It’s not a joke.
The only parts of my body I can move are my eyes and lips. My hands, feet, arms, and legs, are almost totally paralyzed, managing the occasional twitch and nothing more.
And yet… I have an amazing life.
Using speech recognition technology, I’ve written articles read by more than 5 million people. I’ve also built several online magazines that have, shockingly, made me a millionaire.
“This can’t be real,” you say. “You did all this, and you can’t freaking move?”
Hard to believe, I know, but it’s true. I do it all from home, sitting in my wheelchair, speaking into a microphone.
I’ve traveled a good bit too. I’ve lived in San Diego, Miami, Austin, and even Mazatlan, Mexico. Here’s a photo of me living the good life south of the border:
I look totally miserable, don’t I? Poor baby. 🙂
Not to imply it’s been easy, mind you. During my 34 years, I’ve had pneumonia 16 times, recovered from more than 50 broken bones, and spent literally years of my life in hospitals and doctor’s offices.
But I’m still here. Not only have I survived my condition, but I’ve built a life most people only dream about.
And starting today, I want to talk about how.
Over the coming months and years, I have a great deal to share with you, but I thought we would begin with the biggest lessons I’ve learned, lessons I’ve paid for in blood and tears, lessons that have saved my life, over and over and over again. Let’s begin.
Sidenote: Once you’re done reading these, be sure to check out 33 Books That Helped Me Become a Millionaire from My Wheelchair. Lots of great wisdom there.
Lesson #1: If You Can’t Win the Game, Change the Rules
About a decade ago, I was totally dependent on Medicaid, the U.S. government-run health insurance, to pay about $120,000 per year in medical bills. On the one hand, I was immensely grateful, because without it, I would’ve certainly died, but I was also trapped by their benevolence.
You see, Medicaid has income limits. If I made more than $700 per month, I would lose all medical coverage. Doctors, caregivers, medications, everything.
It was basically an ironclad contract preventing me from ever getting a regular job. I had a college degree, plenty of ambition, and even a few job offers, but I couldn’t accept any of them, because the government wouldn’t let me.
It seemed like a hopeless situation. If I got a job, I would lose my health insurance. If I didn’t get a job, I’d be forced to live in poverty forever. There was no way to win the game.
So, I changed the rules.
One of the job offers I received was from a small online magazine named Copyblogger, but instead of accepting it, here’s what I told them: “I’ll work for you for free. Don’t pay me anything. The only catch is, sometime in the future, I’m going to ask you for some favors, and if I do good work for you, I’d really appreciate your help.” They agreed, so I spent the next two years working 40-80 hours per week, mostly free of charge, although they did find ways to throw a few dollars my way every now and again.
During that time, I explored moving to Mexico. By moving there, I could reduce my health expenses from $120,000 to $18,000 per year. $102,000 in savings!
Eventually, I pulled the trigger. I called my boss and said, “Remember how I said I would ask for favors one day? Well, it’s time. I’m starting a consulting practice, and I’d love some help getting clients.” The next day, he allowed me to reach out to about 50,000 readers, and I filled my entire client roster within 24 hours.
Then I moved to Mexico, abandoning the U.S. healthcare system entirely. Within 30 days, I was making more than $10,000 a month, living in a beachfront condo, and paying for all my own health care expenses.
How?
By not playing the government’s game. Instead, I created a different game, a game that worked by my rules, a game I could win.
“But Jon,” you say. “You don’t understand. My situation is hopeless.”
Bullshit. The options available to you right now may be hopeless, but you can always create new ones. It’s not easy, but if you’re strong enough, you can turn any situation to your advantage. The key is to develop that strength in advance. Here’s how:
Lesson #2: Pain is Power
At some point or another, life punches everyone in the face.
The punch may be hard, or it may be soft, but it’s definitely coming, and your success or failure is largely determined by the answer to a single question: how well can you take the punch?
Do you roll around on the ground, weeping and moaning? Do you rock back on your heels but then keep going? Or have you been punched so many times already you don’t even notice?
Personally, I’m a living example of the last one. If you want to know what it’s like to live with a severe disability, just imagine that every morning six big guys sneak into your room and beat the hell out of you. Most days, the beating isn’t so bad, and you can limp through your day. Every now and again though, they keep punching and kicking you until you’re bleeding and broken, lose consciousness, and wake up in the hospital breathing through a tube.
That’s the best way I know to describe my life. Since the day I was born, muscular dystrophy has given me a daily beating.
The upside?
It’s made me incredibly strong. I can take any punch life throws at me without even breaking stride.
Lost $100,000 on a business deal? No biggie. Key employee quits? Yawn. Getting audited by the IRS? Wake me up when something important happens. Next to fusing my spinal vertebrae together, shattering my legs, or nearly drowning in my own mucus, none of it is honestly that big of a deal.
This, my friends, is the advantage of pain. The more you experience, the more you can handle in the future, and the less it knocks you off your game.
The way you respond to that pain is another matter, which we’ll talk about in a moment. For now, the point I want to make is this: if you feel depressed and weak, unable to cope with the difficulties of life, it’s not because you are a flawed human being. It’s because you were unprepared for the pain you are experiencing. The problem, ironically, is that you haven’t suffered enough.
The opposite is also true. If you want to become a stronger and more capable person, the smartest thing you can do is systematically (and safely) increase your pain tolerance.
For example, Tim Ferriss recommends lying down in the middle of a crowded public place like a supermarket or a coffee shop. You’ll feel like a fool, but the experience will condition you to deal with embarrassment and discomfort in the future.
The bottom line?
The degree of success you achieve in life is directly proportional to the amount of pain you can tolerate. If you ever want to accomplish big things like building a successful business, becoming the best in your field, or changing the world in some way, you need to start training yourself to endure the pain all those things require. It’ll also prepare you for the next time life punches you in the face, which is inevitable.
The only caveat is you have to keep the right mindset. If you respond to pain the wrong way, it makes you weaker, not stronger. Let’s talk about how to make sure that doesn’t happen…
Lesson #3: The Secret to Survival
In 2006, a teenager who we’ll call Bill was late to work at Wendy’s. Worried that his boss was going to fire him, he decided to floor it, driving through the city at 85 miles per hour, weaving in and out of traffic, running red lights, and squealing around corners. At first, everything went fine, but then something happened…
He plowed into my minivan going through an intersection. He was going so fast that it nearly ripped the entire front end of the van off, spinning me like a top in the street. My head went through the window, knocking me out, and when I woke up, I was stuffed underneath the dashboard, my 300 pound wheelchair lying on top of me, blood squirting out of my head, my legs shattered from my toes to my hips.
