May 28, 2009 is a day I’ll never forget. Usually I don’t remember when people die, but this date I’ll remember forever because it was the day my dad died.
My dad lived in one end of Canada and I lived at the other end and I only saw him every two years since the age of 9.
But in 2009, I saw him three times in five weeks. The first time was because I was participating in a trade show for my business and I spent 12 days with him. The longest amount of time I ever spent with him since I was nine.
When he dropped me off at the airport, I thought to myself that I should get a picture with him, but I didn’t. That is definitely one ‘selfie’ moment that I regret. His last words to me were “go get ‘em tiger.”
Little did I know that that would be the last time I would actually get to hear my dad’s voice and those famous words he said to me at the end of every conversation I had with him.
The second time I saw him was ten days later when I got a phone call from my sister saying Dad had a heart attack and we needed to be with him. We did and spent five days with him while he was pretty much in an induced coma. The nurse woke him up long enough so he could see us for about 30 minutes.
The third time was less than two weeks later when we got another call saying we should come back because he wasn’t going to make it through the night. My sister and I flew back and within half an hour of our arrival he passed away.
In five weeks I was there three times and I found it so interesting to spend those 10 days with him and to hear him say one more time “go get ‘em tiger.”
My life as a burn survivor definitely hasn’t been an easy one and I’m constantly reminding myself that life is worth fighting for. That’s what makes this picture of him boxing in the Pan-Am Games so special for me. It’s a reminder to never give up and to keep the inner fight going.
Many of us will use our tragedies to block ourselves and halt our lives, but it’s up to us to see the gift in them and propel our lives forward.
Here’s three tools you can use from my Perserverance Tool Kit:
- Visualization Tool – Visualize in your mind a 30-second movie of yourself in your “ideal” life & play this movie in your head whenever you’re feeling stressed.
- Musical Tool – play only songs that empower and energize you. Make sure they really energize you to get up and move around. I have one song that I play over and over until I’ve shifted. Some times I play it five times in a row. Whatever it takes to shift from stressed to empowered.
- Video Tool – Google “motivational speakers” and watch videos of your favorite ones.
And remember as I do….
Keep your inner fight going and “go get ‘em tiger!”
Kelly Falardeau has gone from Near-death to Success! She went from being an ugly scar-faced burn victim, to being honored by Queen Elizabeth and becoming an Award-winning International Speaker and Best -selling Author. How did she do it? Contact us today at 888-766-3155 and book Kelly to speak at your next event, and you will hear and see the keys to the secrets she shares. #resilience, #empowerment