For Individuals who Learn through Watching and Listening, I have created a video presentation of this article. Click on this link to listen to and watch the presentation.
Video Presentation of the Article
Below is the full article
“Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live and Answering the Call that Never Came”.
I share the below with you to encourage you to not give up on your process and journey in the pursuit of your destiny.
Your process and journey of discovering a way to use your gifts, talents and abilities after your brain injury and stroke. More will be revealed, as it has been to me, by not giving up. Be encouraged my friend. The struggle will be worth the gain of your destiny.
On February 6, 2007 I created Second Chance to Live.
I did so in response to Answering the Call that never Came.`
Scroll Down to read the History of Second Chance to Live
In October 2009 I wrote an article, Answering the Call that Never Came.
in October 2013 I wrote an article, Backstory of Second Chance to Live.
Below these 2 articles, I share Resources created to Answer the Call that never Came.
Background to Answering the Call that never Came
10 years to obtain my undergraduate degree and 3 1/2 years to obtain my graduate degree as a rehabilitation counselor.
As I shared in my series, My Journey thus Far I had a long 20 year history of getting and losing jobs, both non-professional and professional jobs, despite my diligent hard work and best efforts.
Answering the Call that Never Came
For many years I waited for someone, a group, an organization, a church, an employer or a relationship to recognize my worth and value.
You see, I bought into the notion that I had to obtain some type of stamp or validation of approval before my gifts, talents and abilities could be deemed to be valuable/worth while.
Sure I used my gifts, talents and abilities, but I did not feel as though my gifts, talents and abilities were that significant. As a result, I spent many years waiting for the call.
When the call to use my gifts, talents and abilities, through my educational and vocational experience, did not come I felt inadequate. I felt insignificant. I felt “less than” the individuals who had been recognized and validated for their gifts, talents and abilities. Consequently, I became discouraged and despondent.
Thankfully, with time and by not giving up, my discouragement and despondency motivated me. Motivated me to be begin to be open to solutions and to look for those solutions.
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” Helen Keller
Through being open to solutions, I had a spiritual awakening. I realized that the call I had been waiting for, but never came from outside of me was already inside of me. I just needed to find a way to express my call.
In my awakening, I realized that I no longer needed the approval or validation of an organization, church, employer or a relationship. Approval or validation to answer the call to use my gifts, talents and abilities.
Through my awakening and, by grieving what I could not change, I realized I had choices. I realized that I no longer needed to wait for an organization, church, employer or relationship to value what I considered/consider to be essential.
With my realization, I started on a quest to find a way to use my gifts, talents and abilities to pursue what I valued and considered important.
Through my quest, I discovered that I could answer the “call” through writing and speaking.
On February 6, 2007 I started on the journey to answer the “call” that was in me. The “call” to encourage, motivate, empower and share hope through Second Chance to Live.
Today’s Thought
Today is the first day of the rest of your life. What your “call” is on the inside of you. Your call, regardless of your disability or limitations, is waiting to be realized. Be bold and courageous. Take one step at a time.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Trust the process. Trust a loving God. Trust yourself and your ability to learn from the process. More will be revealed with time.
“Once we take the first step and keep walking before long we will be able to look back and see how far we have come on our journey, because we did not give up.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Don’t Give Up!
More will be revealed to you with each day. Your will discover how to use your passions. You will live your dreams. And if you have a hard time believing, believe because I believe.
And please remember you do not have to wait to be discovered. You do not have to wait to be validated. You have already been validated. You have already been called to learn to use your gifts, talents and abilities.
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Insist on yourself, never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but of the adopted talent of another you only have an extemporaneous half-possession…Do that which is assigned to you, and you can not hope to much or dare to much.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.
“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to life the life that you have imagined…you will meet with success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau
I feel led to share the below with you to encourage you to commit. Commit to answering the call that is inside you. Commit to your dreams and your destiny, whatever that entails.
For many years I felt like someone all dressed up with “nowhere to go”. I felt this way after diligently applying myself to my studies and different vocational pursuits.
In October 2013 I wrote an article to share the BACK STORY of my creating Second Chance to Live to Answer the Call that Never Came.
Backstory of Second Chance to Live
10 years to obtain my undergraduate degree and 3 1/2 years to obtain my graduate degree as a rehabilitation counselor. Working in both non-professional and professional jobs to no avail.
