Diana Nyad is such an inspiration to myself and to so many others. She has just jumped into the Ocean in Cuba to begin her quest to fulfill a 36 year old dream – to swim from Cuba to Florida – approximately 103 miles.  No one has ever done this except a long time ago using a shark cage. Diana is going to do this without a cage. But what’s interesting is that sharks, although still a very present danger, are not her biggest threat at this point – the life threatening Box Jellyfish are. For the past 3 years her attempts have had to be aborted because of these creatures. But she didn’t let the dream die despite these aborted attempts and near death experiences. She persisted and didn’t mope – she allowed herself time to grieve about the events but then got back in the saddle and started planning for the next attempt – but she took what she learned from each event and worked to find a solution. Then she tried again, learned more from the incomplete (not failed by any means – define failure in terms of what Diana has done) attempt and went to work going for another solution. She sought out experts in Box Jellyfish and they’ve come up with another way to protect Diana’s face – last year they created a body suit that protected her body but she was still pummeled by these creatures around her neck and face – painful and life-threatening. Now she has a mask to wear at night which will make swimming so much harder BUT hopefully will keep these little buggers from inflicting their massive stings on her with their venomous poison.

What can we learn from Diana Nyad? So so much…..

1) That you should NEVER give up on a dream no matter how old you are. You really CAN do anything you want.

2) People will stand beside and behind you if you just continue to keep your integrity intact and abide by the rules – whether they be rules of nature or rules of humans. Do NOT step on others to get to your goal.

3) Don’t let “problems” stop you – don’t use them as your excuse – use them as stepping stones to find solutions, knowing that all solutions that are found will benefit humanity (not just you) no matter how small they seem.

4) You will not find a solution if you look at it from the problem mindset. It takes a different mindset to switch to solution mode. Start thinking about what the possibilities are to conquer x, y, z.

5) Never give up but allow yourself time to “get over” and experience any grief you might have about not achieving the goal at that particular time.

6) Talking about what you’re doing and what you want to do will help others even if you don’t know it. There are people out there going through difficult times that may just hear your story and your perseverance at just the right time to help them keep going. You do not have the right to give up on your dream. God (Divine Mind) put this idea and goal into your soul for a reason. It is yours! So take hold of it and achieve it.

7) Much, much more…what have you learned from her or from anyone who has been your inspiration? What keeps you going?

Keep following this amazing woman for the next three days and just know that she WILL walk onto the shores in Florida after over 60 hours of swimming.

Terrie

It’s amazing. We are at the end of the 30 days honoring people who inspired me! If you’ve been following along I hope you have thought about what personally inspires you – what are those qualities that you respect and admire and would like to incorporate into your life. You may not want to do the exact same thing as someone (for example, I do not have a desire to swim from Cuba to Florida as Diana Nyad went after). But I certainly would love to cultivate that dogged determination and work ethic required to train for and endure the hardships encountered along the way of life. She personifies what I’d like to be – never wavering, never failing, never giving up, etc. That is what you want to look at when you feel someone has inspired you. Write down their wonderful qualities and make your “admiration” list and see how you can integrate them into your own personal life.

Well – I saved the best for last. Today’s “Inspiree” is Dr. Anne Kunath – founder of the Church of Today and assistant to Catherine Ponder (first lady of New Thought). But that description is nothing – empty sounding. Dr. Kunath walks the talk as they say. She has taught New Thought concepts (metaphysics) for decades before “The Secret” came out and brought the Law of Attraction to everyone’s attention. She was raising awareness of how the Universe works since the 1970’s. She is persistent, charismatic and brilliant!

I met Dr. Kunath “by accident” in 1985 when I went to a class at her “weird” church simply to have something to do (I had just been “dumped” from a relationship and the woman I hung out with was going to this “metaphysics” class – I had no idea what the heck “metaphysics” was – I only knew I didn’t want to be alone that night). That was the night that changed my life forever. I sat there in the audience as Dr. Kunath explained the concepts and although I didn’t understand all of them, things were clicking inside of me – “this sounds like what I’ve believed for so long but never knew anyone else thought the same way”. We got to talk to her after class and bombarded her with question after question. I came back on Sunday…and the following Wednesday and on and on and I was a regular. I even had the pleasure and opportunity to go to an International New Thought Alliance Annual conference in Calgary, Canada and I have to say it was the best and most rewarding conference I’ve ever attended. After that, Dr. Kunath allowed me to become intimately involve in the church and I began my life outside of medicine and the military. That may sound funny but it really was the first time I’d had anything to do that wasn’t related to either medicine or the military. It really does take getting used to but I adapted pretty quickly and she gave me so many opportunities to lead others as I learned more and more about New Thought. I was definitely addicted.