I spent the next month in the hospital. The bill was about $130,000, and not surprisingly, I discovered good ol’ Bill had crappy insurance, paying out a maximum of $20,000 for the accident. To top it off, doctors predicted it would take an entire year to recover enough to work or go back to school.
In other words, I was fucked.
As if it wasn’t enough that I was already dealing with Medicaid, poverty, and muscular dystrophy. Life decided to pile on a little extra, just to see how much I could take.
And honestly? It was a miracle I didn’t crack.
How easy would it have been to sink into despair? Or rage against the unfairness? Or maybe even take a little bit too much morphine one day and end it all?
But I didn’t. Mostly, I was able to handle it because I’d been conditioned by all the other difficulties of my life, but it was also because I deliberately shifted my perspective.
The people who struggle most are the ones who can’t accept the incessant unfairness of life. They become so consumed with what should have happened, the way other people should have behaved that they become incapable of dealing with reality.
If I allowed myself to be angry at Bill for even one moment, I may have sunk into a pit of rage and despair so deep I would’ve never climbed out of it. Instead, I forced myself to say, “Okay, this is my life now. What’s next?” After all, I couldn’t change what happened. The only thing I had control over was how I responded to that change, and the first and most critical response was total and complete acceptance.
A lot of people view acceptance as weakness. They think that, if they accept what’s happened to them, they’ll be admitting defeat.
But it’s the opposite. It’s only by acknowledging reality that you can create a plan to change that reality. Acceptance, as it turns out, is the first step to victory.
Following the accident, I hired an attorney who fought the insurance companies, the hospital, everyone. It took months, but he eventually settled my medical bills and gave me enough money to purchase a new car, totally debt-free. Meanwhile, I focused on my rehab, completing it in six months instead of the year doctors predicted, and I resumed my life even healthier than I was before the accident.
The point?
We’ve all heard the cliché about turning lemons into lemonade, but to do that, you can’t be pissed off at the lemons, go into denial about the existence of the lemons, or get depressed because you’re tired of making lemonade. You just have to grab a lemon and squeeze the shit out of the motherfucker.
Or better yet, just discard the lemons-to-lemonade metaphor entirely. Here’s a much better way to think about it:
Lesson #4: The Art of the Counterpunch
Remember how we talked about the importance of being able to take a punch?
Well, it’s only the first step. Once you’ve built some endurance, it’s time to learn how to fight back.
Consider this:
In boxing, every beginner learns the importance of the counterpunch. By attacking you, your opponent has to let his guard down, and it creates a brief but very real opportunity for you to sneak in a blow. You just have to train yourself to spot the opening.
Ironic, isn’t it? The best time to attack your opponent turns out to be right after he attacks you. In fact, the stronger the attack, the bigger the opportunity for a counterpunch.
And it’s true for more than just boxing. In life, every difficulty carries with it a corresponding opportunity of equal size.
For example, let’s go back to the car accident from the last section. I mentioned how I got an attorney to settle the medical bills and dedicated myself to rehab, completing it in half the time, but I didn’t tell you the best part of the story.
In between rehab visits, I had a lot of free time on my hands. A lot of people would’ve flopped down in front of the TV and zoned out, but thankfully, I had the presence of mind to recognize the opportunity. I’d always wanted to write more, but I’d never had the time… until the accident. So, I seized the opportunity and got my gimpy ass to work.
At first, it was only a journal, a way of jotting down my thoughts and emotions as a way to cope with the trauma. I enjoyed it so much I decided to start a blog, and within 60 days, it got nominated as one of the best blogs in the world. Following the nomination, I got an offer to help run an up-and-coming magazine, the one that eventually helped me launch my consulting practice when I got to Mexico, allowing me to live the life of my dreams.
Was it luck? A mere twist of fate that turned tragedy into triumph?
Not at all. It was a deliberate counterpunch, a way of taking the force of the blow life had dealt me and turning it to my advantage.
It’s just one of many throughout my life. Here are some more:
Punch: None of the cool kids in school want to be friends with me, because the wheelchair makes them uncomfortable. I become an outcast.
Counterpunch: I hang out with the other outcasts: nerds. They teach me how to code, and I’m writing my own software by the age of 12.
Punch: I can’t play sports, go swimming, or any of the other fun stuff kids do. I’m stuck inside, trapped in a body that can’t move.
Counterpunch: To keep from going crazy, I read half a dozen books a week. By the time I graduate high school, I’ve read more than most of my teachers.
Punch: I get accepted into MIT, but I’m dirt poor. For a year, I beg for help, but everyone ignores me. I have to turn down the offer.
Counterpunch: I apply to my somewhat crappy local university, and they offer me a full scholarship. I graduate debt-free.
Again, it looks like luck, but it’s not. The people we call “lucky” are ruled by the same fickle hand of fate as everyone else. The difference: when that hand turns against them, they look around, and they spot the opening.
The moral of the story:
The next time life punches you in the face, stop for a moment and ask yourself this simple question:
What’s the counterpunch?
No matter how bad the situation, no matter how hopeless it seems, there is always an opportunity to turn it to your advantage. You just have to discipline yourself to spot the opening, and then find the courage to use it.
Lesson #5: How to Find the Courage to Face Anything
The heart monitor flatlined.
I was lying in a shabby little bed in a nursing home you’ve never heard of. For years, I’d drifted toward death, and blessedly, mercifully, it was finally here. My heart stopped, my limbs quivered, and my bowels let loose, filling the air with a sickly stench. One last breath escaped my lips, and I was gone.
A few minutes later, a nurse walked into the room, wrinkling her nose at the stink. Pulling out her clipboard, she glanced at her watch and wrote down the time of death. Next, she pulled out her phone and called the morgue. “Got another one for you. Room 305,” she told them. With that, she pulled a sheet over my head and left the room. Two days later, they cremated me, and that, as they say, was that.
Pretty depressing, right?
Obviously, none of this ever happened. I wouldn’t be writing right now if it did.
But it could’ve happened. Years ago, if I’d made different decisions, I could’ve easily ended up in a nursing home somewhere. Crazily, it could still happen now. A few missteps, and I could lose everything, dying broken, useless, and alone.
And I’ll be straight up with you:
It scares the hell out of me. More than anything. You could pull out a gun, shove the barrel in my mouth, and start counting, and it wouldn’t even come close to scaring me as much as the scene I described.