As I shared in my series, My Journey thus Far I had a long 20 year history of getting and losing jobs, both non-professional and professional jobs, despite my diligent hard work and best efforts.
My Two Departments of Vocational Rehabilitation Experiences
While a working as a DVR counselor with the Florida Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, I was made a client. That outcome did not result in a suitable job placement and I was then terminated as a client.
While in Florida, I applied for SSDI 2 times, however both of my applications were denied.
After being fired from several more jobs, in Florida, I was recruited to North Carolina to begin a job, as a CRC (certified rehabilitation counselor) in workers compensation.
I was fired from from this job 4 months later. Following that firing and an unsuccessful job search, I reapplied with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) here in North Carolina.
I also applied for SSDI benefits a 3rd time.
After completing the evaluation and testing process with the NC DVR I was deemed to be unemployable by my counselor and the North Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Soon there after, my 3rd application for SSDI was approved by the Social Security Administration. I began receiving benefits, I believe in January 1999.
Not Giving Up!
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.
Beginning my Quest to Find a Way to Give and My Computer Experience
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 working with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd level tier technical support through several dial-up (not cable or dsl) companies.
Use of my Computers
With my use of the computer, I started to input my poems and articles onto the 1st computer’s hard drive and then re-enter the data of my poems and articles onto the 2nd computer hard drive.
I learned from my experience to store data on an external hard drive and make copies of my poems, autobiography and articles onto floppy and CD discs from my 2nd computers hard drive.
Saved me a lot of time from having to input my data from my 2nd to my 3rd and then to my 4th computer.
Computer Rebuilds and Data re-Entry
As you might imagine I spent countless hours on and off the phone following the computer manufacturers technical support recommendations.
After 2 computer rebuilds, piece by peace, 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. I had to reload the operating program — Windows XP — at the time and re enter all of my data from my past 2 computers.
Getting a New Computer
Several years later I was able to get a new computer, as the one my friend gave me no longer worked. I had to start the process of reloading all the data from the computer given to me to the new computer.
This involved a significant learning curve, but I am glad that I did not give up on the process.
The Journey Began
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 many 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 sought to create a weblog. After researching several blogging engines, I decided to create my weblog using WordPress.com to host Second Chance to Live.
I created Second Chance to Live 7 years after being told I was unemployable and began receiving SSDI.
When I first started to write — as with my book — I was very cerebral (like Data in Star Trek — The Next Generation). As I continued to write, I began to combine the emotive with the cerebral to my writing style.
Subsequently, I had comments from readers who told me that what I was sharing with them in my articles was what they wished they could say.
I helped them to put into words what they wished they could say and communicate.
I share my process with you to encourage you to not give up on your quest on to discover how to answer your call and use your gifts, talents and abilities.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas A. Edison
Commitment to the Process once I Created my Account on WordPress.com
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 blogosphere, writing, publishing, answering emails and comments.
Then for the next 6 months, I spent 50 – 60 hours a week continuing to learn about the blogosphere, write/create, answer emails and comments manage my weblog. I also wrote letters to send to contacts both domestically and internationally.
For the next 3 – 4 years I spent 45 – 50 hours a week. Then (at the writing of this article in 2013) for the past 3 years I have spent between 40 – 50 hours a week writing / creating, answering emails and comments.
I also continued to send email introductions of Second Chance to Live, both domestically and internationally. I continued to learn how to be a more effective as a creator, writer, and communicator.
Transition from wordpress.com to having my own website
4-5 years after hosting my Second Chance to Live on wordpress.com a kind friend and webmaster helped me. Helped me to move from hosting my website on WordPress.com to another blogging platform to have my own website (real estate).
secondchancetolive.org was birthed at that time and has been going strong for the past 9-10 years or so.
After transitioning from secondchancetolive.wordpress.com to my secondchancetolive,org there was a tremendous amount of time and energy spent.
Time and energy spent setting up secondchancetolive.org on the new theme, with categories, widgets, menus, indexes, etc.
Domestic and International Outreach and Service
I also sent letters to introduce and share the mission and vision of Second Chance to Live.
Click on the blue link to see some of the organizations reached and served domestically and internationally.
