Archive for Growing Up Disabled

Florida BLOGCON 2013

| September 30, 2013 | No comments

This is my second year attending the bloggers conference held in Orlando Florida. The conference has been going on for three years now. My first year was last year and I attended with my dad and brother and this year I attended with my brother.

I have to say that last year was awesome but this year was even better! The conference was held at Full Sail University which was a really great venue. Bess, Katy and the team did a great job putting the conference together.

The day started with me getting ready and waiting for my brother to pick me up so we can head to Orlando. When we got to the conference and signed in, we decided to look around and see what was going on. We were just going along when I suddenly hear someone call my name. I turned around and it was Katy, she wanted to say hello and that it was great that I came back this year. The keynote speaker (Pat Williams, VP of Orlando Magic and a motivational speaker) was about to begin so we headed over to grab our seats.

Bess, founder of conference, got on stage to welcome everyone and say a few things. One thing she mentioned was that this was the third year of the conference. She asked everyone who attended last year to stand up. Well, being in the wheelchair I did not stand up but I raised my hand, to my surprise Bess said that she knew I was there. She was the first person to ever do that and I was so glad she did.

The keynote speaker began and blew the crowd away. After that the different sessions started and went to 4:30. I attended many great sessions and had a great lunch provided by Bahamas Breeze. After lunch we had time before the sessions began again. We had choices to check out Google glasses, take a guided tour of Full Sail or to do yoga. The decision was to go on the tour.

The tour was awesome! We had some roadblocks because the tour guide took us though some doors that had stairs only. The tour guide nicely came back and led us through another entrance, while the rest of the group waited inside for us. Great experience and the university is wheelchair accessible for the most part.

After the tour, we went to other sessions until 4:30. We then headed off to a timeshare in Orlando that was family was at. My nieces 1 year birthday was that same day and we all wanted to celebrate before I had to go home sweet home.

One of the big messages we got from the conference is that even though we all have struggles and obstacles, we need to suck it up and keep moving forward conquering our goals and dreams.

I am so excited and can’t wait until next year’s conference but in the meantime we all need to remember to squeak our wheels until ours hearts content!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Growing Up Disabled, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , , ,

Ocala Rotary

| June 24, 2013 | No comments

About a month ago, Thomas got an email inviting him to speak at the Ocala Rotary Club.

This was such an honor and Thomas accepted. He got there not knowing how many people or who he will see. When he arrived he saw his friend Betty Grey and her daughter. They do therapeutic horseback riding in Marion County.

Thomas was showed where he should sit and relax and do a last run through of his talk, while everyone came in. Thomas met the lady who invited him. The meeting started and some business was handled before they called up a lady who introduced Thomas with a little background on him. Everyone applauded and Thomas came up to speak.

Thomas had motivated, inspired and made everyone laugh. One thing Thomas shared was a story called The Race he found on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmfKlXMbTw4).

Thomas mentioned that he is the author of The Squeaky Wheelchair and that he is a motivational speaker who goes around speaking to different groups, businesses, charities, at conferences and events and more. Thomas Moon is available to speak at your next conference, event, business event, nonprofits, church, etc. Contact him at tj@moonscapes.org or by phone at 352-502-5994.

Thomas informs everyone today that it is time to step out of that freaking box they put themselves in and start moving forward. There is nothing that’s truly impossible if you set your mind to it. Looking at the word impossible, you will actually see two words that say, “I’m Possible.”

Get off that hinny of yours, step out of the box and keep squeaking your wheels until you conquer your goals and dreams!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Employment, Growing Up Disabled, Health Issues, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , ,

The Ability to Overcome

| May 15, 2013 | No comments

Ocala Magazine did an article about empowering people with disabilities and Thomas Moon was one of their people they wrote about.

Normally Thomas goes after things and asks to be put in the paper, etc but this time, the Ocala Magazine approached him about doing an article with him in it. What a great honor! People just are frustrated with their own life being messed up, that they bring you down because they think it will make them feel better. The truth is it won’t!

Don’t let others stand in your way because when you squeak your wheels, you can’t help but move forward! You can check out the Ocala Magazine article.

article pic

 

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Growing Up Disabled, Living With A Disability, News Story | Tags: , , , , , ,

Bang

| April 24, 2013 | No comments

When I was in foster care, there was this moment that was a bang to my head – literally.

