Kate Adamson
www.KateAdamson.com
1-800-641-KATE
(310) 546-8142 Fax
kate@kateadamson.com
Kate's Journey ... A must read! Get your autographed copy now and let's take the journey together.
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May 25, 2005
Having a great journey! Wish you were here. Of course, you are on your own journey. How is it?
When people suggest that my journey through the dark tunnel of total paralysis must have been a really tough challenge – I agree; but I also wonder where they have been paralyzed and maybe didn't know it. As I moved through my journey of overcoming paralysis I was blessed with the focus and attention of a professional staff, and a fiercely supportive husband and friends to help me get “un-paralyzed.” Now I am here to help you – deal with the paralysis that keeps you from moving to your next level of accomplishment.
What is stopping you from moving forward right now? Do you feel helpless, confused? Do you feel overwhelmed, even bewildered? Does it seem that what you need to do is so simple that even a child could do it – but for some reason you aren't getting it done? That is real paralysis, and it is as frustrating, debilitating and disabling as any physical handicap.
But the good news is, it can be overcome.
While speaking to a group of women in Media, Pa., recently (many of you are receiving this postcard), I asked them to write down where in their lives they feel paralyzed. I was reading those responses on my flight home and was amazed and deeply touched at their openness and honesty.
You see, my friends, I too suffer more than physical paralysis. I am paralyzed in many of the same areas that you have shared with me; and I know from experience that every “point of paralysis” you shared with me can be overcome. That wonderful genius Albert Einstein said a marvelous thing: “Understanding the problem is halfway to the solution.” So let’s understand the problem. The problem of paralysis, whether physical, mental, financial, spiritual, etc. is that we FEEL or THINK that when we can't do something, we can't do anything. The fact is when we can't do everything, we can do something.
The problem that keeps us in paralysis is our focus on what we can't do, and on the results we don't want that come from what we can't do.
Now that we understand the problem, let’s see if the solution might simply lie in the reversal of the problem. The solution then that releases us from paralysis is to focus instead on what we CAN do and on the results we DO want that come from what we CAN do.
Kate goes golfing
This weekend I overcame something I thought I couldn’t do by doing something I knew I could do. I played golf again after ten years. Well, at least I picked up a golf club and took a swing with it – with one hand. I was in Redding participating at the 4th Annual Saving Strokes Golf event. Each survivor was assigned a golf pro and after a few swings I began getting comfortable. I can do this, I just have to adapt and adjust a little. What a great feeling being on a golf course and proving to myself that I can do this – as long as I focus not on the fact that one arm is paralyzed and can’t grip a club, but rather focus on the fact that I have an arm that works and CAN grip a club.
Kate meets friends
Also, this weekend I got to actually meet Kathy Niehoff after communicating online since 1998. Kathy also a brainstem stroke survivor was 37 years old and a mother of a 2-year-old. We were excited to finally meet. “When I want to give up, I go to your Web site for a refresher course on perseverance. You help me so much,” she said.
I encouraged Kathy to start a stroke support group and she did. She is now helping others. I love being able to reach out and touch others; which is exactly what we both did Sunday afternoon. We visited Gabe, a 21-year-old brainstem stroke survivor. It gave him so much hope to see two miracles standing beside him as he pointed with his stick to spell out what he wanted to say. It may surprise you to hear of young people having strokes but in fact 168,000 under the age of 65 suffer strokes each year.Learn about strokes!
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Do you know the warning signs and your risk factors? Many of you have read my book and know that I was walking around with warning signs of a stroke, shrugging my shoulders I told myself, It’s nothing-whatever it is will go away! How many of you have told yourselves that when experiencing some pain? Review the warning signs by clicking here.
Kate’s Journey; Triumph over Adversity, recounts my experiences from the time I was placed on life support completely unable to communicate with the outside world, to my near complete recovery, which has been nothing short of miraculous. Dr. Jefferey Saver has commentaries through out the book.
This is the perfect time to recommend the book to your book clubs. I will participate via telephone on Q&A for discussions. Write or call your newspaper or local radio and suggest the book as a topic for review or coverage. If you know of an organization with a Web site or newsletter, recommend posting a story about the book. A staggering 700,000 people suffer strokes every year, and it doesn’t just impact the elderly. Stroke is the No. 3 cause of death and a leading cause of serious long term disability in America. But there are signs to watch for, and if you or someone you love does have a stroke, that doesn’t mean that life has to end. There is still hope and the potential for a full and happy life!
Save the date
Join me June 26 for the Stroke Association of California’s 5K/10K Run/Walk and Health Fair plus a walk and wheel for stroke survivors and a kids fun run. This is being held in Los Angeles at Griffith Park. 7-11 a.m. Don’t miss the free screenings – stroke, body fat, cholesterol and blood pressure. For more information, call the stroke Association 310.575.1699 – or visit us online www.strokesocal.org
Are you looking for a dynamic, inspirational speaker?
Call me. Tell me about your conference. What is the theme? What do you want your people to take home with them? Would you like me to inspire your corporation to a higher level of productivity and profit by overcoming the paralysis that keeps it where it is? Believe me, I will prove that anyone can move to the next level of productivity and profit by focusing on what they want (not on what they don’t) and what they can do (not on what they can't).
I may be the perfect presenter for your next conference. Certainly your company will never be the same again. Let's talk about it! Call me: 800-641-KATE