A New Format — The Beginning of Video Presentation Creation of my Articles
On July 29, 2011, with the encouragement of a friend I created a YouTube Channel and started to make video presentations of my articles for people who learn through watching and listening.
Click here to view a playlist of my now 446 video presentations created from articles.
During the course of the 80 months (at the writing of this article in 2013), I have written 1130 articles and created 168 video presentations.
Update July 24, 2022
I have written 2093 articles, created 450 video presentations, written 12 eBooks, created 14 Keynote presentations and 40 Inspirational posters.
In April of 2013, I presented a workshop in Anchorage, Alaska and then in May in a workshop in Seattle, Washington. In a few weeks, I will be giving a keynote presentation in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
I realize that I would not have been able to or be asked to be a part of these conferences if I had not followed my dreams. I do not know what is around the corner.
I am thankful for the opportunities that I have been given during the past 80 months (at the writing of this article in 2013). I look forward to future possibilities, as doors open for me to be of service.
My experience has taught me that nothing in my development has gone to waste as I have used all of what I have gained through my experience.
Update August 17, 2022
In the time since my first workshop in Anchorage, Alaska, I have spoken at other conferences and in different locations.
During the past 35 months I have spoken 117 times with upcoming presentations scheduled through 13 different keynote presentations. Click on this link view.
Today’s thought
In my experience, I have come to realize that I can trust the process, a loving God and myself. I have come to realize that everything that I considered to be disappointments and disillusionment was preparing me.
Preparing me to use my gifts, talents, and abilities to answer my call in ways that work.
What appeared to be setbacks were actually set ups. I share the above details with you, for this reason. You may have also experienced disappointments, disillusionment, setbacks, aggravations and adversity.
Don’t let that discouragement and those disappointments stop you from answering your call. Don’t Quit. Keep moving forward as you pursue your call. More will be revealed to you as more has been revealed to me.
My Encouragement to You, as I need to Remember
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 and disillusionment.
You will see that the adversity that you experienced has empowered your call.
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.
To read an in-depth account of my journey and process, please click on this link: In Depth About Page
The Results of Answering the Call that Never Came and the Efforts of my Back Story
Below is a Comprehensive list of Resources created since I began Answering the Call that Never Came in February 2007.
2026 articles, 446 video presentations,12 e Books, 40 posters and 14 keynote presentations all to encourage a holistic (body, soul, spirit, mind and emotions) and ongoing brain injury recovery process.
Scroll down this page and click on the various links to open these resources.
As you view these resources and questions come to mind, please ask. All questions are good questions and welcomed.
My Email Contact is: [email protected]
Serving the International, as well as the Domestic Brain Injury Community
Serving Individuals in the United States, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Russia, China, Hong Kong, India, France, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands and South Africa.
Translate Second Chance to Live into Your Language
To give non-English speaking and reading visitors to Second Chance to Live I have created a tool. A tool to translate Second Chance to Live into a variety of languages. Below are a series of language links. To translate Second Chance to Live, click on the desired language link.
When the translation page opens click on the small blue box opposite https://secondchancetolive.org/. Doing so will then translate Second Chance to Live.
Albanian Arabic Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Simplified Chinese Traditional Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Estonian Filipino Finnish French Galician German Greek Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Indonesian Italian Japanese Korean Lativian Lithuanian Maltese Norwegian Polish Portuguese Romanian Russian Serbian Slovak Slovenian Spanish Swedish Thai Turkish
Second Chance to Live Author’s Autobiography in Bullet Points
Articles, Video Presentations, eBooks, Slideshow Presentations and Posters
2092 Article/Video Presentation Links within 12 Peer Support Categories
Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 450 Video Presentations Playlist
12 Power Point Presentations Public Speaking Availability
Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 49 Video Presentation Series Playlist
Second Chance to Live 12 eBooks for Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery
Second Chance to Live — 20 Brain Injury Recovery Slideshow Presentations
41 Posters to Inspire, Encourage, Motivate, and Empower
Building Your Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 30 Video Presentation Playlist
See Testimonies and Endorsements for Second Chance to Live
Information on the Power of Neuroplasticity
Stroke, Brain Injury and the Benefits of Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity, Small Successes and Learning/Relearning Skills/Skill Sets
Nine Habits to Benefit from Using the Principle of Neuroplasticity
How I Use Neuroplasticity to Create Neural Pathways/Brain Reorganization
Childhood Stroke (Brain Injury) and Healing our Brain and Body
Locations and Presentations
In the past 35 months, I have spoken at 117 events publicly, with upcoming events covering thirteen core topics.