Dying is one thing. A pointless death where no one notices or cares is quite another. To me at least.
Here’s why I am telling you this:
Every now and again, somebody asks me how I found the courage to move to Mexico with no money, no friends, and no backup plan. There are a gazillion different ways it could have gone wrong. I could’ve been robbed and murdered by thieves along the highway, scammed by immigration officials, or starved to death because I couldn’t afford food. Let’s face it, Mexico can be a dangerous place, and moving there in my condition was absolute insanity.
I knew this. I’ve never been one of those delusional people who thinks nothing bad will ever happen to them. On the contrary, I was pretty sure I was about to die, and I was scared shitless. When we drove across the border, I was sweating and shaking so much I was worried that immigration guys would think I was on drugs.
So, why did I do it? Why didn’t I turn back to the relative safety of the U.S.?
Well, my thought process went like this:
Worry: I could be scammed by immigration officials.
Response: True, but that’s still better than dying in a nursing home.
Worry: I could be killed by robbers along the highway
Response: True, but that’s still better than dying in a nursing home.
Worry: I could starve to death because I can’t afford food.
Response: True, but that’s still better than dying in a nursing home.
In other words… yes, I was terrified, but a sad, quiet little death in a nursing home terrified me more. I consciously and deliberately harnessed that fear, using it to propel me to do things everyone thought were insane.
And that’s how courage works. The people we think of as heroes don’t have a mystical ability to transcend fear. To them, the alternative to taking action is simply unacceptable. They do what needs to be done, not because they want to, but because they feel there is no other choice.
Same for me. To get myself to take action, I didn’t meditate, clear my mind, and proceed to do the impossible with calmness and confidence. I woke up each morning and pictured what would happen if I didn’t act. I envisioned the heart monitor, the nurse, my body being pushed into the flames. I deliberately put myself into a state of such intense terror that everything I had to do felt manageable by comparison.
It’s dark, I know, but it’s also an immense secret. If you find yourself paralyzed by fear, the only way out is often to find something that scares you more. Imagine what will happen if you do nothing, make it so real in your mind that you’re about to jump out of your skin, and then harness that energy to do the crazy things you need to do.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting you live your life in fear. The moment you’ve faced down the impossible situation, stop torturing yourself. Adopt a positive attitude, and go about your life.
But if you’re just trying to survive?
Fear is fuel. So burn, baby, burn.
Lesson #6: Embrace the Crazy
The world is full of people who will tell you to “be reasonable.” You should have reasonable goals, reasonable expectations, a reasonable attitude.
But listen…
Was it reasonable for me to give up all my government benefits and move to a country not exactly known for its stellar medical care?
Was it reasonable to work 40+ hours a week for a company that didn’t pay me a dime?
Was it reasonable for me to start a business when failure would’ve meant starving to death on the streets of Mexico?
Not in the slightest. It was actually pretty crazy.
Here’s the thing, though:
If you’re in a crazy situation, sometimes the only way out is to make a bold move that appears insane, but it’s not, because the alternative is worse.
For instance, I’ll readily admit that working for a company full-time without asking for a penny in return is a dumb idea most of the time. Compared to the alternative of not working at all though, it’s actually a smart move.
The problem is, we’re not used to thinking that way. We’re so used to evaluating options on their own merits that we become paralyzed in situations where all the options are bad.
The solution is to train yourself to at least acknowledge the crazy alternatives. Whenever you’re making a decision, ask yourself, “What are the options I’m not considering because they seem too crazy?” You don’t have to choose the crazy option, but you should still train yourself to recognize it, because there might come a day when you need it.
Here’s a current example from my life:
I cope with a fair amount of back pain. This surprises some people, because they assume I can’t feel anything from the neck down, but I can. My disease only affects the motor neurons, not the sensory ones, so I’m able to feel just as much as anyone. Most days, the pain is manageable, but sometimes it’s unbearable.
The typical treatment options: narcotics, anti-inflammatories, herbal therapies, surgery, exercise, stretching, chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, a new wheelchair seating system, and lots of other reasonable things.
But what are the unreasonable options?
In order of increasing craziness, I could…
- Buy a $5,000 bed that’s like floating on a pocket of air, lie down in it, and never move again, conducting all my business from bed for the rest of my life.
- Destroy all the nerve endings in my back, making it totally numb. Believe it or not, this is an actual medical procedure. It’s called denervation.
- Sever my spine, losing not only sensation but also the ability to breathe without a respirator. Obvious drawbacks, and I’m not sure I could get a doctor to do it, but still better than the last option…
- Suicide
Am I seriously considering any of these options?
Hell no! The pain isn’t nearly bad enough to take such drastic measures.
But it’s also comforting to be prepared for the worst. No matter how bad it gets, I always know I have options. If I’m forced to explore those options, I’ve prepared in advance, so I’m not trying to figure it all out in the moment.
The bottom line?
No matter how impossible the situation seems, you’re never trapped. There are always options.
And that brings us to the final lesson…
Lesson #7: Never, never, never give up
My mother rammed her hands into my ribs, forcing the air from my lungs. I coughed, the mucus rattling deep in my chest.
And then I screamed.
A few weeks earlier, I’d caught pneumonia, a respiratory infection that’s dangerous for a healthy person and a near-death sentence for someone like me. I didn’t have the strength to cough the mucus up myself, so doctors taught my mother to thrust her hands into my ribs, supplying the necessary force.
And it worked, but then something terrible happened:
My ribs cracked. Worse, the bones would grind together and fracture a little more every time my mother helped me cough.
But we couldn’t stop. If we did, doctors were absolutely certain I would suffocate and die.
So, literally hundreds of times per day, my mother would shove on my broken ribs. I screamed, I cried, I begged her to stop. Still a child, I couldn’t understand why she had to hurt me so much. Even today, I marvel that she could bring herself to do it.
But she did. For weeks.
One night, when I was lying in bed, wheezing and whimpering, she brought this little plaque of a quote from Winston Churchill and put it on the table beside me. It sits on my desk now.
“Say the words,” she said.
I shook my head. “It hurts.”
“Whisper them, then,” she said, and so I did. Every night, she would push on my ribs a dozen times before going to bed, and every night, she would make me whisper the words…
Never, never, never give up.
Hokey? Yes, but it worked. I never gave up, not because I was strong or brave or special, but because my mother wouldn’t let me.
And now I want to do the same for you.