Then, as things go in the military, I was transferred to the East Coast. And although we stayed in touch, I missed her teachings (in those days they didn’t even have the internet and so I couldn’t get any “e-learning”. Many years went by and to make a very long story as short as possible, the Universe brought me this opportunity to get a job in San Antonio – I’ve told that story many times so I won’t repeat it here but others would say it was a miracle for certain. I say that it was the Law of Attraction in its purest form. I ended up back here in San Antonio and after another “accident” I learned about teleseminars and Dr. Kunath and I began Getting Unstuck, LLC and Everyday New Thought Membership center.  What a great 7 years it’s been and although I now am officially on my own because she has taken a well-deserved retirement,  Dr. Kunath is in my soul and mind and a part of my every day existence.

She has the patience of a Saint (even though she doesn’t think she does) but more importantly, she has the ability to captivate you with stories and possibilities for your life. She’s a member of Mensa which you could figure out after one conversation with her  but she’s not egotistical or egocentric. As I said, she really does practice what she preaches. She applies the principles of the Universal Laws in everything she does.

She has a persistent determination and whatever she tries she achieves. She is just a truly amazing person and I am so honored to have met her, worked with her and be her friend. Anne – you are phenomenal and I just adore and respect you more than you can possibly imagine. I also know that there are a ton of people out there who feel the same as I do.

Thank you for everything you have given me, been to me and exemplified in your life. You are truly my hero!

Terrie

 1 day to go! And tomorrow’s inspiree is the most special of all 30 so stay tuned for that one.  But today is for Mr. Albert M Conerly (and all other prisoners of war, especially those who endured the Bataan Death March (April 1942). Lest we ever forget what our Soldiers & Marines endured in the name of freedom and the “American Way” – like so many other atrocities in our history, we cannot forget what these young men went through.

I happen to know Mr. Conerly’s nephew and I’m so proud of him having just completed the memorial Bataan Death March marathon. But as he said, that was nothing compared to what these men had to go through – 10 days of marching without food and water. At what price, freedom? Ask yourself this question when you’re thinking about complaining about anything today (try to remember it no matter when you start to “complain” but at least do it today).

The POWs (Prisoners of War) that lived through the wars are such an inspiration for their fortitude and determination. Sure you could say it’s “just” survival of the fittest – but you know what – they could have given up and died like so many did. But these men suffered at the hands of the enemy day after day, hour after hour. And they had the courage to continue to live and fight back – even if it was only internally. They were skin and boned, ravaged with illness and injury – yet day after day they clung to life. Could you do that? I don’t think I could so my level of respect goes up even more knowing that they were able to do things I could never even fathom. They are the true heroes of our life. They are the reason we’re free to do what we want. We complain because we don’t have this or that but what did they have – not a darn thing – perhaps just memories of family and loved ones. Some fierce desire to continue living. There had to be something significant for them to hold on to, helping them get through that time.

Can you imagine marching in the sand and mountains without food or drink for 1 day, to say nothing of 10 days. They helped each other get through it I’m sure. There is such a sense of “family” amongst the military (one of the things I miss the most) that they helped each other make it. You know, I can’t even begin to describe what it must have been like. Remember that this 10 day trek was not just down the street or in some National Park – it was in a foreign country and they were at war. So they didn’t know what lay ahead of them at all. Imagine the fear and anxiety they experienced. But they continued on. Remember that when things aren’t going “your way”. When things appear “rough” – ask yourself – “are they really that bad or can I accept them and let the good come out of them. What would those Soldiers and Marines do in my shoes?” Ask yourself that and see if your attitude and action don’t change. I bet they will.

Remember these brave souls and all they went through – for us! I certainly cannot do any justice to them with this short post but wanted to let them know that I am proud of them and more importantly, very grateful for all they went through for my family and my future! Thank you all! And Tom I’m so proud of your completion of the event Sunday. You Rock!

Terrie

Yes that’s Ellen (as we know her) – it’s nice to be so well known that you can go by one name isn’t it? Ah yes, fame – I could always be “Dr. Terrie” – that seems to be the thing now-a-days – like “Dr. Phil” or even “Judge Judy”. Ha.

