Posts

MESSAGE #1543 I HAD A NIGHTMARE

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Last night I had a nightmare. I dreamt that I was at an event and my iPad, camera and laptop were missing. I was getting pretty stressed since they are not cheap items. I woke up and was relieved when I realized it was just a dream, but I wondered why I had such a stressful dream.

I now know why.

Last night, before going to bed, I was looking for a used book I recently purchased. But I couldn’t find it. I checked everywhere it could be including my car. No luck. I was disappointed and it obviously affected my sleep.

Now I know what you are thinking, what does this blog entry have to do with me?

A lot.

Research has shown that what you think about in the 30 minutes before bed gets replayed in your mind over a dozen times while you are sleeping.

Do you watch the news with crimes and world tragedies? Do you watch scary movies? Do you think about all the work you have to do when you get to work in the morning?

What I normally do before bed is read some inspirational books and/or meditate.

Oprah said, “Your focus is your future.”

Focus on positive things and you positive results.
Focus on negative things and you get negative results.

PS Happy Birthday to one of my she-roes, the great Rayna Dubose. Checkout my video with her here.

MESSAGE #1384 BASKETBALL PHENOM TURNED AMPUTEE

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , , , /by

Yesterday, I talked about one of my she-roes, my mother.

Today, I want to talk about another one of my she-roes, the great Rayna DuBose (ABOVE at the Sports Legends Museum in Baltimore with yours truly).

For those of you who complain about the little things in life, after reading today’s message, there’s a good chance you will never complain again.

From Rayna’s website:

What started as a dream in 2001 quickly turned into a disaster for Rayna DuBose, a highly recruited student who was granted a full athletic scholarship to play Division I Women’s Basketball at Virginia Tech. Rayna entered Virginia Tech in 2001 as a part of the women’s team which was in the Big East Conference at the time. By the time April 2002 had approached, Rayna was struck with a deadly bacterial disease known as meningococcal meningitis, which then led to 96 days in the UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia, with collapsed organs, non-functioning kidneys which had her on dialysis, in a coma, liver problems and worst of all no blood circulation to her hands. She was a vegetable fighting for her life. Soon enough the day came when all four of her limbs were amputated and she became a bi-lateral amputee.

After the pain, therapy and what seemed like torture, Rayna returned back to Virginia Tech in the summer of 2003 to return to her normal college life as if nothing had ever happened. With a year off from school in 2002 she still remained active, taking on-line classes and staying a part of the Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball team by serving as a Student Assistant Coach, still traveling and being a part of the team. In 2003 she received the Most Courageous Award at the Men’s Final Four in New Orleans. In 2005 she received the Wilma Rudolph Award. She was also given the 2009 National Ethnic Coalition Organization Congressional Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and was the 2009 McDonalds Athlete of the Day for the Military Paralympics. Rayna has also made appearances on HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, CBS Sports, the CBS Early Show, Cayman Islands news, and local news stations. Just recently completed the USA a2 sitting volleyball training camp.

I caught up with my inspirational friend earlier today on Facebook (Yes, she uses Facebook—in fact Rayna and I text all the time).

The first time I met Rayna, I asked her what she did first thing in the morning.

She said, “Put on my arms and legs.”

Anyone feel like complaining about the fact that it’s “Monday”?!?

Today, Rayna told me, you have to appreciate what you have because you never know what can happen. She has actually said that becoming an amputee was the best thing that ever happened to her because now she is helping others.

Wow.

DuBose also said that the secret to life is to love yourself. I like that.

I asked Rayna if she thought anything was possible.

“EVERYTHING is possible depending on how bad you want it and how hard you will work for it.”

That’s mental toughness.

Rayna does not feel that she is handicapped. It just takes her a little longer to do some things. She even drives when she goes out with her friends!

Sports and life is not about what happens to us, it’s all about how we respond.

So the next time you feel like complaining or feel that you can’t do something, remember Rayna’s words.

MESSAGE #1232 MY SHE-RO

/0 Comments/in , , , /by


I just got off the phone with one of my she-ros, Rayna DuBose.

Rayna was a top basketball recruit and received a full scholarship to Virginia Tech. After her first season, she contracted a type of meningitis and within 24 hours, she had all four limbs amputated. Now she is a motivational speaker.

She said that was the best thing that ever happened to her.

Why?

Because now she is helping other people.

A pretty bold statement from someone who, wakes up and first thing in the morning, puts on her arms and legs (prosthetics).

We cannot control our situations but we can control our attitudes towards them.

Be like Rayna.

MESSAGE #710 WHAT ADVERSITY?

/0 Comments/in /by


“Obstacles can’t stop you. Problems can’t stop you. And most of all, people can’t stop you. Only you can stop you.”
-JEFFREY GITOMER

I had a powerful night last night.

My radio show on Overcoming Adversity (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Game-Set-Life/2009/07/06/Overcoming-Adversity) featured the great Bob Ryland, the first black professional tennis player, Jennie Murphy, a legally blind student-athlete and Rayna DuBose, a Division I full-scholarship basketball phenom, turned amputee, turned motivational speaker.