Sooner or later, we all reach a point in life where our trials become unbearable. Determination turns to despair, self-confidence becomes self-pity, and our hope for a better tomorrow dwindles and dies, replaced by a grim certainty that our life is over.
But it’s not. We simply need someone to remind us that triumph over adversity isn’t about being the strongest or the smartest, the “perfect” human being who can overcome anything life throws at them. On the contrary, the greatest victories are won by the weakest people, living in the darkest times, facing monsters that make even the stoutest heroes cower and run.
And yet they prevail. Not through riches or genius or even luck, but by setting their jaw, bracing their feet, and weathering the storm. They don’t defeat misfortune; they outlast it, clinging stubbornly to their spot, absorbing blow after blow, roaring their defiance into the wind until their lips crack and their voice breaks, and yet still they find the strength to whisper, “I will never, ever give up.”
You can be one of those people. I know you can, and so I came here to tell you…
Today, you might feel too poor or sick or unlucky to reach for your dreams, but you’re not.
Today, you might feel too tired or depressed or sad to even try, but you’re not.
Today, you might feel like an outcast, forgotten by your friends or family or anyone who might help you, but again, you are not.
You’re still breathing, my friend. That’s all it takes to stage a comeback.
So, say it with me now, would you?
“I will never, ever give up.”
Say it. Believe it.
And then recognize you’ve begun the journey to becoming totally unstoppable.
Jan 2, 2017 @ 2:34 am
So glad I literally stumbled upon this post. It could not have found me at a better time.
Jan 2, 2017 @ 2:42 am
Hi Unstoppable! I absolutely loved reading your uplifting message. Also, I’m a bit ashamed for being grumpy when things don’t go the way I want them. What an inspiration you are. Thanks so much.
Jan 2, 2017 @ 3:37 am
Thanks. I needed this kick in the pants, Jon.
In the past I’ve worked with one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who came to the US as a refugee not having ever seen a light switch or an indoor toilet much less a microwave. He graduated with honors and is now pursuing his doctorate.
On more than one occasion, I used the example of the pure hell that he experienced while walking 1000 miles to a refugee camp after seeing his parents murdered in front of him. On his way to the camp, he saw friends drown crossing rivers, friends attacked by wild animals and killed, and friends who just plain gave up, lay down and died. I’ve used the example of his survival when my own sons complained about a car problem or a shirt that doesn’t fit anymore and no clean clothes because they forgot to do the wash.
But as time has passed, I’ve slipped into giving up. And I don’t like that about myself. I’ve outlived the age that my parents were when they died and I always feel like I’m living on borrowed time BUT that despair has led me to waste that very time I’ve been graced with.
I have bookmarked your page and will continue to read your writing. As it is turning out, your move to Mexico may very well be a lifesaver because funding for the government programs that you relied on are currently on the chopping block come January 20th. Carry on, Jon!
Jan 2, 2017 @ 4:04 am
Jon thanks so much for sharing your story of courage and inspiration. So many people let fear stop them, yet you used it as a motivator to take action and to create a an amazing lifestyle. Thanks for inspiring us all!!!
Jan 2, 2017 @ 12:34 pm
I read your story Jon! You have inspired me more than anyone else. You ‘ve made me understand I can win the situation I am in n it’s just in my hand. Counter punch. I really loved it…
Jan 5, 2017 @ 8:08 pm
Today you’ve changed my life and made me a believer. Thank you.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 9:50 pm
Thank you for sharing. You have inspired me . May God bless you.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 10:27 am
Thanks for the wonderful read. I was lying on my bed thinking hard about how much I want to improve my life and how I can turn dreadful personal pain into a future success. I am far from rich, I have NO family support and I am bored. Then your article came up. Stop being unstoppable……
Jan 4, 2017 @ 11:26 pm
John your story is beyond the impossible. You have provided a true life story to help me with my quest of greatness in my special needs son. You’ve taken life and amplified it immensely…thank you for the permanence of your story
Jan 5, 2017 @ 11:24 am
One of the best inspirational articles I have ever read. Jon, words can not explain how I feel now after reading your article. You have really opened my eyes and belive it or not, you actaully taught me how to understand life better when life throws you a punch, i personally grew up alone, mother abandoned me at age 1 my father was nearly taken from me at age 1(he is still alive thank god, but he is not the same due to two gunshots to the head) in other words i had no one to teach me how to survive. I face my demons day by day, I feel terrible for not doing what I have to do. But after reading this. Im in shock. I notice the person I was. Comparing my life to yours, you had it REALLY ROUGH, and long story short, I Have alot of counter-punching to catch up to! I do understand your lessons well and every lesson I read i can relate to in a way, so by saying all this. I really appreciate your help. Yes you helped me. Thank you!
I’ll Never Never Give Up!!!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 11:39 pm
Fantastic. Love your work man. Disability worker Brent.
Jan 2, 2017 @ 5:57 am
Jon I don’t know what to say! I did not read anything so inspiring like this blog before! I thank you for this lessons!
Jan 2, 2017 @ 8:31 am
I don’t know how to tell you how inspiring your write-up is to me, Despite all you have been through, you’ve been able to remain positive and surmount it. This just reinforces my belief that everyone and every problem serves a purpose. God bless you and continue to strengthen you.
Jan 2, 2017 @ 8:57 am
How wonder to read such a write-up am awed. The Lord is your strength Jon and you have been a source of blessing to many. I will never ever give up no matter what the time brings.
Jan 2, 2017 @ 10:14 am
This is my Christmas gift!!! Thank you John!!!
Senegal/ West-Africa
Jan 2, 2017 @ 10:37 am
This really shows how committed you are in believing in yourself. This really inspired me. This year nothing is gonna stop me for achieving my dreams. I’m a go getter!
Jan 2, 2017 @ 10:38 am
Jon, thank you so much- for holding my collar & shaking me up. With everything going right in life for me, I have not done a few things that I have been wishing/ wanting/ hoping but not doing so far. I am punching that “resistance” in its face and will get cracking!
Thanks for the wake up call!
Raja
Jan 2, 2017 @ 10:49 am
Thank you.
Jan 2, 2017 @ 10:59 am
Jon,
Wow. Just wow. Not only is your life story incredibly inspiring, you’ve certainly found your calling as a writer. A friend passed your story along to me and I’m so grateful for that. I can’t wait to share it with the world. I read it once and will continue to reread it as the wisdom you share is really profound. Thank you! Your message couldn’t have arrived at a more perfect time!
Jan 2, 2017 @ 12:45 pm
You are amazing!! I have sent this blog to everyone I know!! Thank you so much!!!