Everyone was getting ready to go out one night and I stepped out the front door. A second later there was a big bang, but what was it you may ask? First let me tell you a little about the house. The house was off the ground and steps led up to the front door. There were no no railings on the steps and next to the steps was a big metal tank, water or something.

Ok, now that you know a little about the house, let’s get back to the big bang.  After I stepped out the front door, I slipped on my jacket that  I had stupidly left on the second to top step. When I slipped, I fell head first right into the metal tank.

Out comes everyone to see what’s going on. They see me lying the behind the tank temporally unconscious. They lift me up and see that I have blood gushing out of my face right of my eye.

They rushed me inside to clean me up and see how bad it was. They ended up having to take me to the emergency room, where I got stitches to close up the opening above my eye. I made it of course or I wouldn’t be here today writing this blog and living my awesome life. Could I be a ghost haunting the world with peace?

The reason I told this story to tell you that the stupid mistake I made almost came back and really bit me in the butt and took my life. Stop doing the stupid/ridiculous things in your life and start living your life to the greatest it can be led. People today are getting themselves into bad things that ruins you are life even more every day. Many drink to much, do bad drugs, smoke, complain all the time how others are ruining your life and more.

Time to get off your butt and start going after the life you always wanted, while busting through the obstacles trying to stand in your way.

This story I shared with you above,  scared the crap out of me and got me thinking about my life. Squeak your wheels and show the world that nothing can stand in your way of climbing the mountain of life!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Growing Up Disabled

Helping/Making a Difference in the Community

| April 14, 2013 | No comments

Do you understand that how you help your community, is what helps this world go round?

There are many different causes and people in the community that could use help. Are you helping with anything, cancer causes, helping people with disabilities, helping children, etc?

I put on The Second Annual Strike Against Cancer event on April 6. This was a great event that raised $546 to help many in our community battling cancer. The attendance was only about 25 which could have been a better number. We did a 50/50, door prize drawing, drawing for homemade cupcakes and of course we bowled and struck against cancer. Next year this will be an even bigger and better event and I know you will show up.

You need to understand the importance of getting off your butt and helping others. We can all make a difference in this world.  Get up and make that difference. You can do things to help as simple as coming to walk the track at Relay For Life/Checking out all the booths. I am not saying that you need to kill yourself doing all kinds of fundraisers, but do something every month to make a difference somewhere in our community.

This is the end of excuses and it is time to start Squeaking Your Wheels!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Growing Up Disabled, Living With A Disability

Motivation Is Key

| February 1, 2013 | No comments

Motivation is a big thing because without motivation we would all be lumps on a log. Everyone should listen to something motivational every single day for at least one hour. You will find yourself happier, going after your dreams and I bet you that without a doubt you will have a smile on your face.

Motivation has to do mainly with the mind. When you are motivated, you can’t help but have positive thoughts and feel like you are unstoppable and nothing will stand in your way. The mind is a powerful thing; it can make you or break you. Have you ever wondered how people like Tony Robbins, Zig Ziglar, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill Gates, got where they got and have what they have? A major part of it is because they had an unstoppable mind and thought about things they wanted and would not stop until they got it! Don’t think thoughts like, I hope I am not late or I will never be able to afford that, because all you are doing is putting it into existence.

Speaking of motivation, Thomas Moon is working on setting up many speaking engagements and will keep everyone informed of upcoming events.

Thomas Moon has been working hard behind the scenes and is still working hard, to write his book, “The Squeaky Wheelchair.” He has also recently come out with a motivational CD, “Taking a Step Back.”

You can now go to the “Book and Motivational” link to purchase the book, “The Squeaky Wheelchair” and the motivational CD.

Happy thinking and when you get Thomas’s book and CD, don’t forget to tell others about it so they can purchase their very own. Squeak, squeak!

Category: Being Disabled, Growing Up Disabled, Shameless Commerce | Tags: , ,

Happy New Year 2013

| January 1, 2013 | 2 comments

With the New Year starting, it is time to start looking closer at your life’s future.

Most people stick them self in a box and do nothing to get out of it and stay out of it. This includes you working all the time and not spending enough time with friends and family, complaining that things keep going wrong but doing nothing to stop it, letting your health go to shambles, etc.

I tell you now, from this point forward, no more sitting on your butt and complaining. Taking action and keeping positive thoughts is what’s going to make you successful and live a life that you are proud to call your own.

Did I graduate college, start my own business and become president of Ocala Business Leaders by sitting on my butt and feeling sorry for myself/thinking success will just come to me, or did I go after what I wanted and didn’t stop until I got it? (Please leave your answer below).