But let’s get back to inspiration. Ellen has inspired me for the longest time. She has dared so much and yet has continued to be herself during all her rise to fame. She hasn’t let anything go to her head in any way. She’s still down to earth and open and honest. Something very rare in a celebrity today.

She went on the air when Oprah was still there – some pretty stiff competition I’d say.  But she was a different kind of celebrity than Oprah and I truly believe her love for entertainment is what made it appear to be more of a collaboration than a competition. Ellen is a comedian who has guests on her show whereas Oprah still had that reporter image, looking for/at a story. There’s plenty of room in this world for everyone and these two proved it. Ellen took that big brave step when she first went on and she persevered because she appeals to such a great group of people who love to laugh and live right along with her.

I’m inspired by her sense of humor and ability to let people know that she cares about them and this is the way she can bring a little light and sunshine into their lives every day.

But I’m more inspired by her openness and willingness to profess her being gay and risking a great deal by letting people know. But it hasn’t seemed to dampen her popularity at all – in fact her honesty and courage may have increased it. You always hear the phrase “the courage to stick to their convictions” but what does that really mean? I think Ellen has definitely proven what it means. She doesn’t hide behind pretenses – she wants to be herself and let her life be there for others to emulate or ignore -whichever they choose. But she believes in herself and the right to having your own sexuality and being able to express it without judgment. She stood up for that. She did not hide behind any cloak (or in the closet as they say). She risked her career to stand up for what she is and what she believe in. What more can you ask in a person.

Ellen lives as I’d like to live – in openness and honesty. And her humor and love for others is something that impresses me more than you can know. I want to be like Ellen when I grow up!

Terrie

Have you ever known someone who’s seemingly had a black cloud over them – or bad luck just follows them no matter where they go? If you didn’t know better, you could have said that about the Pavlats (Jack, Barbara and Suzanne). Within about a month their lives were completely turned around and not in a way that anyone would wish on their worst enemy. What happened to them in that short period of time would have turned lesser mortals into pessimistic, bitter and angry people. But not them! They tackled the problems at hand with their usual positive attitude and the usual question – “Ok so what can we do about it now?”.

Within that short period of time, Jack had been in the hospital having surgery for colon cancer (in fact, he was in the hospital when they told him that his daughter, Suzanne, had been diagnosed with neuroblastoma), Suzanne was diagnosed, and then Barbara was also diagnosed with cancer. How much more can the odds be stacked against one family?

I met this family in a way that only the Universe can orchestrate and I will be forever grateful. Suzanne became the Wind Beneath My Wings and is my inspiration for everything I do (especially the non-profit organization I want to develop).  Every time I saw them they were filled with gratitude and the smiles across all their faces were the broadest smiles you could ever imagine. How they did it, I never knew. Because it always seemed as if the odds were against them. But they never let that show. They always maintained the positive “it could be worse”  or “it’s going to get better” attitude that you only see (and know is sincere) in people you consider Saints. And I have to tell you that I think that these three people qualify for saint hood in my opinion.

I was fortunate enough to get to visit St Jude Children’s Research Hospital during a weekend when the country DJs from all around the country were there for their annual workshop. So I got to see everything they did. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that. And Jack, Barbara and Suzanne were there because they were part of the panel of patients/families that talked with the DJs. So I got to see inside the Target House there too. That is where I fell in love with elephants (I was told they were the international symbol of friendship but I’m not sure that’s correct – I do know they have a complex social structure) because there are wonderful statues of elephants outside the house.

After Suzanne’s passing Jack and Barbara continued to be avid supporters of St Jude – they didn’t just fall off the face of the earth in their grief – they expressed their immense gratitude by recording their story for St Jude to use in their radiothons, they volunteered at the hospital and the Target House. They were all over, supporting  St Jude in memory of Suzanne. They gave back in gratitude just as I encourage all of you to do every day no matter what is going on in your life.

If Jack and Barbara can remain positive after finding out that their precious little girl had a deadly disease and then had relapses just when they thought she was on the verge of a remission (not just once but twice), you can remain positive at least for today, don’t you think. I know that I try to remember what they went through every time things don’t seem to go my way or get overwhelming.

To continue with faith and hope in the face of immense adversity and tragedy is the mark of a true hero in my book. And Jack and Barbara fit that bill completely. I honor and respect their resilience and hope that I can garner a tiny bit of their phenomenal qualities.

Thank you for being in my life, Jack and Barbara. You are a great inspiration to me.

Terrie