Jan 2, 2017 @ 4:27 pm
Jon, you are some writer. You are some man. You deliver. My hat’s off to you.
Jan 2, 2017 @ 8:24 pm
Jon- You are the living embodiment of the Tony Robbins quote, “Life doesn’t happen to us, it happens for us.” Thanks for sharing more of your story and for starting a new side gig blog. All the best. Rob
Jan 2, 2017 @ 9:27 pm
Thank you Jon for this inspirational article and your amazing story. You have inspired me beyond words!
Jan 2, 2017 @ 10:24 pm
I had to swallow a small lump in my throat every now and then, but then I smiled a lot and by the end of the article, I’m more pumped up for the new year. Thank you, Jon. You are an inspiration, not only to bloggers who want to increase their influence but to everyone who struggles.
I have learned more than blogging from you in all the years that I’ve been following you.
Jan 3, 2017 @ 1:46 am
Thank you, Jon, for sharing your inspirational story–that must’ve taken courage as well. The post is so well written, too. It’s a model for inspirational writing!
Jan 3, 2017 @ 3:43 am
Whew. Crying now. You have a way of making things very, very clear. Thanks for these seven life lessons. I’ve never heard anything said with the kind of compelling evidence that you’ve displayed here. You are a force to be reckoned with. Amazing stories. Again, thank you.
Jan 3, 2017 @ 3:53 am
Bok Jon, puno hvala za dijeljenje ove priče. Nema boljeg vremena za čitanje nadahnjujućeg članaka. Nikada, nikada, nikada ne odustati.
Imam puno lošeg iskustva u zadnje vrijeme sa svojim financijama.
Moja vjera u Boga je potpuna. Ti si mi svojim člankom potvrdio da sam u pravu.
Vjerujem da ću i ja naći način i udariti counterpunch.
Pozdrav, Ivo
Jan 3, 2017 @ 7:24 am
Thanks Jon, pure inspiration!
One of the best posts I’ve read in the past 2 years – please constinue to NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP! As those who’ve read your post should do as well!
Have a great 2017!
Jan 3, 2017 @ 11:19 am
Awesome advice! You and Shane Burcaw who has SMA shoukd get together. You have the same drive and kick ass attitude towards your disease and life. He runs a charity called “Laughing at My Nightmare. ” in Pennsylvania.
Jan 3, 2017 @ 12:34 pm
Wow, that’s a pretty incredible story Jon, I was so moved that I read it twice. Thank you for sharing it with us, and you’ve got a new reader for life!
Jan 3, 2017 @ 12:51 pm
Thank you for sharing, Jon. This really moved me. My little sister was in a wheelchair (rare congenital condition … she died of complications 3 years ago, just days before her 43rd birthday). And, I’ve learned to face a few kicks in the face myself (I was hit by a car last February while crossing the street!). In fact, I’m working on a book about finding the silver linings in every challenge we face in life. I’d love to interview you for it!
Jan 3, 2017 @ 1:45 pm
This is awe-inspiring and freaking awesome! Thanks Jon for sharing your story. I’m inspired. I must share this. Thanks again.
Best,
Waliyulah
Jan 3, 2017 @ 1:56 pm
That makes complaining about my life seem futile. I may as well squeeze me lemons. THANKS Jon
Jan 3, 2017 @ 2:22 pm
Jon,
There is a reason why you are my hero!
Jan 3, 2017 @ 2:45 pm
Jon, sir your post as well as your overall outlook on life is as inspirational as anything I’ve ever read during my life. We and in this case primarily (I) have so many things which we simply take for granted. My admiration for you and the way you have handled all your challenges is simply unlimited. I wish for you the very happiest 2017.
I also offer you all of my thanks for this post.
James
Jan 3, 2017 @ 3:03 pm
What a gift. Thank you for sharing your life and what you have had to overcome and continue to have to deal with. And thank you for crafting your story so masterfully that we can apply these principles to our lives.
Jan 3, 2017 @ 3:37 pm
Jon, I admire you no end.
Gene K. Garrison
Jan 3, 2017 @ 4:19 pm
Jon, Since I took (and graduated) from your GuestBlogging course, I’ve had nothing but admiration for you. So happy you’ve started a new blog, one that feels more personal. I look forward to the rest of your posts.
Jan 3, 2017 @ 7:49 pm
Thank you! The perfect message for the exact moment I needed to hear it. “I won’t give up, she whispers to herself”
Jan 3, 2017 @ 7:54 pm
hey jon your story has made me cry! But wait men are not ment to cry are we?
Well fuck what people say is normal, you touch my heart and your an amazing man!
Thanks for sharing this and good luck with your new site!
Shaun
Jan 3, 2017 @ 8:02 pm
Jon: Thank You! Probably one of the most inspiring blog posts I have ever read! I shared it with everyone I know! Bless you sir and I look forward to reading more!
Jan 3, 2017 @ 8:44 pm
You’re simply amazing. That’s it.
Jan 3, 2017 @ 9:15 pm
AHHH!! Jon! I have loved your work forever and always since you made Boost Blog Traffic and I “got to know you” through your emails. But this post? Perfection, man <3 Thank you for being a continual butt kicking inspiration!
Jan 3, 2017 @ 9:28 pm
Hi Jon,
My adopted son is an example of what you describe. He was a terminally ill baby when I got him. Numerous times he ended up on a respirator. More than once, we were prepared by doctors, for the end. He had a month to live when I got him. I adopted him when he was 10 years old. He is 35 years old now. He has cerebral palsy but has had no hospitalizations, other than for surgical procedures he needed. He attends a day hab group and is a loving and caring human being. Thanks for your life.
Jan 3, 2017 @ 9:32 pm
You have me in tears, Jon! I will be sharing this post with my little community on the Blog my husband and I run. It will surely be beneficial to them.
Jan 3, 2017 @ 10:08 pm
Jon,
Your blogs, your classes, your sense of humor, and your commitment to helping others set you apart. I’ve been a fan girl of yours since I signed up for one of your first classes years ago. And I’m still addicted.
Thank you–again–for inspiring me just when I needed it most. I’ve shared your post and will share it with clients and friends for years to come, I’m sure.
Thank you for your courage, and your general bad-assery. 😉
Much love,
Jan 3, 2017 @ 10:48 pm
God bless you, Jon, for sharing, caring, and empowering others that life is worth living and the effort to live, inspite of any inconveniences, pain or sorrow, or heart break. Each new morning is a fresh day, and a new beginning. Praise God, and enjoy it, and sing a song of Thankfulness. Praying for your CONTINUED Blessing in Year 2017. For the sufferings of a guilt free man, who loved us and forgave us, suffered for us, and he loved us so much, and while we were yet imperfect…Read John 3:16-17.
