I sustained an open skull fracture with right frontal lobe damage, a severe brain bruise with brain stem involvement, along with a left leg femur fracture. My traumatic brain injury, right frontal lobe brain injury damage occurred in an automobile accident in 1967 when I was 10 years old.
I created Second Chance to Live 16 1/2 years ago to begin sharing what helped and continues to help me. Help me in my ongoing right frontal lobe brain injury damage recovery process. My tbi and frontal lobe brain injury damage recovery process has occurred over the past 56 years.
I am a rehabilitation counselor, a nationally known speaker, an author, advocate and creator of Second Chance to Live. I encourage brain injury recovery in the mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
Second Chance to Live was created on February 6, 2007.
To see a snapshot of the past 56 years, click on this link:
Bio Information for Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
My Autobiography in Bullet Points
For a more detailed look into my process and journey, click on this link:
Second Chance to Live Author’s Autobiography in Bullet Points
My Contact Information
National and International Impact
Over the course of the past 16 years, the below national and international groups and organizations have used and included Second Chance to Live as a useful resource.
As a resource through my presentations, publications and placement in their resource section. Scroll down to view an updated list of these groups and organizations.
Updated List of National and International Groups and Organizations Using Second Chance to Live as a Resource
Through these groups and organizations, Second Chance to Live has impacted lives in the following countries:
United States, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Russia, China, Hong Kong, India, France, Spain, Finland, Romania, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Indonesia, Belgium, Lithuania, Germany, Greece, Philippines, Japan, Serbia, Portugal, Morocco, Egypt, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Switzerland, Thailand, Israel, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Netherlands, Ghana and South Africa.
Resources Available on Second Chance to Live
Click on this link to view resources available to you and your group and organization
Second Chance to Live Resources to Create Hope Lost after Brain Injury
I am available to give my presentations and share my resources with your group or organization.
Public Speaking; Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA Second Chance to Live
Ability to Translate Second Chance to Live into a variety of languages
In October 2009 and to be of service to my non-English speaking/reading friends I created a tool. A tool to TRANSLATE Second Chance to Live. Below are links to each of the languages represented in the tool. Clicking on the desired language link will open the translator page.
When the translation page opens you will see Google and next to Google: https://secondchancetolive.org/. To the right of my url will be a small blue box. Click on the small blue box and Second Chance to Live will be translated into your desired language. Any questions, ask.
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 Ukrainian Vietnamese
Second Chance to Live and the Brain Injury Association of America
September 29, 2022, Thursday — I received word that Second Chance to Live had been added to the Brain Injury of America’s National Speakers Bureau.
Second Chance to Live added to Brain Injury of America’s Speakers Bureau
Comprehensive history of Second Chance to Live
For a detailed look into a comprehensive history of Second Chance to Live click on this link:
Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live — Answering the Call that Never Came
My About Information created in February 2007
I obtained my graduate degree in rehabilitation counseling in 1990 from the University of Kentucky. Below is a detailed account of my process. For many years I found myself baffled and confused living with what I did not know existed nor its impact.
My name is Craig J. Phillips. August 11, 2022, marked my 55th anniversary of living with the impact of a traumatic brain injury and an invisible disability.
In the event that you find yourself baffled and confused living with the impact of a brain injury and an invisible disability, you are not alone. My brain injury occurred in 1967 when I was 10 years old and before there was much known about the impact of brain injuries or invisible disabilities. What I share below helped me to make sense of the pieces of my experience.
What I share below gave me hope and may also help you to find hope. Find hope in making sense of the individual pieces of your experience living with a brain injury and an invisible disability.
“It is not as important what happened or happens to us, but how we respond to what happened or happens to us.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
“Regardless of your lot in life, you can build something beautiful on it.” Zig Ziglar
In my experience, I have found that the journey is more important than the destination. What I learn along the way, not the destination, is what empowers and changes me for my good, now.
Introduction
Sustaining a brain injury can be likened to scattered pieces of a jigsaw puzzle across a table. As a result, individual pieces may make little sense. Little sense to us as we go about trying to make sense of our brain injuries. I stayed baffled and confused for many years trying to understand and make sense of what did not make sense to me. As I stayed baffled and confused I felt alone, isolated, abandoned and alienated from other people and myself.
