I'm Not Stupid, Just Disabled -- How Society Sees Disabled People

Wolfgang Wolf was a freelance copywriter and co-founder of Ogilvy and Mather Direct as well as their Creative Director. 

In 1990, his life made a sharp turn.  He suffered a major stroke and should not have survived.  He shocked the doctors when not only did he survive but was able to do things they said he would never do again; walk, talk, and take care of himself. 




Since his stroke, he has founded a registered charity, got a Bachelors degree majoring in Counseling and is a guest lecturer.

His book, How to Survive (After) a Stroke, is NOT a book of rehabilitation techniques and medical advice.  Rather, it gives invaluable support by sharing stories of numerous stroke survivors about isolation, loneliness, stigma, fear, disability and pain. It is a book that addresses coping skills to move past these negatives.

He is an active blogger and would love to connect with you - especially if you have

Here's How Teachers and Parents CAN Make a Difference

Daniel Blanchard grew up in East Hartford under rough conditions.  He learned how to fight on the street and later used that knowledge to become a state champion wrestler.  This is my SECOND interview with him and if you are a parent, a teacher or a human (!) you can glean secrets from this man's insight and enthusiasm.

Daniel has recently been appointed by the Speaker of the House to the Special Education Advisory Council to Connecticut Department of Education; an incredible honor.  He has seven degrees in education and was also picked by the American Federation as the voice of educational reform.  He is an award-winning author, speaker, and educator.

As a teacher and coach for teenagers, he drives life lessons into them.  He teaches them how to succeed in an imperfect world and never give up on their dreams. He is a key factor in helping them change their lives.

His interview will touch your heart and motivate you to get to know your teenagers on a new level - and relate to them!

Feeling Lucky? is about a teen struggling with life in a violent and frustrating world.  He's

When We Are Rescued, We Often Become the Rescuer

Mary McLaurine is a writer, a poet, and a contributing blogger at Huffington Post. She survived a torturous childhood sexual abuse by her father but learned how to overcome the aftermath that affected her later in life. 

She has much to offer anyone who has suffered from PTSD, sexual abuse, and rejection.  

She is an advocate for organ donation (as a recipient of a kidney after years of dialysis) and therapy animals, rescuing them from their abusive situations.  

You cannot compare someone else's pain with your own.  It is pointless as we only know our own battle of what we have had to endure.  But you CAN be an overcomer and draw strength from your weakest moments.  

It took a lifetime of raw emotion, endurance and determination to assemble her "mosaic."   The most beautiful part is not the multi-colored stones but the dusky, gritty grout that holds all the pieces together and made her unbreakable.  The broken pieces, sharp edges, soft curves, rough surfaces, and smooth stones are beautifully imperfect but they made her strong.  

You will not want to miss her story, especially if you know of anyone who has been abused.  

Dream, Believe, Take Action

Petra Monaco is a survivor.  She endured abuse and extreme trauma which made her the strong woman she is today.  She is an author of two memoirs -  Betrayal:  The Journey - Childhood Memories and the Adult Awakening and Lennon Steps.

In foster care since she was two years old, she repeatedly survived rejection and learned how to forgive.

When her four-year-old son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called urea cycle disorder, it created chaos in his little body.  As a mom, she had to make the decision to save his life with organ transplantation -- THREE times!  

No parent should have to watch their child suffer to this extreme.  But Petra chose to have a positive attitude no matter what!  She is an encourager and motivator and you do not want to miss her interview.

How To Become Your Best Self By Finding Your Passion

Gretchen Crass, owner of GST Fitness and Wellness,is a leading expert in the area of fitness, nutrition, & spiritual health.  She is a personal trainer, nutritionist and lifestyle transformation coach helping people on their journey to become their "BEST SELF!"

Gretchen had a rough childhood suffering molestation and rejection which led to Anorexia.  

She now shares her story with solid advice on how to know your true self.

"The mind is a powerful thing and we need to use it for the greater good rather than against ourselves!"

She is a coach for the Special Olympics as well as a Child Ambassador for World Vision. 

You CAN, You SHOULD, and if you're BRAVE enough....YOU WILL

Marquita Herald is an inspirational author of Resilient Living -- Build Inner Strength and Master Life's Challenges with Confidence and Courage.  

Her book and website of the same name is aimed at inspiring readers to develop the capacity for emotional resilience.

The prevailing view of resilience is that it helps one to "bounce back" from a crisis. Marquita shows us how to "BOUNCE FORWARD."   




Fear and dysfunction didn't run through her family -- it galloped. Through personal experiences and serious research, she now teaches courses on how to exercise resilience in any situation.

Three Keys she shares are:     

When You Wrap Up your Past, you'll Unwrap a Perfect Present

Ben Starling is an author, artist, and boxer.  He is passionate about marine conservation and boxing which are central themes in his upcoming novel.

Ben has a Master of Arts from Oxford University and is Oxford's ONLY ever Quintuple Blue (which is a varsity champion five years running). 

He has both coached and boxed competitively and with an advantage -- he boxed intelligently.  You must listen to his interview to hear his views on how this relates to life and gives you the upper edge!

From losing his partner to ovarian cancer to his passion for saving marine life, Ben's life experiences inspired him to intertwine them into his short stories and his novel.   His passion for life and love are evident in his stories. Click here for the Amazon link.  

His compassion is evident in his interview.

Do you live a fear-based or love-based life?  Listen to his interview to get the answer.



Here are Ben's social network links to contact and follow him

 

They Sold Everything They Owned to Rescue 5 Horses from Unknown Fate

At twenty-six Jackie’s fiancé died and shattered her heart, her world crumbled. Leaving behind a loving family, a great career and fashionable home, she ran away from the tortuous feelings. Landing in Australia she quickly met Noel and married him. Both Jackie and Noel were quite possibly on the rebound! Together they purchased a thirty-three-foot sailing boat and sailed around the world.

Crashing within the first twenty-four hours, Jackie realized life would never be the same again; a floating home with no fridge or hot water, and with a dinghy instead of a car. Suffering self-doubts, she became fearful of her new world.

Not only did Jackie deal successfully with the challenges of her new existence, she also battled with the testosterone fuelled nautical world to become both a professional captain and a qualified maritime teacher. Most importantly, Jackie found herself.

She’s sailed around the world one and a half times and trekked in the bush with five rescued