Public Speaking; Book Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA — Second Chance to Live
Click on the Below Links to Open and View these Keynote Zoom Presentations
Finding Purpose and not Giving Up after Brain Injury
Hope and the Progression of Living our Best Life after Brain Injury
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After Brain Injury
Facing Adversity and Having Options When Life Does not Make Sense
12 Ways to Enhance Our Lives, Well-Beings and Relationships after a Brain Injury
Living with Long Covid-19 Invisible Disability — Hope, Encouragement and Support
Brain Injury and The Power of “I CAN” in an Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery Process
Second Chance to Live and Succeeding Beyond my Special Needs from 10 Years of Age
Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live — Answering the Call that never Came
Empowering Current and Future Professionals in Brain Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation
Believing in Ourselves through Self-Advocacy — A Guide to Owning Our Power after Brain Injury
I Am More Than My Brain Injury Zoom Presentation (Full Presentation)
I Am More than My Brain Injury Zoom Presentation in 3 Parts
“I Am More Than My Brain Injury – What Led me to this Awareness Part 1” Zoom Presentation
“I Am More than My Brain Injury — Understanding the People we Interact with as Individuals living with Brain Injuries” Part 2 Zoom Presentation
“I Am More than My Brain Injury – Defining and Creating My New Normal” Part 3 Zoom Presentation
Understanding the Impact of Invisible Disabilities (Full Presentation)
Understanding the Impact of Invisible Disabilities in 3 Parts
“Understanding the Impact of Invisible Disabilities — The People We Interact with as Individuals with Invisible Disabilities Part 1” Zoom Presentation
“Understanding the Impact of Invisible Disabilities — Acceptance and Discovering a New Normal Part 2” Zoom Presentation
“Understanding the Impact of Invisible Disabilities — Why do I Feel so Misunderstood and Shunned? Part 3” Zoom Presentation
Categories Designed to Encourage and Empower Individuals in their Recovery Process
Click on the category link. scroll down the page and clink of the desired article or video presentation. As you have questions, please ask.
Category Building Self-Esteem after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Brain Injury Recovery An Ongoing Process — List of Articles
Category Self-Acceptance after a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Celebrating Success Following a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Creating Hope after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Finding and Knowing Peace after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Finding Purpose after a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Fulfilling Dreams after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category My Journey Living with a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Overcoming Bullying after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Peer Support after Brain Injury — We are Not Alone — List of Articles
Category Relationships Following a Brain Injury — List of Articles
The Global Brain Injury Peer Support Network
The Goal — Being a Work in Progress
Neuroplasticity, Small Successes and Learning/Relearning Skills/Skill Sets (Article)
Neuroplasticity, Small Successes and Learning/Relearning Skills and Skill Sets Video Presentation
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After Brain Injury and Stroke Zoom Presentation
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After Brain Injury and Stroke Power Point Presentation
My Process and Journey with Neuroplasticity
I have been using different martial art disciplines for the past 26 years to create new neural pathways and brain reorganization (neuroplasticity) through repetitive mirrored movements.
Benefits
To improve and enhance muscle memory, coordination, agility, body awareness, hand/foot/eye coordination, precision, dexterity, spatial orientation and balance on both the right and left side of my body.
Develop Your Own Program
For more information to develop your own programs to create new neural pathways and brain reorganization click on the below link.
Neuroplasticity, Small Successes and Learning/Relearning Skills and Skill Sets
My Program
In 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2021 I was fortunate to have had several individuals record presentations. To see my progress of development from 2013–2021 scroll down.
Because of a shoulder injury and Covid I was not able to record a demonstration in 2019 or in 2020.
The Process and Goal
The goal has been to improve my ability to mirror the same abilities on both the non-dominant side (left side) of my body with the dominant side (right side) of my body.
As in the below demonstrations, I engage both sides of my body (my hands, arms, elbows, legs, knees, and feet).