Baffled and Confused
I stayed baffled, confused, alone, isolated, abandoned and alienated for many years until I started to become aware. As I grew in awareness, I grew in acceptance. Acceptance of myself as an individual living with a brain injury and an invisible disability. As I grew in awareness and acceptance, I grew in my ability to take action. The action that helped me to find and begin on my second chance to live. The action that helped me to begin to be able to live and follow my dreams.
A Look into my Process and my Journey
My name is Craig J. Phillips. I sustained an open skull fracture after hitting the inside of the windshield in an automobile accident in1967 when I was 10 years old. My open skull fracture resulted in right frontal lobe damage, a severe brain bruise with brain stem involvement. I remained in a coma for 3 weeks, in traction to set my left fractured femur (thigh bone) and then remained in a Spica or full body cast for 5 months. I was able to teach myself how to walk, talk and speak in complete sentences after the accident. Once my external wounds healed the impact of my traumatic brain injury went invisible.
In 1967 there was not much known about brain injuries or neurological rehabilitation. Once my external wounds healed my traumatic brain injury was never again considered to be a factor in my development or my difficulties. Because I was able to teach myself how to walk, talk, read, write and speak in complete sentences the effects of the injury to my brain became invisible and hidden. For more insight into my learning to walk again, click on this link: Finding Craig — Learning to Walk Again Part 3.
Mainstreamed back into Elementary School
Once I was mainstreamed back into an elementary school in the 6th grade I found myself being bullied and teased. I did not have many friends and stuck to myself. In my freshman year of high school, I tried out for the wrestling and track team. My efforts resulted in my becoming part of the JV “junior varsity” team. In high school, there was a social structure of sorts. The “jocks”, “the freaks” and the “nerds”. Kind of like in the movie, The Breakfast Club. I did not fit in with the jocks, nor did I want to fit in with the freaks. This only left the nerds and because I was smart, I felt comfortable being a part of the group called “nerds”.
In high school, I continued to be teased and bullied. The jocks and the freaks, through peer pressure; discouraged other students from being my friend. I think I only had one friend during high school. He was a nerd. In preparation of putting together the senior yearbook, I was asked to write my “last will and testament” concerning my experience in high school. In the yearbook I wrote, “I will leave”. High school was not a happy time in my life. I was happy to leave and go to college.
After graduating from High School
Although I was not expected to succeed beyond high school academically, I was able to graduate on time with my high school class and then go on to obtain my undergraduate degree (4 majors, 2 universities and one junior college in 10 years) and my graduate degree (in 3 1/2 years and 2 different grad schools). I obtained an undergraduate degree in theology/ physical education and recreation and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. I obtained my national credentials as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC).
For more insight into my academic path, click on this link: Finding Craig — My Academic Path Part 4
My Experience with Being a Client of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation
Due to difficulties in the job I disclosed to my DVR supervisor that I had sustained a severe brain injury in 1967 when I was 10 years old. The consequence of that disclosure resulted in my becoming a client of DVR.
Interestingly, my first evaluation process as a client of (DVR) occurred after I had obtained my graduate degree as a rehabilitation counselor and my national credentials as a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC).
Interestingly, I became a client of DVR for the 1st time in Florida while still working as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the Florida Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. My first evaluation process did not result in job placement and I was terminated as a client of the Florida DVR.
My second evaluation process as a client with DVR was in North Carolina. I began this second evaluation process after being recruited, moving to North Carolina, working as a CRC for an insurance company for 4 months and then being fired. The outcome of this evaluation process deemed me to be unemployable.
For individuals who learn more effectively through watching and listening, I have created video presentations of my 2 experiences as a client of DVR.
Click on the links and the video presentations will open for you on YouTube.
My First Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Experience Video Presentation
My Second Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Experience Video Presentation
For more insight into what lead up to my 2 Evaluations with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, click on this link: Finding Craig — My Brain Injury Awareness Part 5
Following my Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Evaluations
Following my second evaluation process with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and my 3rd application with the Social Security Administration, I was declared disabled.
So at the end of, I found myself deemed unemployable, declared disabled and approved to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
Being deemed unemployable and declared disabled left me feeling relieved and despondent. Relieved because I could set up a budget to alleviate the ongoing feeling of financial insecurity. Despondent because all of my hard work had seemed to be for naught. Although I felt like someone all dressed up — prepared and — I had nowhere to go.
