A day I will never forget is July 14, 1993. I was headed to work and in my fabulous, restored, 1991 Karmen Gia. I remember the sunshine and getting ready to go through a light at an intersection in Memphis, TN. Next thing I remember was talking to someone and they were fuzzy as I did not have my glasses on. Then the next thing I remember is looking down on someone laying on a bed – they looked familiar as it was me, and then I saw a bright light. I kept thinking, I have so much to do, I need to go back.
The next time I woke up, I was in the ICU Unit at the Elvis Presley Trauma Center. A car had turned left into the intersection, and was blinded by the sunlight shining in his face, and had an offset head-on collision with my vehicle. I was thrown from the car and suffered major injuries; the police report showed me as critical, not much chance of survival. A good Samaritan stopped to help and held his jacket against my head as I had a 6” gash in it. That good Samaritan I truly believe was God. I have so much to do and God helped me that day to make sure I was able to do the things I needed to do.
I started following Zig Ziglar as a young adult; I always felt like an outsider in my own family, and with my fiery red hair was always picked on and made fun of. Dale Carnegie, and Zig Ziglar were my mentors, unbeknownst to them, I might add. In fact, the day of my near fatal car wreck, I had Zig Ziglar’s daily affirmation card in my purse, which I was reunited with after I left the Trauma Center.
9,130 days, or 26 years, later from my near fatal car wreck I was able to get up off the floor without any help, or crawling over to an object to pull myself up. I started in a wheelchair being wheeled out of the hospital and had to be lifted in to my friend’s car. But I didn’t stay in the wheelchair long, as we had to go by the junkyard to get my keys out of my wrecked car so I could get in my apartment. I walked, yes walked, over to the gate and walked over to my car – kept walking every day after that. While I was listed on the police report as near death, I had no major injuries, no broken bones. Had to scoot up the stairs on my butt, overcame that. Could not walk down stairs without holding on to the hand rail, could not run, could not do much of anything I could do before the wreck.
God had a plan as he was holding me in his arms that fateful day 28 years ago, because I have so much to do; Zig Ziglar had a plan for me too – keep that mindset clear and positive, as much as possible, because the obstacles to overcome were huge, and yet attainable, even though it would take many, many years. His books, CDs, and seminars were the things I spent money on, even forgoing food to afford them. I also got to meet Zig for the first time at a Born To Win Seminar – I felt like I had known him my whole life, which I basically did, and when I got to shake his hand and he looked in my eyes, he said nice to see you again, my child. Zig knew I had things to get done too.
The doctors told me I would be in a wheelchair and I’m not; the doctors told me I would not have the same life as I had before the car wreck, and I don’t. I have a better, more inspiring, creative, difficult at times, most amazing at times, perfect, and not-so perfect, life. I Choose To Win Everyday of my life. I am also very honored to represent Zig Ziglar in my coaching and to work alongside his son Tom Ziglar, maybe I should call him brother, on my journey. I have so much to do, and God helped me go do it, and the life long dream to be a Ziglar coach is an amazing feeling, that I feel Zig had planned for me.
I have been blessed with the best and the worst jobs in my life, which have all shaped me for a time like this. A time to Choose To Win and to choose to help others Choose To Win as well.
Choose to Win Everyday 