If you think life is difficult for you, think again. It’s all perspective.

Bob Ryland lived through segregation and had to sit at the back of the bus and use separate public drinking fountains and restrooms.

Jennie Murphy is legally blind and wears hearing aids. She plays four sports and is quarterback when she plays football. Her receivers clap loudly to tell her where to throw the ball.

Rayna DuBose was a superstar high school basketball player and got a full-ride to Virginia Tech. After her freshman year, she contracted a form of meningitis and within 24 hours, lost everything. She had her four limbs amputated. A year later, she went back to Virginia Tech, finished up her degree and was assistant coach for the basketball team. Now she is a motivational speaker.

If you look at these stories, life seems difficult.

But these are three of the most optimistic people I know.

They don’t believe they have disabilities or went through hell. They feel it is what it is and your attitude determines how high you go.

Will you have pressure?

Of course, but it’s what you do under that pressure that counts.

What gives you pressure? How will you handle it?

No pressure, no diamond.

Thanks for reading.

MESSAGE #704 READ THIS MESSAGE AND YOU WILL NEVER COMPLAIN AGAIN…

/0 Comments/in /by

“I’m just like everybody else.”
-RAYNA DUBOSE, motivational speaker

I was so excited about this blog entry that I couldn’t wait until tomorrow to post it…

I have a new hero (she-ro); her name is Rayna DuBose.

Rayna had a full-scholarship to Virginia Tech to play on their women’s basketball team.

In 2001-02: A 6-3 center, DuBose played in 13 games … Never missed a collegiate free throw attempt (15-15) … Scored in double figures four times … Had 10 points in collegiate debut against Northwestern State (11/24) in LSU Crawfish Classic …Tallied a career-high 13 points in only ten minutes against Vermont (3/20) in WNIT Quarterfinal.


High School: Averaged 15.5 points, 13.1 rebounds and 3.0 blocks her senior year for Coach Marcus Lewis at Oakland Mills H.S., in Columbia Md. … Led the team in scoring and was the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,067 career points … Was named one of the top 30 centers in the nation by All-Star Girls Report.

Impressive, right?

Wrong.

DuBose was hospitalized at Montgomery Regional Hospital with meningococcal meningitis on April 2, 2002, just over a week after the Hokies had completed the basketball season. This rare disease is a bacterial infection that leads to inflammation of fluids surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The next day she was airlifted in critical condition to the University of Virginia Medical Center where she would remain for the next 97 days. She spent three weeks in intensive care before being upgraded to fair condition.


In early May of 2002, she underwent a series of surgeries in which doctors amputated parts of all four limbs due to tissue damage caused by the infection. On July 8, DuBose was transferred to Good Samaritan Hospital, a Baltimore rehabilitation facility near her home in Columbia, Md. Soon after, she returned to her home and began regular visits to the rehab facility where she later would be fitted for prosthesis for her arms and legs.

After the pain, therapy and what seemed like torture, Rayna returned back to Virginia Tech in the summer of 2003 to return to her normal college life as if nothing had ever happened. With a year off from school in 2002 she still remained active, taking on-line classes and staying a part of the Virginia Tech Women’s Basketball team by serving as a Student Assistant Coach, still traveling and being a part of the team.


In 2003 she received the Most Courageous Award at the Men’s Final Four in New Orleans. In 2005 she received the Wilma Rudolph Award. Rayna has also made appearances on HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, CBS Sports, the CBS Early Show and local news stations.

Rayna recently graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Consumer Studies and plans a career in motivational speaking about priorities in life, determination, perseverance and never giving up. She hopes that one day she can spread the smile that she wears everyday with others.

“Everyday I sit around and listen to other people complain about small things like: writing a paper, their boss yelling at them, or parking spaces. The only thing I can do is listen because I am simply thinking about how I am going to improvise to put these studded earrings in my ears or how I can find a away to get my gas cap off to pump my gas or maybe even how I am going to slip into my legs in the morning when I wake up.

After a long 97 days of being laid up in a hospital bed, I knew the day I awoke from a three week coma that my life had taken a turn for the worst and the best. I realized I was about to be given a second chance not only to live, but, at life. I then realized that the way I was living before (partying real late, drinking and not attending class) had to stop. I knew that I wanted better for myself and my family.”

I spoke to Rayna today and was amazed at her optimism and love for life.

Rayna told me, “I am happier now than before my disability. It was really a blessing in disguise. I was an athlete before, but didn’t have any drive. Now I do because I want to help others. Basketball helped me because whatever I do, I try to be the best, or at least give my best. I don’t feel that I have a disability, it just takes me longer to do things. Usually when I hang out with my friends, I am the driver. I had it all and lost it all within 24 hours, but I’m happier now and the sky’s the limit.”

With a winning mindset like that, who can doubt that Rayna will become a great motivational speaker and whatever else she decides to be.

Don’t miss my internet radio show this Sunday night at 8pm. The topic will be overcoming adversity and my special guest will be Rayna DuBose. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Game-Set-Life

Thank you Rayna and thanks for reading.