Despondent because no one seemed to want what I had to give as I was unemployable. Despondent because I was now living below the poverty line. Despondent because I questioned my own worth and value as an individual. Despondent because I was unable to prove that I was not making excuses. Despondent because I could not change my reality.
But, I am glad that I did not give up
To read about the budget that I set up for myself, click on this link. The budget may help you if you are living on SSDI or a fixed income:
How to Manage Money While Living on SSDI — Social Security Disability Insurance
For individuals who learn more effectively through watching and listening, I have created a video presentation of the article:
How to Create and Maintain a Budget while Living on a Fixed Income Video Presentation
Now What — Questions to Ask and Answer
Although neither DVR evaluation gave me the answers I needed, I am glad that I did not give up on my search.
In my search, I discovered that I needed to ask questions of myself, that no one else could ask.
In my search, I discovered that I was the only one who could answer the questions, that no one else could answer.
Although I had diligently applied myself, both academically and vocationally for many years; I found myself effectively discounted and dismissed by society. Being deemed disabled and declared disabled left me feeling like a broken toy, tossed into a box to be forgotten.
What I Discovered
In my experience, I had to reach a point in time when I could no longer defend, justify or explain why I kept getting fired from positions. I knew that I was a hard worker, that I was responsible and honest; yet something was not working. At the coffee before graduation ceremonies, I called my Mom to let her know the graduate program chair told me he would let me graduate.
During that conversation with my Mom, she told me that I had proved them wrong. In 1968 in follow-up to my open skull fracture, right frontal lobe damage, severe brain bruise with brain stem involvement and being in a coma for 3 weeks I underwent a battery of testing…
The test results showed that I would probably not be able to succeed beyond high school academically. The results were shared with my Mom and Dad. My Mom and Dad decided not to tell me.
And so I proved them wrong, although it took me 10 years to obtain my undergraduate degree and 3 1/2 years to obtain my graduate degree.
Something Needed to Change
I knew something needed to change. My struggles in undergraduate, graduate school, long history of being hired and then fired, the outcomes of my 2 departments of vocational rehabilitation evaluations and being declared disabled could no longer be denied. Although I diligently applied myself to what I had been doing and the results I had consistently received brought me to a place of despair. To a place where I could no longer deny my reality.
The pain of denying my reality superseded my need to deny my reality. Although family and friends needed to continue to blame me for not being enough, I realized that I had done all that could be done. When I reached this point of time in my life I realized that I needed to grieve my reality. Through grieving my reality — breaking free from my denial, being angry, trying to bargain my way out, and experiencing depression — I began to realize that things could be different in my life.
Grieving my Reality helped me to Create a New Reality
Through grieving my reality, I began to accept the reality of what could not be changed. That my life, while I walked on earth; would forever be impacted the impact of a brain injury and an invisible disability. With this realization, I began to realize that although my reality would not change, I could take a different course of action. A different course of action that would bring about different results in my life. Different results that would begin to answer the questions that I alone needed to ask and answer. Questions and answers that would help me to begin to create hope in my life.
Opening the Door to Hope
The process took time, but when I was able to accept the impact of the injury to my brain and my invisible disability a new world opened to me. Through working through my grieving process I found that my despair began to turn into hope. I began to realize that I had other options than what the results from the 2 DVR evaluations had communicated to me.
By grieving what could not be changed, I gained the gift of acceptance. Acceptance then helped me to get into action. Getting into action helped me to explore other options. Options that would work for me. Although I was declared disabled, I realized that I was not disabled. I just needed to find ways that would work for me.
Exploring Different Options
And so, I decided to explore different options. Options that I could use to use my passion to encourage people to not give up in ways that would work for me. Ways to use my gifts, talents, and abilities to share my experience strength and hope. Options to use my passions through my gifts, talents, and abilities in ways that worked for me for the people who wanted what I had to give.
For more insight into what helped me to begin opening the door to hope, click on this link: Finding Craig — Empowering My Life Part 6
Several years ago I wrote an article, Yes I am disabled, but Don’t Count me Out
The Next Step in my Process — the Back Story of Second Chance to Live
In the Back Story of Second Chance to Live I share what I discovered through answering the questions that I alone could ask and answer. What I discovered, through my process; was that answering these questions just took time.
