Thank you all for your service to our country and for sharing not only your stories but so many others who have never quit with your dedicated listeners (myself included). I have read Marcus’s book, seen the incredible movie numerous times and listened to as many podcasts as possible to keep myself motivated.

I am attaching an article written about me a few years ago when I was blessed to serve as president of the Texas School Public Relations Association.

As a stroke survivor who has had four heart procedures and a survivor of a horrific automobile accident that left me with a punctured lung and a severe misdiagnosed concussion I am here by the grace God. I remember the EMTs looking at my truck while others loaded me into the ambulance. I asked what they were looking at. One said “You are here for a reason, sir. We have pulled dead people of out wrecks that weren’t this bad.”

I am blessed to be doing as well as I am and still make the effort to get to the gym by 5 a.m. several days a week to keep myself in shape and most importantly, to fight off the depression that seems to follow stroke survivors.

Even with that, there are days when I just don’t have my A game but I still get going and make it to the office by 7 a.m. These are the days I enjoy your podcasts even more. These are days when my memory fails me….there are days when I have trouble finding the right words to speak…there are days when my left hand just doesn’t work well and there are days when I just don’t feel 100%. But as Rut says “suck it up buttercup” so I do and keep pushing through whatever ails me that day.

Even on my bad days, I realized that I am blessed to have a job that I love. There are a lot of people who don’t have jobs and have a chance to work everyday. That’s why I push myself hard to come to work and give my best effort. I even received a perfect attendance award just a couple of years ago.

Thanks again for your continued motivation.