Hello and welcome back to Second Chance to Live. You are always welcome at my table. Today’s post is a special edition because today’s entry mark’s the 200th article to be published with in Second Chance to Live. Because this entry is a special edition I will depart from my usual focus to share some bits of trivia, my process as it relates to Second Chance to Live and the vision I have for Second Chance to Live in the next year. Thank you for being apart of my process. Your presence energizes and inspires me as I write each article for Second Chance to Live. Thank you my friend.
Second Chance to Live was created on February 6, 2007 at the encouragement of a friend. My friend is a university English professor, who believed my material, as he posited was ripe for a web log. He stated that I had a unique and inspiring message to share with the world and that I get busy. Consequently, I began my quest to find a web blog engine that would work best for me. Subsequent to my research and inquiry I made the decision to sign up with WordPress.com. As a point of interest in case you are considering starting a Web log, WordPress.com has been wonderful. The staff and support, as well as the volunteers in the forums have always been top drawer. They have always been attentive and kind to me. Thank you Mark, Matt, Judy and all the other support staff that have enhanced my blogging experience. You all Rock! I would strongly recommend WordPress.com.
The title for my web log, Second Chance to Live was taken from my email address, which was changed from muay3thai (my primary martial art, muay Thai), at the encouragement of my Sensei. My Sensei encouraged me to change the name of my email address to reflect my mission. He gave me a list of suggestions for a new email address and secondchancetolive stood out to me, hence the name of Second Chance to Live. Thank you Sensei. After I set my account up with WordPress.com I set out on the daunting – at least for me – quest to understand the bloggosphere. In the first 6–7 weeks of operation I spent between 60-70 hours learning about the world of the blog, writing post (5-6 each week) and introducing Second Chance to Live to brain injury and related organizations throughout the world.
The process was slow, but consistent as I got up to speed with my understanding of blogs and how to present myself to the blogging community and to web sites around the world. I have grown and matured as a writer ever since I started Second Chance to Live. I wrote a book before I ever considered creating Second Chance to Live. My book is registered with the US copyright office, but has not been published. The title is, Table Topics for the Soul – Journey to the Heart. When I say I have grown as a writer I am making reference to being more emotive and less cerebral. I am learning how to connect my heart to my head as I write entries for Second Chance to Live. I spend between 3-5 hours developing each of the posts that I create and publish within Second Chance to Live. The inspiration for the articles that I write comes from my relationship with the God of my understanding and through a relationship with myself.
I am learning how to cultivate a relationship with myself as I embrace all of me.
I am a traumatic brain injury survivor who has lived with an invisible disability for over 40 years. Consequently, I have lived in a world that has frequently misunderstood and maligned my presence because of a lack of information. I have obtained an undergraduate degree in Theology with a minor in Physical Education / Recreation from Oral Robert’s University and a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Kentucky. In between my undergraduate and graduate degree, I attended Seminary at Asbury Theological Seminary for one year. In addition to my undergraduate and graduate degrees I have nurse’s training on the LPN level and have complete EMT training and certification. I have a working knowledge and understanding of the funeral and cemetery industries.
All material presented on Second Chance to Live is copyright and cannot be copied, reproduced, or distributed in any way without the express, written consent of Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA
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