After being deemed unemployable and declared disabled the process of finding and then beginning my second chance to live took another 7 years. To read about what led up to finding and then beginning my second chance to live, please click on the below 2 links.
Back Story of Second Chance to Live Part 1
Back Story of Second Chance to Live Part 2
The Creation of Second Chance to Live
In my process of finding a way that would work for me I wrote an autobiography, a book and then on February 6, 2007, at the encouragement of a friend; I found my way to share hope. Through my website Second Chance to Live. I began writing and publishing articles on Second Chance to Live.
During the past 13 years, I have written a total of now 1883 articles for Second Chance to Live. To view a list of the articles that I have written and published on Second Chance to Live in a variety of categories you may click on this link: Site Map for my Articles.
Overcoming Physical and Cognitive Challenges
For the past 18 years, I have been using different martial art disciplines to work on overcoming physical and cognitive limitations. In the past several years the term neuroplasticity was coined to describe the process of creating new neural pathways and brain reorganization.
In my experience, I have used repetitive mirrored movements to develop skills and skill sets on my dominant and non-dominant sides of my body. I subsequently have been able to accomplish what I never dreamed possible. In the process, I have improved muscle memory, hand-eye coordination, agility, body awareness, gross and fine motor skills, dexterity, coordinated movement, speed, accuracy, and balance. In the process, I have grown in coordination and the ability to use my dominant and non-dominant sides of my body.
Improving my skills and abilities — through these repetitive mirrored movements –has given me the gift to be able to create hope by being able to use both sides of my brain and body.
Below are links to short video presentations showing the progression of how repetitive mirrored movements have benefited my mind and body. The links span over each of the past 8 years. Click on the below links and they will open for you on YouTube.
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
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
Improving Your Abilities through Using Repetitive Mirrored Movements
If you have not already begun a program using repetitive mirror movements, I would encourage you to do so my friend. The process takes time, but the rewards are worth the effort and commitment. Several years ago I wrote an article that may help you to get started with this process if you have not already begun. Below is a link to the article and video presentation of the article.
To read the article: Stroke, Brain Injury and the Benefits of Neuroplasticity
For individuals who learn through watching and listening I have created a video presentation of this article. To watch and listen to the video presentation, you may click on this link: Stroke, Brain Injury, the Benefits of Neuroplasticity Video Presentation
In my experience, I have found that there are 9 habits that have benefited me in the creation of new neural pathways and brain reorganization. Habits that have helped me to create hope in my life through repetitive mirrored movements. Habits that have improved my well-being and quality of life by applying the principle of neuroplasticity. To read the article, click on this link: Nine Habits to Benefit from Using the Principle of Neuroplasticity
I created a video presentation of this article to share the information with individuals who learn through watching and listening. To watch and listen to the video presentation of the article, click on this link: Nine Habits to Benefit from Using Neuroplasticity Video Presentation
Creating Brain Injury Peer Support — Empowering the Individual, Not the Brain Injury
In May 2016 I wrote an article to share my 12 Categories for Brain Injury Support. Below are links to each of the categories. Click on the article category that interests and a page will open for you. Scroll down the list of article titles within the category and click on the article that interests you.
Click on the article title that interests you and the article will open for you. Repeat the process to read more articles from that or other categories. As you read the article (s) and questions come to mind, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions.
Although the article categories have Brain Injury in their titles, the information within the articles in each category can benefit anyone. You don’t have to have a brain injury to be able to gain from the content. The messages contained in each article, within each category; are universal.
12 Brain Injury Peer Support Categories — Lists of Articles within each Category
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
Brain Injury Peer Support — Creating Video Presentations for Visual and Auditory Learners
On July 29, 2011, I created a YouTube channel to begin creating video presentations for individuals who learn more effectively through watching and listening for my Second Chance to Live 2dogbull YouTube channel.
Below is a link to my 436 Video Presentations for Brain Injury Support containing a list of video presentations. Clicking on the below link will open a list of video presentation titles. Scroll down the list and click on the presentation title that interests you.
436 Video Presentations Playlist for Brain Injury Support
20 Slideshow Presentations
On October 7, 2017, I began creating slideshow presentations of select articles from Second Chance to Live.
To watch these slideshow presentations, click on this link.
