Just Wiggle Your Toes!

IF you have never heard of this saying or the guy who created it, you are seriously missing out. One of the days in high school that was actually one I, as most of my graduating class will never forget is when this assembly took place. Kevin Brooks: a man that loved to skateboard and loved his family to pieces; made some bad choices and suffered from the consequences instantly. Driving while intoxicated resulted in him being paralyzed from the waist down. I remember him telling the story and everyone loved him, he was this rocker dude with an attitude, but was so unbelievably humble and powerful in everything he said. 

When he told everyone about the car accident.. we all shrunk in our seats to avoid others from seeing us cry and breakdown inside. Although being limited to doing things, he still took everyday as a new day and doesn't take any day for granted because he is still  very much alive. Just because this 1 bad thing happened.. he didn't just dig a hole and lay in it and that was it. He keeps living on! 

Kevin still loves to skateboard just in a different more rad way that even more people want to watch. I thought that was absolutely amazing. He told us that whenever we felt like just giving up when times are tough.. to Just Wiggle Your Toes and appreciate that you can actually do that because he would be more than elated to do just that. After he told us all to wiggle our toes, I though oh man.. he is right.. here I can do something so easily without even thinking about it and this man can only stare down at his legs wishing to make one little toe move the slightest bit. 

After that I knew that I can just stay down when something knocks me over, I need to pick myself and be grateful that I am still alive and healthy at that. The whole time he was talking his words would just pull you in so you didn't want your best friend to start talking to you. The whole room was silent, respectful and enticed. When his speech was over, he got a standing ovation and some waited over an hour to just talk to him and take pictures with him. There were tear and hugs.. and that was the first time I felt close with my graduating class. We all put our ego's to the side for that moment and realized how fragile each and every day of life is and how we have to keep moving forward. 

This 1 human being changed my life forever, it's incredible. Kevin also helped me when I got in a huge fight with my boyfriend and was just at my downfall. He messaged me via Twitter and honestly cheered up my mood by just seeing a message from him alone. We had a heart to heart talk about life and relationships and it made me happy that besides the seminar at school, he was still able to help us on the side and making us feel alive again.  He is my hero and someone I can look up to when life is kicking me down. Thanks Kevin Brooks for all you have done for myself and for the Class of 2013 in Old Bridge High School!