Day by Day



Monday, July 02, 2007

If We Don't Know Where We've Been, We Won't Recognize Where We're Going

William J. Bennett, author of such great books as America: The Last Best Hope (Vol. 1), America: The Last Best Hope (Vol. 2), and The Book of Virtues.

His books have proven to be an interesting romp, and I enjoy his writing. So, with the upcoming Independence Day holiday, please take a peek at his latest column.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Agree with that totally. Listen to Dr. Bennett in the morning...is always educational.

Anonymous said...

My name is Craig J. Phillips and I am a traumatic brain injury survivor as well as a master’s level rehabilitation counselor. Through out my lifetime, I have taught myself how to overcome many insurmountable odds. These strategies have helped me to prosper and succeed. On February 6, 2007, I decided to start a blog at /www.secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/ Second Chance to Live presents topics that motivate encourage and empower the reader. As a tbi survivor, I can speak from my experience, strength and hope. As a professional, I provide information to encourage, motivate and empower both disabled and non-disabled individuals. Our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but to build us up. Second Chance to Live empowers the readers to live life on life's terms. (Please read Addendum below)

Please read my post; secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/02/18/my-journey-thus-far as that will help you understand more about my background. Professionally speaking, I have nursing training on the LPN level, I have an undergraduate degree in Theology, with a minor in Physical Education / Recreation, and a masters degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. I have practical experience with in nursing, emergency medicine, physical education, private and public rehabilitation, chemical dependency counseling, day treatment and partial hospitalization for mentally ill adults, and I have worked with in both the cemetery and funeral industries. In addition I have been pursuing my own personal empowerment for the last 30 years. Please consider sharing my site with anyone who needs to be encouraged, motivated or empowered.

Per my traumatic brain injury, at the age of 10, I was in a motor vehicle accident. Upon impact -- the Cadillac hitting our VW Beetle -- I was thrown forward from where I sat, behind my father who was driving. On my way forward, I snapped my left femur on my Dad's bucket seat and then hit the windshield. When my head hit the windshield, I sustained an open skull fracture. The injury to my brain resulted in my remaining in a coma for 3 weeks. Upon waking from what I thought was a bad dream, I found my left leg elevated and in traction. Slowly, it became apparent that I was not merely in a bad dream. Although I am unable to remember much from that time in my life, one memory stands out. The right side of my forehead -- where the fracture occurred -- was depressed inward like a shallow bowl. I later learned that my right frontal lobe had been damaged, that I had sustained a severe brain contusion, and that my brain stem had been impacted.

In 1967 neurological rehabilitation was not available. As a result, I was virtually on my own. I had to re-teach myself how to walk, talk, read, write and speak in complete sentences. Although my injuries were life threatening and I was not expected to succeed beyond high school, I went on to obtain both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I have learned that daunting pessimism and negativity is pointless. My hope is that through visiting my site, those individuals who may have lost hope will see a new light. This light will in turn guide them to a renewed hope, an array of possibilities, and a new zest for living.
Second Chance to Live, www.secondchancetolive.wordpress.com will enable the reader to live life on life’s terms.

Please share my site with both disabled and non-disabled individuals.

Thank you for your time and kindness,

Respectfully yours,

Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA

Addendum:


I find that sometimes groups and organizations with whom I share Second Chance to Live do not look beyond my being a traumatic brain injury survivor. My injury happened in 1967 when I was 10 years old. I was not suppose to be able to succeed beyond high school, if that according to the professionals of the day. Nevertheless, I am a master's level rehabilitation counselor, have an undergraduate degree in Theology with a minor in physical education/recreation, nursing training on the licensed practical nurse level, and have an Emergency Medical Technician certification.

Practically speaking I have worked as a master's level rehabilitation counselor in both the private and public sectors helping individuals with various types of disabilities. I have also worked in a 28-day residential treatment center for dually diagnosed individuals, in a partial hospitalization program for people with mental illness and have worked with both the funeral and cemetery industries. I have also ardently pursued my own personal empowerment path for over 30 years. My educational and practical experiences give me the credibility to speak to my process as a traumatic brain injury survivor. I am not my tbi. I am not my deficits or limitations and I would appreciate it if you would not put me in a box as solely a tbi survivor.

Presently, I have 137 posts that present strategies for living life on life's terms. Our circumstances are not meant to hold us down but to build us up. I do not know how much time you have spent reading those pages, however if you can take the time to read several of the published material on Second Chance to Live, you would find that I address practical solutions to living life on life's terms. I am published in the UK's premier horticultural and therapeutic journal, Growth Point in their summer addition for people with all sorts of disabilities. Please take time to read my material so that you can offer Second Chance to Live to your readers. My material addresses a wide range of topics and provides practical strategies. My site is mulit-dimensional.