Jan 3, 2017 @ 11:44 pm
Jon,
This is such an inspiring story of yours and god bless you.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 12:46 am
Thank you dear Jon! I asked for a sign – needed something …. something real. Something to talk to my spirit and soul – not just “how to make $” stuff”. So glad I signed up to your newsletter. Your bravery is so bright, your soul shines! First time in ages much needed tears. I will never give up Jon! I will re-read this again & again.
May you be showered with blessings from all the souls you have touched and will continue to touch – may it come back to you 100 fold.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 12:59 am
Jon,
What an inspiring article to start 2017. Hats off to your efforts and accomplishments.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 3:47 am
Hi
Thanks for the fantastic article. Your link 47 Books That Helped Me Become a Millionaire from My Wheelchair. doesn’t seem to be working? Would really like to review these books.
Thanks again for the inspiration.
Radley
Jan 4, 2017 @ 6:02 am
What a Blessing this story is Jon. So Inspirational.
Life serves us curve balls, yet to many of us your life would seem like a never ending shitload of them…You turned them into a game and sat right in the middle saying bring em on… I got the strength to persevere and overcome! #TeamNoExcuses and then some.
As Graham Cooke says every challenge comes with an Upgrade, we just have to ask: Where is the upgrade to this challenge?” And then go after than single mindedly…I.e. focus on the solution and end result not the problem!
I have many times sank into self pity…over a few losses here and there, the “why me” always on my lips. Now I see just how blessed I am and how much time I wasted on self pity!
Change the game and the rules…My New Mantra and Never Ever Quit! Gottitt and thank you! I have shared and bookmarked! 🙂
~Julie Syl
Jan 4, 2017 @ 8:03 am
THIS is THE WAY to talk about your story! This is what I’ve been looking for help with and your masterful writing skills are going to help me share my story powerfully so that it has the impact that makes all the pain worthwhile. THANK YOU FOR NOT HAVING GIVEN UP ‘Mr. One Counterpunch, One Kill’ 😉 What doesn’t kill YOU with one punch can as well lay down on the ground because in a moment it’s going to be OBLITERATED! 😀
Jan 4, 2017 @ 9:26 am
Hi Jon,
As I have mentioned before YOU stood out among the crowd. Your amazing personality, inspiration, attitude and great talent is awesome. Looking forward to read more of your posts.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 11:47 am
Hi Jon,
Great epic post. Very honest. Very much you. (I have been following you and buying your courses for over a year now.)
To change the rules and get unstuck in what seems a hopeless situation, you have to accept it as it is. True. It can be tough for some, also true. Simply saying ” just accept it” doesn’t help. To me, it comes naturally, sort of downs on me, and it is such a relief. Pretty much as you describe it. But, gosh, it’s hard to help someone who wants to escape a reality and keep asking herself all those what if’s. I think your story might be a great inspiration to some to start seeing things as they are.
I must admit that your subtitle “Pain is Power” shocked me in the beginning. Probably because I’m healing from an accident and physical pain has never been a friend of mine. I can’t say that I find it helpful or motivating but annoying and disturbing, keeping me from doing what I want. Emotional pain, on the contrary, is something I’m acquainted with. And I know it made me stronger in a bending-not-breaking-way.
“The degree of success you achieve in life is directly proportional to the amount of pain you can tolerate.” – It might be not true for everyone, though. There are people out there who doesn’t feel emotional pain as we do, and some are very successful in their lives. I think that extreme pain can have a very different effect on different people. But that’s another discussion 😉
It is an exceptionally inspiring post telling us there is always a way out, find it and move on even if it looks scary or crazy. Thank you, Jon.
And congratulations on your new blog. It is very promising. Never give up!
I’m going to share it on social media.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 11:49 am
Ups, the got stuck.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 12:01 pm
Congratulations Jon, You Are Unstoppable! Your writing style is elegant. You made me laugh, you made me cry. You made me take a look at myself and wonder Why? Jon You are absolutely Amazing. Keep up the good works. Cheers! Norm
Jan 4, 2017 @ 5:34 pm
Hi Jon, Great Post. Awesome Share.
You are a long time hero of mine.
I have been teaching a course called Hands Free at Your PC for about 10 years.
You are someone I always introduce my new clients to.
I just shared a link with my LinkedIn contacts. They are mostly Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors with state agencies and Veteran’s Affairs national wide.
Thanks again for your openness.
Sherry
Jan 4, 2017 @ 5:40 pm
Jon,
I love the deep thoughts and messages. Thank you. I’ve learn alot.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 5:56 pm
Great read as I sit here on the couch, feeling sorry for myself. I luckily walked away have broken my neck in the recent past, but dodged a bullet remaining fully able with lots of hardware in my neck and no disabilities. I had the epiphany to counter and succeed however there are still times I get complacent. Thank you for reminding me of what it felt like to be given that second chance. Thank you for reminding me to counter.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 5:42 am
This true story is simply fabulous.
Impossible is becoming Himpossible.
This is beyond perseverance, pride and passion.
I am amazed to see the manifestation of this soul.
Thank for sharing.
Jai Ho!!!
Jan 4, 2017 @ 6:46 pm
Jon, this touched and inspired me. I didn’t know your whole story. I’m a special needs mom and then became disabled myself with dystonia six years ago. I couldn’t even sit in front of my computer for a year. I’m better but chronic pain is a daily thing.
I am blogging but I do get discouraged and downright overwhelmed with all the stuff that has to be done. I get scared for the future but after reading this there is no reason to give up. I’ve subscribed to your lists.
Thanks again.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 7:06 pm
Jon,
This is incredibly inspiring!! Tim Ferriss brought me here and I’m so glad he did. Thank you for opening up and sharing with the world!
Jan 4, 2017 @ 7:29 pm
What an amazing story! Thank you for changing my life.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 7:40 pm
Powerful perpective on life. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Jan 4, 2017 @ 7:44 pm
I woke up feeling sorry for myself, sick, in pain and wondering how I was going to ever get on top of my New Years to do list.
Then a dear friend sent me this article. I’ve read your story before, but I NEEDED this today.
I simply cannot imagine what it takes to do what you do Jon. You are beyond inspiring.