I engage both sides of my body to improve my gross, fine motor skills and muscle memory. I engage both sides of my body to improve.
Improve my dexterity, hand-eye coordination, agility, balance, stamina, precision, focus and awareness. I improve these factors by engaging both sides of my body to improve my skills and abilities.
I engage both sides of my body to improve and enhance the quality of my life and well-being. I engage both sides of my brain and body to create to answer my call. To pursue my dreams and to be of service.
Create Your Own Program
In the event that you have not begun, I would encourage you to create a program. Create a program that will empower you to create neural pathways and brain reorganization. Brain reorganization through repetitive mirrored movements on your dominant and non-dominant sides of your body. Brain reorganization to improve and enhance your quality of life and well-being.
Neuroplasticity through Martial Arts 2013
Neuroplasticity Demonstration August 2014
Brain Injury, Neuroplasticity and Personal Gains August 2015
Balance and Coordination through Repetitive Mirrored Movement 2016
Brain Injury Recovery and Repetitive Mirrored Movements 2017
Improving Our Brain and Body’s Ability to Excel after Brain Injury 2018
Due to a shoulder injury I was unable to create a video presentation in 2019. Due to Covid I was unable to create a video presentation in 2020.
Stick Fighting, Knife, Western Boxing &Wing Chun Drills
Created September 2, 2021
Transition Drills to Improve Agility, Focus, Speed & Coordination
Created September 6, 2021
Hand Eye Coordination and Precision Drills using Fine Motor Skills
Created September 12, 2021
Using upper and lower body coordination and movement to improve focus, agility and balance of upper body and lower body martial art skills. Created February 14, 2022
Below are 12 eBooks (PDF files to Read) and Download Links for Each of the 12 eBooks
Living with a Brain Injury eBook Putting the Pieces in Place 60 Video Presentations (PDF file)
Being Your own Hero through Overcoming Adversity – Tool for Rebuilding Your Life eBook
Living with a brain injury and Building Self-Esteem and Self-Acceptance eBook
Living with a Brain Injury, Making Sense of Why and What is my Destiny? eBook
Living with a Brain Injury, What Helped Me to Stop being my Enemy and Create a life for Myself eBook
It’s Never too Late to Create Hope eBook
Moving Forward Following a Brain Injury eBook
Living with a Brain Injury and Taking Care of Ourselves eBook
Having a Relationship with Myself and Other People after a Brain Injury Video Presentations eBook
Celebrating Success after a Brain Injury Video Presentations eBook
Don’t Let Anyone Tell You (Including Yourself) that… Video Presentation e Book
In my desire to be of service and make the information available, I decided to offer my 12 eBooks as a free download.
Living with a Brain Injury eBook Putting the Pieces in Place 60 Video Presentations
Living with a brain injury and Building Self-Esteem and Self-Acceptance eBook
Living with a Brain Injury, What Helped Me to Stop Being my Enemy and Create a Life for Myself eBook
Living with a Brain Injury, Making Sense of Why and What is my Destiny? eBook
Being Your own Hero through Overcoming Adversity — Tools for Rebuilding Your Life eBook
It’s Never too Late to Create Hope eBook
Moving Forward Following a Brain Injury eBook
Living with a Brain Injury and Learning to Take Care of Ourselves
Having a Relationship with Myself and Other People After a Brain Injury Video Presentations eBook
Celebrating Success after a Brain Injury Video Presentations eBook
Introducing the “Avoiding the Trap of Our Brain Injury e Book
Don’t Let Anyone tell You (Including Yourself) that…Video Presentation e Book Download
A Selection of 40 Posters Created to Inspire You and Me with Hope and Empowerment
Our Facebook Community — You are Welcome to Join
Several years ago I created a Face Book Community, The Building Your Life after Traumatic Brain Injury Community. I would invite you to join our community by clicking on this link and asking to join.
The Building Your Life after Traumatic Brain Injury Community
Past and Present Organizations Using Second Chance to Live as a Useful Resource
Publications and Radio Programs hosting Second Chance to Live to Empower Members
You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however, I maintain ownership of the intellectual property AND my articles, video presentations and eBooks are not to be considered OPEN SOURCE. Please also provide a link back to Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. I look forward to hearing from you. More Information: Copyright 2007 – 2022.
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