I want to share a story with you, one that I read on Robert Genn’s website a long time ago. The entire version can be found here.

“Robb Dunfield was an active nineteen year old sportsman, ski instructor, and all round good chap when he had his accident. He and three of his friends plunged from an insecure balcony of an unfinished building. Robb received irreversible injuries–a severed spine.

Robb was confined to a quadriplegic hospital, paralyzed from the neck down. For years he lay there, a ventilator doing his breathing, at times without even his voice, a ward of the state and a source of anguish for his family. One day he told me he wanted to learn to paint.

We worked together over a period of years. My idea was that Robb would be not just a good mouth painter, but a good painter–period. For his part, he saw painting as the key to his independence and self respect. It was frustrating just watching him. He would take hours to do what you and I can do in minutes.

Robb Dunfield persisted. People began to be charmed by his oils and his gentle nature. One day he told me that his goal in life was to be a giver and not a taker. I suggested he might have some of his works turned into photo-litho prints and offered as fund-raisers for charities. As of today Robb’s work has directly raised over $1,500,000.00 for Paraplegic Associations, and other charities. This sort of generosity has been a factor in facilitating the sale of his originals to his own benefit for excellent prices.

Today, twenty-two years after those few seconds that changed his life, Robb is a successful artist, public speaker and facilitator of young people to face inevitable change and to reach toward achieving their dreams. Free of hospitals, he lives in an elevatored home in the country, is married to beautiful Sarah and they now have their very own twin girls. Not bad for a hopeless case.”

This story has been inspiring me for years. This story has been taped to my wall, read and reread when I’m feeling down or doubtful of the path that I’ve chosen.

A Bad Case of the Doubts

I had a severe case of the doubts yesterday – I seriously questioned if what I was doing with my life was good, if I was following the right path or if I should just boycott. Give up. Quit.

You know what my doctors told me after the diagnoses of CFS was proclaimed permanent with no chance of recovery? Go home, go do some ironing. Pace yourself, do your household chores, don’t expect much from life. This is it. Get used to it.

I’m not supposed to be doing this. I’m supposed to be folding my clothes, napping, making lunch, folding more clothes, napping again and then vegetating in front of the TV for several hours til I go to bed at 9pm. Dreams are for healthy people. Not for people “like me”.

I cried for hours after hearing that. Everywhere I looked online, every CFS resource said almost the same thing. One place told me that I had time now to read all the books I wanted – they suggested Charles Dickens.

I’m very open on my site and blog about my past and what I’ve been through. I’ve got nothing to hide and I am not ashamed of my past. But yesterday a couple of people questioned my choice to share it and for some reason, this time it threw me for a loop.

Am I making a mistake by sharing my past? Am I throwing money out the door? Am I just shooting myself in the foot? Will it make people too uncomfortable? I mean, who am I to share this stuff, to defend my choices, to stand up for what I believe in and throw off the mantles of shame and stand proud of my past and experiences?

I’ll tell you who I am.

I’m me.

Helping all my people

I don’t just share my past for kicks or shock value. Stuff like that is cheap. I’m not looking for sympathy or pity.

I share it because my opening up about my experiences is freeing for other people. It lifts the cloth of shame and exposes it to the light. It helps others to heal, to release their shame, to stand tall.

I don’t want to be an “inspiration” to people, because I don’t want to be put on a pedestal. But I do want to encourage people to reach for what they want, to find a deeper meaning to their lives, and to live a life that is rich and wonderful. The story about Robb Dunfield is not only important to me because he overcame his limitations, but because what he’s done with his life is exactly what I want to do with mine.

So here’s what I want to know – what can I do for you? How can I help you achieve your dreams? Do you want an e-book? Do you want a course? Do you want coaching or consulting? Do you want awesome looking posters that tell you how you totally kick ass?

I want to help. And I already know that sharing my story does that. But I want to go further than that.

I’m here for you guys. Tell me what you think.