Thank you for the shift catapulting me out of my ‘poor me’ dispair. Perspective is huge.
I’m going back to work with a different attitude and a shiteload of gratitude!
Thank you, Jon!
Jan 4, 2017 @ 7:55 pm
This is the best story I’ve read in ages. Thank you for sharing and I will be sending this to as many of my friends as I can.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 8:01 pm
This is the first blog story I’m sticking with to the end, word for word. Your strength inspires me Jon. I will never, ever give up. God bless you.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 8:54 pm
You’re my hero Jon. This blog post truly moved me. Thank you for sharing your story and I’ll look forward to reading your content in the coming months.
Jan 4, 2017 @ 9:01 pm
Truly inspiring. I love the punch, counterpunch analogy. Look for the opportunity in every difficulty. Words to live by. Thank you.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 12:29 am
Thank you so much! I tell myself I hate my life but don’t know what to do to change it. The big obstacle was the abusive husband so through fear & courage, I left. I haven’t seen my opportunity that you speak of. I feel like I’m getting lazy just trying to be peaceful & cope. Being a single Mum is hard & my ex still tries to have power over me but I know what I have to do next now so thank you!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 1:17 am
You are a warrior Jon, a true testament to the limitlessness of the human potential. As a Marine corps veteran, I have many brothers and sisters who are struggling after the wars, I myself was there for a while. Your warrior spirit is a lesson to all of us, one I would love to work with you to spread throughout the veteran community. You are a gift Jon.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 2:01 am
Bro. I am inspired If you can turn tables then i have no excuse to complain. Thanks big time your post opened my eyes
Jan 5, 2017 @ 2:09 am
I wish I could meet you personally Jon and share a drink with you or a simple meal. Reading this just made my life better and I feel that even now that I am typing this that it made me a better person just being able to communicate with you. If you need anything hit me up. I may be thousands of miles away but I know a good person when I see one. More power to you Jon! ^_^
Jan 5, 2017 @ 3:54 am
Nerds are great, aren’t they?
Thank you very much for being a lighthouse to so many people that probably needed to hear your message, Jon.
Despite my age (51) I haven’t had too many punches in the face for character building, but I can definitely say that I have learned from the few that have hit me hard.
Your comments about how looking at alternate possibilities is so powerful! I forget to do that a lot, assume things have to go a certain way without looking at the “crazy” alternatives. Almost every time I have done that in my life the fear of the thing disappears completely because the alternate solutions or options are always there, even if some are a bit… sub-optimal.
Your message is absolutely on point and very refreshing to hear. Right now I am working on a project that has stopped me for 2 solid months; I haven’t even been able to look at it right now. But I will never, never, never give up on it.
I have worked on improving my skills related to this project steadily for 6 years and have never given up, I’m quite proud of that.
Thank you so much for reminding me of this in such a memorable way.
I ain’t givin’ up now, and going to get off my ass and get going again. No more movie marathons to avoid doing what has to be done… Don’t they say it takes 10,000 hours or basically about 10 years to master anything? Well, I’m just a few years short of full mastery!!!!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 4:25 am
Thank you, Jon! All the best for you!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 5:18 am
An amazing story! It has left me with guts to face my challenges productively!
Thanks for being there, Jon!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 5:31 am
I have never ever in the last 14-15yrs left a message on any article. Though there few times I wanted to, today I genuinely want to thankyou! Come at the right time! Thankyou! More power and love to you! You have sparked the warrior in me! It touched my inside! “I WILL NEVER, EVER GIVE UP”
More power and love to you brother!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 6:27 am
Jon, simply awesome. You managed to make me feel grateful for the curveballs I’ve had.
Sometimes it takes a total stranger to jerk you (me!) into embracing the craziness and sheer bloody-minded persistence.
Thanks, and you rock!
Jan 6, 2017 @ 8:45 pm
Wow Paul. My maiden name is Leicht and we are located in the greater New York area. Where are you located if you don’t mind my asking?
Jan 9, 2017 @ 8:46 am
Hi Margaret,
I’m spread between Germany and Canada, with a proper move to to Canada sort of underway (slowly). I took my wife’s name to be otherwise 🙂 … would be good to see if there are any dots to connect!
Will look and see if there’s a way to swap email contacts here without pasting the addresses on open forum!
Paul
Jan 5, 2017 @ 7:10 am
Wow! Such an inspiring story. Thank you for sharing your truly uplifting words Jon.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 7:37 am
Hello Jon
Out of nowhere comes thoughts and a most infinite and powerful mind that communicates at a Soul level. Sharing and offering up thoughts and words that not only inspire but remind us that we all have an angelic nature that goes beyond any perceived human challenge.
We are blessed to have you on the planet at this time in your broken body that cannot imprison your mind and spirit Showing us what a profound Mission and Purpose you have chosen to live and offer up as a deep Healer to billions of people who often allow our minds to experience entrapment in a circumstance so trivial when considered within the realms of your code of living for this life
Bless you Jon. May your light shine so bright we are blinded by your Spirit that so lovingly shares your Giant Heart with us
We are most humbled and Grateful
Thank you
Faith
Jan 5, 2017 @ 9:08 am
Jon, how wonderful of you to write and share your incredible story… I am so privileged to have met you when you lived in our building in Mazatlan I just wish I had taken the time to get to know you better, Your amount of determination and your ability to write about all of this is very motivating, Thank you and all the best Jon.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 10:32 am
Thank you so much!!! This was so beautiful and inspirational. All my love for you. Luisa from Colombia, hope to know you sometime!!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 10:38 am
You are such an inspiration at a time when so many feel their situations are so challenging. You are unstoppable! So glad you’re sharing your lessons learned from your misfortunes and suffering, as challenging as they’ve been, because you teach the power of grit, courage, breaking through fear, and making choices that support rather than defeat you.
Hope you’re writing a screenplay because this is the type of story that can wake people up, if they choose to experience life from a winning perspective. You can inspire more to win rather than whine. Blessings to you and look forward to see your story on the big screen to help in waking up the world to the possibilities of choice, instead of feeling victimized.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 10:54 am
Only thing missing is that you didn’t give God the glory. God holds us in the palms of His hands and gives us everything . Your story is inspirational and I admire your spirit but please give God the glory He deserves. God bless you.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 11:52 am
Brilliant read. You nailed it. Thank you. Life is back in perspective 🙂
Jan 5, 2017 @ 1:34 pm
Thank you for sharing. You have inspired me . I was a bit down recently due to many things happened in my life. May God bless you!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 3:02 pm
You’re a true hero man. Thanks for inspiring so many people and for going through whatever you were going through to become who you are.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 3:16 pm
What an inspirational message! I will forward this to all my children and grandchildren. Growing up, ordinary changes in life can seem monumental to those who are experiencing it. Your story puts everything in perspective! I tell my grandchildren often that what you see as a challenging event today is really only a road block. Like any road block it requires a detour. That means to continue our journey we must map out a new route. If we can see life’s challenges simply as road blocks, we will always find a new way to further our journey through life. Your story proves that point.
