest women’s prisons, the first inmate-initiated and led group in the U.S. prison system was created by then-inmate Brenda Clubine to help abused women speak out and realize they are not alone. Over the past two decades, the women of Convicted Women Against Abuse (CWAA) have changed laws for battered women and raised awareness for those on the outside. 
Sin by Silence is an emotionally packed documentary that tells the personal and shocking stories of women who have learned from their past and are changing their future.

Listen to Brenda's Clubine-Coolbaugh's interview with D-Talks Radio, April 18th at 6 p.m. PST 

If you would like to bring Brenda to your next event, contact The Elite Speakers Bureau, Inc.

What I Learned About Control from a Group of World Changers (by Alexia Vernon)

In one of the activities that I do with leaders as an entry-point into discussing how we harness our personal power, individual participants are asked to label each one of 20 hypothetical possibilities for power a unique number from 1-20. 1 signifies what you would most like to do with your personal power and 20, on the opposite end of the spectrum, represents what you would least like to address. The possibilities are vast – from end world poverty or identity-based discrimination to publish a New York Times bestelling book or always be in a place of gratitude.

I created the exercise almost a decade ago when I began adjunct teaching. At the time, students used to share that they didn’t know how to negotiate their own desires with what they hoped to create through their lives and work. As I’ve been using it more recently, though, the conversation has shifted. While there is still a struggle to rank each possibility from 1-20, for many of the successful leaders who have completed the exercise, the dilemma has evolved.

Last week, I had the opportunity to facilitate the exercise with a dynamic group of female leaders engaged in some big-time social change initiatives. These are women who’ve left incredibly sexy corporate and entertainment jobs to travel to Africa to address HIV and AIDS. Partner with the White House on educating young women about the dangerous effects of media. Rebrand feminism for a new generation. And rarely were “end world poverty” or “stop identity-based discrimination” in one of the leader’s Top 5.

I bet you want to know what was? “Find (and retain!) a lifelong, trustworthy, attractive, and loving romantic partner.” “Provide lifelong financial security for all of your friends and family.” “Get paid what you are worth, without compromising your professional and personal life, to travel each month to a global location of your choosing with your loved ones.”

All but a couple of the leaders prioritized building a foundation for happiness, nourishing relationships, and self-care over solving a global problem. While you may find yourself thinking how selfish or I would definitely put the needs of others above my own, I want to reiterate how successful each of these women has been…in solving big-time social problems. So what gives?

Effective leaders intuitively understand and engage in practices that support them addressing their own needs first so that they have the fuel to lead wholeheartedly and for maximum impact. To paraphrase one participant, “The only thing I can control, really, are the choices I make for my own life and how I choose to lead it. When I’m right there, then I know I can do the bigger, world-changing stuff. And be bigger and bolder and more successful in it.”

When you think about what you are prioritizing in your life and work – what you choose to see, address, and if you’re anything like me fixate on from time to time – is it that which you can control? Or is it that which has a lot of moving parts beyond you? And if your answer is the latter, how might using your personal power to build a better, more balanced, more resilient you actually be the foundation for dialing-up your professional impact and leaving a bigger footprint in your company and community?  These are real questions!  Please take a moment to consider.

Article by Alexia Vernon


Listen to Alexia Vernon on D-Talks Radio

If you would like to bring Alexia Vernon to your next event, contact us!

Former NFL Player Now Youth Motivator

Drafted into the NFL by the Arizona Cardinals in 2002, Levar Fisher uses the same strength and fortitude that got him into the NFL to now inspire people of all ages through his motivational speaking.

“What I’ve learned on the field is to never allow anyone to claim my attention…except the one that I’ve already tackled in my mind. I’ve learned that real power doesn’t come from the heart or even from lifting weights – it comes from placing belief in yourself and trusting your maker.”

After playing three seasons in NFL, Levar was released from the Arizona Cardinals in 2005. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints in 2006 where he suffered a terrible knee injury and thus retired from the NFL in 2007.

“I’m not on the field anymore, but I’m passionately using everything I have to help my team win, and my team now…is simply everyone within earshot.”

Having spoken in 45 states to date, Levar is a recognized powerful motivational speaker who leaves an imprint on lives across the nation. He is also the author of two inspirational books and currently working on his third book.

Listen to Levar's interview on D-Talks Radio

Keeping Children Safe in a Less Than Perfect World

Sometimes the world seems like a really unsafe place.  We turn on the news and are bombarded with accounts of tragic crimes, a depressed economy, and problems with international relations.  It’s tough to feel ok about sending our children out into such a harsh landscape.  Parents worry about their
children’s safety. Worries about child abduction, sexual abuse, and physical injury can dominate the thoughts of caring parents.
We can’t keep our children completely safe.  Bad things can happen.  Although there are realistic
concerns, a potential consequence to living under too much fear of bad stuff happening is that our children will “catch” the fear.  We want to protect children, but also have them perceive the world as a wonderful place.  The question then becomes what can we do to keep our kids as safe as possible
without instilling unhealthy fear?  Following are some suggestions for families:
1.  Drop by your child’s daycare/school unannounced from time to time.
2.  Pay attention to what your child says about his/her sitter and how he/she reacts to being dropped off.
3.  Talk to your children about good and bad touch.  Let them know that their body is private.  Inform them what to do if something doesn’t feel right (e.g. tell an adult right away).
4.  Keep anger and fear out of your voice when discussing safety issues with your child.
If your child feels that your reaction will be negative or harsh, he/she won’t
be likely to talk to you if something bad happens.
5.  Have a code word that only your family knows.  Use this word for having someone other than a parent pick up your child up.
6.  Know where your kids are going and who they’re with.  Make sure there are responsible adults present to supervise.
7.  Know who your kid’s friends are.
8.  Look for behavioral red flags.  If you feel that your child could be headed for trouble (poor grades, angry behavior, etc.), get help now rather than wait until things get worse.
9.  Be willing to seek assistance.  If your child seems to be struggling, consult with a professional.
Crime Survivors can be a great resource in making this linkage.
Remember, the best thing you can do to keep your kids safe is to keep calm, open communication and to have good safety practices in place.  We can’t keep kids from trouble or injury all of the time, but we can help reduce the risk. 


