On this episode of Podcasting One-Handed we get to hear from Nick as he tells us about growing-up with one hand, how he deals with the attention and a ton of other stuff. He even tells about his first MMA fight, the results of which may surprise you!
We also hear from my friend Kristy in this episode. Kristy is awesome and this is the first in a series of conversations will be having, so if you have topics you’d like us to discuss, please post them in the comments below!
Also, if you have thoughts about bike-riding for kids with limb-differences, share them here or on the Facebook page!
Hope you enjoy the episode! I’d REALLY appreciate if you subscribed and left a review on iTunes if you like it.
I just finished watching the Extreme Weight Loss episode featuring Ryan Sawlsville and I’m still buzzing. The dude looks fantastic! But even more than that, it sounds like he feels fantastic, both inside and out. What a testament to Ryan’s hard work and Chris Powell’s ability to bring the best out of him.
I’ve been looking forward to this episode for weeks and had many questions going into it. Ryan’s experience as a limb-different person is completely different than mine. We share a name and a love for the Packers, but I was born with one hand and he lost his. And he lost his entire arm, which I know makes a world of difference.
Ryan and Chris at the BEGINNING of the year-long journey!
Every year, as far back as I can remember, we’ve gotten together as an extended family for Father’s Day. With my grandfather’s passing in April, though, we’ve decided to spend it as individual families this year. It made me really sad. I’ll miss seeing my aunts and uncles and cousins. I’ll miss seeing all the second cousins playing together. I just love being with them.
Some of the grandkids and grandpa on Father’s Day 2011
But, it’s a painful time, which is why I understand the decision. For all my aunts and uncles, it’s their first Father’s Day without their dad. That’s huge. It’s a year for us to miss grandpa and to focus on our own families; all the families he has directly affected. In fact, earlier this week I was feeling sad, but wasn’t sure why. Julie and the kids stopped by my work and the kids all ran to me and gave me a hug to cheer me up. Claire asked why momma said I was sad and I told her I wasn’t sure, sometimes you just get sad. “I bet I know why. I think you’re sad because grandpa died,” she told me. She was right. My perceptive little princess. Even now my heart is in my throat thinking about it.
Sam, me, grandpa and my dad, Father’s Day 2008, I think
Today I had the pleasure of speaking to about sixty second-graders. IT WAS AWESOME. I gave my talk about how being different is awesome and how each of them is awesome in their own way. I showed one video (the jumping rope one) during my presentation and they liked it so much they basically begged to see more after the Q&A time…so we watched a couple more (including the basketball one where they clapped every time I made a basket)! I also juggled a couple of my LOH stress relief cubes and then, at the suggestion of my beautiful wife, had a couple volunteers try it. Then I gave them each a cube for their efforts.
Let me tell you a couple of my favorite parts and then wrap-up with a more serious thought.
My favorite question was from a little girl who asked, “Do you like Downton Abbey?” I wanted to shout, “FREE BATES!” but instead just told her that was an AMAZING question.
Every Saturday morning I’ll be posting links to stories that have affected me throughout the week. I love stories that make me think or laugh or cry…stories that make me feel something. Stories that give me a new perspective. Stories that remind me there are amazing people out there doing amazing things. So, without further ado, here are some stories that I loved this week:
These two posts from yours truly seemed to really resonate with people this week. They’re about the experience I had teaching my daughter’s classmates that being different is awesome and how to react appropriately to those who are different than us.
Mike Alt is a young man on a mission to help young people succeed. I love it.
I hope these stories affect you as they did me. Make sure to leave comments and follow the creators! And have a great Saturday!