Thank you for sharing it!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 3:19 pm
If i could only explain how much I needed this. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I’m so thankful
Jan 5, 2017 @ 4:00 pm
I feel humble.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 4:46 pm
Wow! A perfect piece of inspirational write up just when I needed the most!! I always believed in this philosophy of never giving up, and/or trying out the crazy options when needed, yet recently I have come to a point of my life, I have become scared, weak and broken. You thoughts, your struggle and your path gives me hope, I am so much thankful for that!! Thank You, Jon!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 5:24 pm
You are such an inspiration. I know it’s been said before, but I will say it again: Your mother was a hero, you are a hero. Everyday. This was more than an article, it is a manifesto. A testament to the power of the human spirit that reminds us that no matter who we are or what our limitations, we CAN achieve something. It’s true that not every dream is achievable, but it is certainly true that sacrifice and dedication can get us all closer than we ever thought possible. Thank you.
Jan 5, 2017 @ 5:37 pm
Jon, you are absolutely right, and your post tells what we all forget: having nothing to lose is the strongest point of all. I am going to send this to several who need to hear this message as well as keep it on my desktop for a daily dose!
Jan 5, 2017 @ 5:49 pm
Jon, thank you so much for this uncreadibly inspiring article..! I have got it from my friend on FB, started to read.. and couldn’t stop untill I finished. You are an amazing person and I am truelly impressed with your achievements, your strength and all your charizma! This is exactly what I lack right now.. and just today I felt so bad about my life so far.. depressed with my current work, which gives me no satisfaction, just takes my nerves and energy.. killing my enthusiasm and self-confidence..I feel so miserable, although I don’t want to.. You encouraged me to change it. What a coincidence, that the article shown up on my wall exactly today! I was also “lucky” to spend more time with books, than with cool kids, when I was a child. And you are right – it was a blessing. But still somewhere on a way I got lost.. Thank you for what you wrote above. Your story is just fantastic and be sure – you do change people’s lifes! Please, do not stop writing, you should do that for living. It is so light and addictive. I wish you all the best and I will be following your blog for sure. <3
Jan 5, 2017 @ 8:05 pm
Your excellent newsletters have helped me more that any other source in starting a website & blog. Your clever, entertaining, witty style is amazing, even moreso considering your challenges.
I had the same situation with Medicaid after getting cancer three years ago, finally let it go knowing that I would never be able to make ends meet without more income. Now I’ve published a book & my site/blog is to let the world know about that and my teaching classes on medicinal herbs. Many natural herbs & supplements helped me overcome cancer & regain my health without chemotherapy & radiation, despite the doctors trying to convince me that would be impossible!
Sending love & gratitude to you!
Jan 6, 2017 @ 3:02 am
Fantastic story, Susan, – thank you for sharing. Wishing you and your mission well. Have a wonderful New Year.
Jan 6, 2017 @ 4:05 am
Your story puts tears in my eyes and touches me deeply. Your strength and courage in my opinion dwarths that of Anyone I know. Thank you for sharing your story!
Jan 6, 2017 @ 5:18 am
Fucking brilliant, well written and concise. A fascinating perspective with a giant message from a fellow who makes weakness his strength, changing the paradigm of what is success and along the way teaching everyone who takes the time to read how to be a better person.
Read it a few times and embrace the message, never, ever, give up. My hat is off to you. Standing applause.
Jan 6, 2017 @ 5:34 am
Thank you, Jon for sharing this story!! It is absolutely inspirational and empowering! Makes me file like to stop feeling miserable about life adversities and move my ass and ‘counterpunch’ them!
Jan 6, 2017 @ 6:16 am
Jon! You are soooooo cool! Do you know “I bet he drinks Carling Black label’ ad’s from 80’s British TV? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Toek6CdldC8 – I read your post and these were the first words that popped in my head 😉
Jan 6, 2017 @ 9:09 am
Jon, you are a true inspiration. Your story needs to be read and shared.
Jan 6, 2017 @ 10:29 am
Jon, your life is an inspiration. You really have a strong will to live and it seems unbelievable what you have gone through. I have no words to describe. Your life is a great lesson in overcoming adversities. Wish you the very best friend.
Jan 6, 2017 @ 12:26 pm
Dear Jon,
I was diagnosed with FSHD seven years ago. I immediately took on the same attitude that you have embraced, and I wish I could make others understand that every moment we can choose to live with abundant joy. I have always taken lemons and made lemonade. This is no exception. I went to Greece for ten days this summer. I just started graduate school at 62. I have a future to live on my terms.
I have posted your article to Facebook.
Thank you for saying this better than I can.
Margaret
Jan 6, 2017 @ 12:26 pm
Dear Jon,
I was diagnosed with FSHD seven years ago. I immediately took on the same attitude that you have embraced, and I wish I could make others understand that every moment we can choose to live with abundant joy. I have always taken lemons and made lemonade. This is no exception. I went to Greece for ten days this summer. I just started graduate school at 62. I have a future to live on my terms.
I have posted your article to Facebook.
Thank you for saying this better than I can.
Margaret
Jan 6, 2017 @ 12:43 pm
The winner, by unanimous decision: Jon.
You’ve quite the iron chin, my friend. Keep up the good fight! And, for what it’s worth–you’ve struck a deep chord in this physically disabled man, and left me with an enhanced determination I can’t thank you enough for..
Bless you, man. And keep on punching, Z
Jan 6, 2017 @ 12:54 pm
thank you for the inspiration, your story is touching and motivating. l learned a lot from it and l believe and pray God keeps on giving you strength and courage
Jan 6, 2017 @ 1:01 pm
My new hero!
Jan 6, 2017 @ 1:06 pm
Hi Jon! Here’s a follow-up comment after reading all these posts. I’m thinking perhaps you should have run for President. This is the kind of inspiration needed.
Jan 6, 2017 @ 1:35 pm
This is the most awesome inspiring thing I have ever had the pleasure of reading!! You are unbelievable!!