Article by: 
Laurie Estes, Ph.D.

Recommended readings:
The Gift of Fear
by Gavin DeBecker, Ph.D.


 Listen to Crime Survivors, Inc. Founder, Patricia Wenskunas, on D-Talks Radio







Protecting the Gift by Gavin DeBecker, Ph.D.

Why Do We Forget to Talk About Real Solutions When Talking About the Bullying Epidemic?

  Several years ago, my family was impacted by bullying. Because we were able to find resources and solutions, we were able to move beyond the issue and thrive. After that, I realized that not everyone knows where to find solutions. October is National Bullying Prevention month and a time of year that we see instances of bullying spike in classrooms and communities. Nearly one in four children has been the victim of bullying and 85 percent of the time no one intervenes to help. 

  Bullying is not a normal part of childhood and can no longer be tolerated in any form or excused as harmless teasing. As parents and educators, we are the agents of change to bullying behavior and the advocates for safer classrooms and communities for our children. We need to talk about the problem before it gets out of hand, before we see another tormented child on the evening news and before it’s too late for the victim. We need to understand the problem permeates every community and affects every family.

  Most importantly, we need to talk more about real solutions. 

  A recent Harris Interactive survey of parents commissioned by Sears reveals that 73 percent believe parents are responsible for the prevention of bullying, 65 percent believe that teachers and schools are responsible and nearly 40 percent look to law enforcement for bully prevention. 

  Prevention doesn’t lie with one group, but rather society as a whole. Parents of the 13 million children who suffer from an acute bullying problem need a combination of stronger awareness programs, prevention through solutions that can be implemented at the home and school level and effective rehabilitation for bullies to reform their behavior. Further, we (parents and educators) need to start addressing acute bullying situations with effective solutions in the moment. 

  Prevention starts at home and continues at school. Parents should practice role playing exercises with their child so they know how to safely respond to a bully. The bullied child should be equipped with responses and actions to remove him or herself from the situation while still signaling that the bully’s actions will not be tolerated. Equally important, bystanders should be trained to safely intervene and adults who work with children should be required to receive training on bullying intervention.

  If you suspect your child is being bullied, the first thing you should do is to make sure your child is safe, that he or she feels protected and that you are listening. Ignoring bullying does not work. Second, get the facts and document the incident. If there is even one episode where your child has been affected, parents should have a conversation with the principal, staff or teacher who was in charge when your child was bullied. From there, develop a plan to quickly solve the problem with your school. 

  Studies show that schools with anti-bullying programs that include solutions like those found via sears.com/TeamUp can experience up to a 50 percent decrease in bullying. A well-orchestrated school system includes prevention, reporting, victim support, consequence protocols, policies and reform/rehabilitation. Maintaining these systems is key to creating bully-free cultures in our schools.

  In the simplest terms, whenever one child has demonstrated that the behavior from another child is making them uncomfortable or has asked that child to stop the behavior for the same reason and the child does not, on the second occasion it is bullying. Period. 

  Bullying is not a rite of passage, as many of us grew up to believe. But changing a culture and belief system can be hard. There must be an attitudinal shift to recognize that bullying can be solved. Solving the problem starts with access to information and empowerment to address the issue head on. 

 

  Earlier this year, Sears launched Team Up to Stop Bullying as the first bullying solutions and services coalition from a major retailer to provide immediate solutions that parents and schools can implement today. The program offers expertise from more than 70 leading bullying solutions organizations to help children who have been bullied find answers, give parents effective ways to prevent and resolve bullying and guide educators on how to establish bully reform programs at their school.

  Team Up to Stop Bullying is providing access and empowerment and delivering real solutions to communities around the nation. As a nation, we have successfully changed widely held attitudes in the past and built a stronger and better place for our children. I believe we can do it again. Please do your part today.

Marie Newman (http://solutionsforbullying.com)

Bullying Solutions Family Advocate, Author, Mother and Business Owner, Director of Team Up to Stop Bullying. 


Listen to Marie's interview with D-Talks Radio

Rate Your Mate Before It's Too Late

'This presentation or keynote will teach people Beatty and Elliot Cohan’s 10-step, fail-safe formula, based on their ground-breaking book, For Better, For Worse, Forever: Discover the Path to Lasting Love (Chandler House Press, 1999, 3rd. ed. 2008), already successfully used by thousands of men and women around the world for assessing who’s right or wrong for you BEFORE committing to any serious relationship like a marriage.

About Beatty Cohan: 

Beatty is s a nationally recognized psychotherapist, author, speaker, columnist and national radio and television expert guest. She has given hundreds of presentations and keynotes over the years to local and national organizations as well as to colleges and universities.


To bring Beatty to your next event or workshop, contact info@theelitespeakersbureau.com or call (949) 544-1410.

Listen to Beatty's interview with D-Talks Radio.