Second Chance to Live — 20 Brain Injury Recovery Slideshow Presentations
Motivational and Inspirational Posters
I have created 28 posters to share encourage and inspire. To view these posters click on this link:
32 Posters to Encourage and Inspire
In April 2019 I created a Facebook Group to create a community. Click on the link and ask to join our community
Building Your Life After Traumatic Brain Injury Facebook Community
12 eBooks are free Download
In 2015 I created and published 5 eBooks to offer another way to access the information within my articles and video presentations.
In 2016 I created and published an additional 5 eBooks.
My 11 eBooks are free for download and contain information that has empowered my ability to pursue my dreams and my destiny despite being deemed unemployable and declared disabled. Below is a list of links to my 10 eBooks. Click on each of the links and the eBooks will open for you.
As stated my 10 eBooks are free to download. Click on the following link for downloading instructions: Downloading Instructions.
A-List of the eBooks that I have Written and Published is below. Click on the link to read the eBook.
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 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
Avoiding the Trap of Our Brain Injury e Book
Don’t Let Anyone tell You (Including Yourself) that…Video Presentation e Book
PowerPoint Presentations
Finding Purpose after Brain Injury and Stroke
Acceptance and Creating a New Normal after Brain Injury and Stroke
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After Brain Injury and Stroke
Believing in Ourselves through Self-Advocacy — A Guide to Owning Our Power after Brain Injury and Stroke
12 Ways to Enhance Our Lives, Well-Beings and Relationships after a Brain Injury and Stroke
Making Our Lives Magical One Day at a Time after Brain Injury and Stroke
The Move
After much thought and prayer, on June 16, 2015; I decided to create a new website Create a Spark of Hope – to share what I discovered that has helped me to begin to create sparks of hope in my own life. I wrote a total of 54 articles and an eBook for Create a Spark of Hope.
With the time, kindness and patience of a good friend on August 2, 2015, Second Chance to Live and Create a Spark of Hope moved from wordpress.com to managed WordPress websites. I wrote an article to share the news: Second Chance to Live, a Metamorphosis and a New Look
A New Home for Create a Spark of Hope
Due financial reasons I closed the website Create a Spark of Hope on July 1, 2016. No worries though. Create a Spark of Hope has moved to Second Chance of Live. Articles from Create a Spark of Hope can now be found in the newly created category. To read articles from Create a Spark of Hope, simply click on this link: Create a Spark of Hope Category. Create a Spark of Hope eBook can be downloaded by clicking on this link: It’s Never too Late to Create Hope eBook Free Download
Translate Second Chance to Live into Your Language
In 2008 I created a tool that would give individuals the ability to translate articles on Second Chance to Live into different languages. Below are links to the represented languages. By clicking on the desired language Second Chance to Live will be translated into that language.
The tool can also be accessed from my upper right sidebar on Second Chance to Live. In the event the links do not open for you, please let me know. Thank you.
Languages Represented in the Tool
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 Ukrainian Vietnamese
To read a full list of Testimonials and Endorsements from readers and visitors, click on this link: Testimonials and Endorsements
Several comments from the: 11th Annual NKY TBI Conference Keynote Presentation – March 31, 2017 EVALUATION RESULTS – Craig Phillips
- The only person I have heard of a way to rebuild the neuroplasticity connections; very grateful for your talk and handouts
- Excellent presenter; *one of the best presenters; * a favorite: very positive; lots of information; encouraging. Great information & survivor perspective
- Very inspiring!! Unbelievably encouraging!!
- Amazing story! Fabulous speaker!
- Thank you for sharing your story with us! Your talk was helpful!
- very well done. Heartfelt, information relevant for/from professional caregiver lens & personal lens – keeping a positive perspective. Bigger process reminders for not getting stuck in frustration but rising above circumstance provide to any of us very rich presentation
- Really enjoyed hearing how the movement with martial arts helped you!
- Great speaker! Loved the examples of skill he built over time through perseverance. Thank you for sharing your faith. That was encouraging.
- An excellent speaker who describe his experience well- he provided great encouragement from his experience.
- Encouraging to hear from Brain Injury survivors. Humorous and likable.
- I appreciated Mr. Phillips sharing his story. His passion for living life to the fullest and desire to help others is inspiring. Thank you.
- Thank you for presenting. You are an inspiration to others to have hope and persevere! Thank you!