This year I have many new things planned for my life including going full force on motivational speaking, blogging, advocating, growing my business, finding that special lady, traveling more and much more.

I am available to speak at your next conference, event, business event, nonprofit, church, etc. Contact me at tj@moonscapes.org or by phone at 352-502-5994.

I wish you a very happy and successful new year. May you realize the more important things in life and start focusing more on that. Squeak those wheels until you have a better future you can really be proud of!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Growing Up Disabled, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , ,

Thanksgiving Experiences and Lessons

| December 13, 2012 | 2 comments

Thanksgiving has come and gone.

When the pilgrims came to America, I believe they were looking for freedom to live their lives and a better future, but somewhere along the way we lost that vision. Rather than caring about everyone and making a better future for all, we are hurting each other, spend less time together and have gotten a selfish attitude that it’s all about me. Well, let me tell you now that it is should not be all about me but All About WE!

I had an awesome Thanksgiving with family. We ate great food, talked, played games and shared what we are thankful for. I said I am thankful for friends. This time of year is the time of year family and friends get together because it is the holidays.

Ok I get the greatness of the holidays and people caring about each other, but what about the other twelve months of the year. Does that mean we can become crappy people and stop caring/helping others? No.

We have also become a work society. Most people spend at least five days a week getting ready for work, going to work, coming home from work, relaxing and going to bed, then spending the next day doing it all over again. What about living your life to the fullest and spending it with friends and family? Not to put down jobs and the working world down, but it hurts us more than it helps.

Let’s get back to the vision of America and stop being stupid! Squeak those wheels for a better future!

Category: Being Disabled, Growing Up Disabled, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , ,

A Life Event That Burned

| November 24, 2012 | 2 comments

On November 8, 2012, I was cooking me some lunch in the microwave, good ol’ manicotti, and I was taking the food out of microwave to sit on lap to move to the table to eat, when it slipped out of my hands into my lap. I almost screamed. I fought hard to get my pants off while shaking like crazy.

I called 911 and the ambulance took me to Shands Hospital, the ambulance guys, nurses and doctors were so nice and I gained a new respect for them. (I was told that I was one of the best patients they had in a while). They said I would be ok and that my burns would heal in two weeks.

This event made me look at my life and see that I have become lazy/set in my ways. I needed to really change because my house was becoming so dirty and so bad that I could not invite anyone in. I had some things rearranged to make it more accessible for me and moved the microwave to the table from the counter.

The message for you is don’t burn yourself LOL and make sure you are keeping a healthy and safe life. I know cleaning may be a little tough and takes time, but it needs to be done so do it!

Please share below any comments or stories you have of being burned.

Squeak not only for change but squeak at yourself!

Category: Being Disabled, Growing Up Disabled, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , ,

Hurricane Who Orlando

| November 14, 2012 | No comments

Wearing my leather jacket, burgundy shirt and black pants, I jumped in the Tardis. I decided to take a trip through time to November 2, 2012, where there was the Hurricane Who Convention going on (All about Doctor Who)

After settling in, I headed down to the convention hall where the dealer’s room was open. There was some awesome stuff including a tardis, a few weeping angels and many people were taking pictures of each other wearing their costumes of different Doctor Who characters. People asked to take my pic/a pic with me and it was so cool. The convention was comprised of different sessions and a masquerade party.


Fantastic!
I was so lonely and was looking for a companion to travel in the tardis with me and look who I found (Rose)

People did not care that I was in a wheelchair or that I had a disability. Everyone treated me the same as everyone else, asked to take a picture, talked to me and had a blast. I had so must fun and I learned that if people really wanted to, they could care more about what’s on the inside than what’s on the outside. Instead that is not the case today and people treat people who are different, like they don’t deserve to breathe the same air as them. (BTW it is bigger on the inside than it is on the outside).
Well, I told you how much fun the convention was and hear are a few pictures for you to see.
There was even the cutest little whovian at the convention
This lady with the tardis on wheels won the masquerade costume contest
Don’t blink

The doctor scanning for weeping angels
The universe will explode because two doctors are together at the same time
Remember that there is more in this world then to worry about others, money, and other things that ruin this world. Begin to make this world a better place, kind of like The Doctor does, Squeak, Squeak!

Category: Being Disabled, Disabilities, Growing Up Disabled, Living With A Disability | Tags: , , , , , ,
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