In September 2013 I wrote an article Back Story of Second Chance to Live to share what led up to my creating Second Chance to Live. In today’s article I would like to share some of my journey with you, to encourage you to continue with your journey. Build upon your successes and milestones. Keep going and Don’t give up. Your life matters.
“You don’t have to be a “person of influence” to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me.” Scott Adams (American Cartoonist)
“Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.” Habakkuk 2:2 -3 Old Testament
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”Thomas A. Edison (Inventor)
Below are the highlights of my article Back Story of Second Chance to Live, with some additional thoughts.
While a counselor with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, I was made a client. That outcome did not result in a suitable job placement. After being fired from several more jobs, I was recruited to North Carolina to begin a job, which I was fired from 4 months later. Following that firing and an unsuccessful job search, I re-applied with the DVR here in North Carolina. After completing the evaluation and testing process I was deemed to be unemployable by the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Soon there after, my 3rd application was approved by the Social Security Administration and I began receiving SSDI in late 1998.
Although I had been declared unemployable and disabled, I still desired to use what I had to give to people who wanted what I had to give. I wrote a collection of poems and a series of articles. After receiving some back pay, a friend of mine helped me to purchase a computer and I began to discover the world of dial-up technology. During the next 3-4 years the computer manufacture rebuilt 2 computers one piece at a time through my using 1st, 2nd and 3rd level tier technical support through several dial-up (not cable or dsl) companies. As you might imagine I spent countless hours on and off the phone following the computer manufacturers technical support recommendations.
With my use of the computer, I started to input my poems and articles that I had written to the 1st computer’s hard drive. When my 1st computer stopped working I lost what I had written. I then spent the time to re-enter the data of my poems and articles onto the 2nd computer’s hard drive. I learned from my experience to store data on an external hard drive and make copies of my poems and articles onto floppy and CD discs. After 2 technical support computer rebuilds — one part at a time — and much aggravation, I asked some friends if they had a computer they were no longer using. One of my friends gave me an HP computer.
Over the next 3 years I continued writing and developing as a writer. Through my process, I wrote an autobiography and then a book – Table Topics for the Soul – Journey to the Heart. I attempted to get my book published with several publishers – after registering my book with the Library of Congress. I spent nearly $100 attempting to get my book published without success. I continued to write and a year of so later — at the encouragement of a friend – I took the risk to create a weblog. After researching several blogging engines, I decided to create my weblog using WordPress.com to host Second Chance to Live.
After deciding on WordPress.com to use as my blogging platform I spent 60 – 70 hours a week for the next 8-12 weeks learning about the world of the bloggosphere, writing, publishing, answering emails and comments. I also sent letters to introduce Second Chance to Live to organizations domestically and internationally to share the mission and vision of Second Chance to Live. Then for the next 6 months I spent 50 – 60 hours a week continuing to learn about the bloggosphere, write / create, answer emails and comments manage my web log and write letters to send to contacts around the world.
For the next 3 – 4 years I spent 45 – 50 hours a week, then for the past 3 years I have spent between 40 – 50 hours a week writing / creating, answering emails and comments, sending email introductions of Second Chance to Live, and learning about how to be more effective as a creator, writer and communicator. On July 29, 2011 with the encouragement of another friend I created a You Tube Channel and started to make video presentations of my articles for people who learn through watching and listening.
During the 70 months leading up to writing the Back Story of Second Chance to Live I had written and published 1130 articles and created 168 video presentations for Second Chance to Live.
Epilogue:
Since the writing of the Back Story of Second Chance to Live in 2013 I have continued to spend 40 – 50 hours a week seeking to be of service through Second Chance to Live. To date I have written 1330 articles and created 253 video presentation. In early January 2015, I completed and published 2 e Books Living with a Brain Injury — Putting the Pieces in Place and Being Your Own Hero through Overcoming Adversity — Tools for Rebuilding Your Life. My goal has been and continues to be to encourage, motivate, empower and instill hope.
My hope is that what I share will encourage individuals to not give up on their process, a loving God or themselves. More will be revealed to us in time.
Commit to “suiting up and showing up” in your life each day. By doing so, you will be amazed at the things that you can and will accomplish because you did not give up on your process, a loving God or yourself. You will see what you thought was being used for your harm, was in actuality being used for your good. You will see why you needed to learn the lessons that your disappointment, disillusionment and adversity has taught you. You will see how all things have been working together for your good. You will be a blessing to the people who are brought into your life. You will see that nothing in your development has gone to waste.
You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however please attribute me as being the author of the article (s) video presentation (s), and provide a link back to the article (s) on Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you. Copyright 2007-2015.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Have a great day.
Craig
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