For more comments, click: More Comments From the Conference
In response to the article Back Ground Information for Keynote Presentation Craig Phillips Founder and Creator Second Chance to Live Southwest Conference on Disability 2013, Ken Collins wrote:
Wow! What a story of accomplishment! Craig, you stared adversity right in the eye and said: “Get out of the way – I have something to do with my life! Way to go! There needs to be more people in the world like you!
Ken Collins, Program Manager at San Juan Center for Independence, Gallup, New Mexico
Craig’s message is universal. “You can find your way thru tragedy and build a new life.” It may not be the life you had before, but Craig’s message of hope, empowerment and love can help you discover your second chance to live – and live well. I am grateful for Craig’s beautiful writings. They inspire me and bring me comfort. As a speaker, Craig, speaks from the heart and is a living testament to his message. I am honored to know and learn from Craig Phillips.
Viki Kind, MA Bioethicist and author of The Caregiver’s Path to Compassionate Decision Making: Making Choices for Those Who Can’t – January 18, 2014 4:58 pm
http://www.KindEthics.com
http://www.TheCaregiversPath.com
Testimonials from the 2013 Southwest Conference on Disability Keynote Presentation
Niketa P. Sheth, MPA
Senior Vice President, Quality of Life Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation
I met Craig at the 2013 Southwest Conference on Disability, where he spoke as one of the keynote speakers for the conference. His remarkable words of inspiration moved hundreds of individuals in the room. Craig has an impressive ability to share his personal experience in a way that just about anyone can relate to. His remarks brought strength and motivation to many in the audience. Craig has also invested much time and effort into creating many resources for individuals. I admire Craig’s dedication to inspire our community through his work with Second Chance to Live.
Rolf B. Gainer, PhD
Chief Executive Officer
Neurologic Rehabilitation Institute at Brookhaven Hospital
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Craig Phillips is an exceptional person who has constructed his life to help others. I had the privilege to meet Craig, in person, at the 2013 Southwest Disability Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in October 2013 where he was a keynote speaker. I had known Craig prior to that conference through his website and on-line presence where we had the opportunity to interact and learn about his work. What is impressive about Craig is his forthright manner about discussing his brain injury, it’s impact on his life and his devotion to helping others through Second Chance to Live. Craig has written a blog on our NeuroNotes which has brought his work to others living with brain injury.
To read more Testimonials, please click on this link: Testimonials/Endorsements
Global Impact of Second Chance to Live
In July 2012 I wrote an article to share how I learned to live on a fixed income. To read the article, click on this link: How to Manage Money While Living on SSDI — Social Security Disability Insurance
Global Brain Injury Peer Support Network — Empowering the Individual, Not the Brain Injury
2013 Southwest Conference on Disability
Website using Second Chance to Live as a Useful Resource
Site Map for Interviews and Guest Radio Appearances
Second Chance to Live and the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
International
Second Chance to Live and the Australasian Rehabilitation Nurses’ Association
Second Chance to Live and CDS at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Second Chance to Live and Intute
Second Chance to Live and the Brain Injury Association of Canada
My Ongoing Process and Journey with Second Chance to Live
Over the past 12 1/2 years, I have written an article series, My Journey thus Far to share highlights. Highlights from my process and journey with Second Chance to Live. Below are links to each part of the article series. Click on each part and the article will open for you.
Thank you!
I want to thank you for being a friend of Second Chance to Live. I look forward to being of service to you and your family.
In the event that you know of anyone who you believe could benefit, please share Second Chance to Live with them.
In the event that you have any questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions and welcomed.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Have a great day.
Craig
Below are several quotes that have encouraged, motivated, empowered and given me hope.
“Be encouraged my friend, our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but they are meant to build us up.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
“Do not wait for leaders, do it alone, person to person.” Mother Teresa
“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life, that you have imagined …you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau
“Do not judge your day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.” Robert Louis Stevenson
“Insist on yourself, never imitate. Your own gift you can present 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 too much or dare too much.”Ralph Waldo Emerson
“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
Try Something New
“Everyone is trying to do something big, not realizing that life is made up of small things.” Frank A Clark
“I have heard that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The good news is that once we start walking on that journey, 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
“…You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.” Mother Teresa
“For I know the plans that I have for you – says the Lord – plans for good and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 Old Testament
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